Working with local retailers...

[canoflan]

What types of rates are retailers charging for you to put your business cards by their checkout areas (i.e. pizza or ice cream shops often have business cards of small businesses next to their cash registers and you see these when you are waiting for the credit card receipt to print)?

Any thoughts?

Pat

[eRoc]

I would like to know this as well.

[toverman]

I don't know the answer, but my feeling is that for photographers targeted marketing is the best. Although putting cards out in a well-trafficked place will get your name out there.

[canoflan]

I am going to check it out with a few local retailers that I know are getting good business. I will stay with the owner manageed sites and stay away from franchises (i.e. Domino's Pizza, etc...).

[toverman]

Originally Posted by canoflan

I am going to check it out with a few local retailers that I know are getting good business. I will stay with the owner manageed sites and stay away from franchises (i.e. Domino's Pizza, etc...).

That's a good idea. You might see if they need/want any photos for advertising or other uses and offer to shoot them if they'll let you put out biz cards.

[Serenity]

Any certain kind of retailer you are wanting to go with? I have some cards out where I work (Ebby Halliday Realtors) An agent always needs a photographer for advertising purposes you might market that area as well. My step mom is a doctor so she has some of my business cards out in her office.

I would like to get in touch with some cakes places or bridal places and see what there policies are that would market weddings for me.

[eRoc]

Thats some good advice.

I have two shoots lined up with a florist who does lots of weddings. Not getting paid much, but its just an hour's worth of work, and in exchange she's gonna let me leave business cards and a portfolio book at her shop (to be the exclusive photog). She's also gonna put my info on the website.

Just thought someone else might have the same luck with the same deal. As stupid as it sounds, I would have never thought of a florist if she hadn't approached me with the offer. And they need lots of pics for their websites.

[canoflan]

This is good stuff. There is a good pizza place and a florist right next to each other only 1/2 miles from my house. Also, a real estate office is in the same center as well.

I may simply hit these all up in one day and see if anyone knocks. I need to develop a small 4x6 portfolio to keep with me in case these folks ask to see some samples.

Pat

[HotHolly]

We have cards all over the place. No one charged anything. When we were shooting a lot of seniors we had a thing going with one of the pizza places - and he gave us pizza for $4.99 when ever we wanted! Wahoo!

About bridal shops - I talk to lots of them - and these are 3 top trends regarding bridal shops and photographers:

1. Free - They let you leave whatever you want free of charge, but they dont push you. Other peoples junk is everywhere too. Usually the only requirement in the freebie feild is that the bride be wearing a gown sold there.
2. You pay - they have a spot in the store where they allow a limited number of display pieces. You pay to be there either monthly or annually. They may give you options to purchase their client list. All shops have logs of who came in and their contact info.
3. You pay - they offer a goodie bag that goes out the door with every bride that walks in. They want you to offer something that is exclusive to them. So this one isnt a biz card goes in a bag - its a promo offer on wedding related photography. They charge a monthly rate for placement. Ditto on the buying a list.

You'll do better with the bridal shops that realize there is something in this for them. If you're sitting there in a pile of freebies, it doesn't do anything. You might have a random person call you once in a while - and it may be for nothing. We had a girl do that to us once and ask us to shoot her wedding for $125. Make sure the price range of the shop you select is in the same demographic that you are targeting. Don't go into some boutique that sells couture $20K gowns if you are offering bargain photography prices and vise versa.

This is better than purchasing a mailing list b/c you have your ad piece and a person interacting with a potential client. If they like you, you're golden. Make sure people like you. And remember, you gotta make it clear, what is in it for them. No one likes a parasite leeching off them. I heard a bridal shop complaining about last weekend - a baker brought in a basket full of gourmet muffins and started giving them out to her brides. You see why that wouldn't work too well, right? Food and $$ gowns is a bad combo. Be really careful not to do that kind of thing, but still try to figure out how to offer a win win promo and they'll love you. Anything that brings them more business will bring your more business. Tutti felici!

[canoflan]

Holly,

Thanks a bunch for the info. Believe me, I would never expect to offer the business I want to advertise with nothing in return. Being photographers, we usually can trade services and many businesses do not even know what we can provide until they think about it.

I talked with someone yesterday about this concept and they thought businesses should simply let me leave a stack of cards. The problem with this is that if I am using someone elses space and customers to seek business myself, that is advertising and costs money. This person clearly was not of a business mind. Being in business myself, I understand there is no free lunch.

Pat

[canoflan]

Ok, I dropped into a local retailer yesterday and asked the owner if we could work a deal for me to leave some bus. cards with him for his customers to possibly pickup; he said don't worry about it and leave some with him on the table. No fee, no nothin'. I tell you I will be buying my $%^@#, from him from now on.

I have a feeling he likes working with local folks because a local martial arts business had some flyers right there next to their cash register as well, but that was it.

I plan to work a few other centers close by my house as well.

I encourage you all to try this since it won't cost anything except time and the cards.

Pat