Dance Sales

[carrbowl]

I have my yearly photos for a dance group next week. I'm trying to get geared up. The sales are always blah...it's dance and it's at this time of year, they are asking parents for money for everything. And even though this group is absolutely wonderful about keeping costs under control, it's still expensive. But I really want to increase my sales. I HATE selling those blankely blank 4 x 6's but those dang things are what sell and they pay the same price for those as they do for the 5 x 7's, so I don't think it is worth taking them off my price sheet. I am going to get samples of prints from the quick lab and compare them to the nicer labs, so they can see the difference, plus I will have the sizes to encourage a larger size to buy. Because I do Smug Mug I can't do a package deal, but I have thought about throwing in something as a bonus if they spend X amount I will give them something in return...

Any Suggestions??? Besides not doing it at all...it's really not an option for personal reasons...just help me figure out how to increase the sales..please.

[gregt1310]

Renae - I also shoot dance schools and this year I am trying some of the trinket items as well (Magazine Cover, round buttons, magnets, keychains, and bag tags).
We will see if it works or not.
What I did do was to put all of the items on a foam board and have it displayed at the studio. Sorry for the crappy pic - just a quick snapshot.

As for the lab question - I use Miller's. They are wonderful. For a flat %, they will individually package all of the prints. It is well worth it (as I have around 90-100 different dancers to shoot). I have a SmugMug site also, but for this, it's easier to get payment upfront and then deliver the final product back to the studio or at the recital.

Hope that helps.

[CaptainTom]

If they see it and can touch a sample they will buy it.
Greg's plan is simple and effective.
Get them excited about the key chains, etc.

[PhotoByLeal]

Originally Posted by carrbowl

I have my yearly photos for a dance group next week. I'm trying to get geared up. The sales are always blah...it's dance and it's at this time of year, they are asking parents for money for everything. And even though this group is absolutely wonderful about keeping costs under control, it's still expensive. But I really want to increase my sales. I HATE selling those blankely blank 4 x 6's but those dang things are what sell and they pay the same price for those as they do for the 5 x 7's, so I don't think it is worth taking them off my price sheet. I am going to get samples of prints from the quick lab and compare them to the nicer labs, so they can see the difference, plus I will have the sizes to encourage a larger size to buy. Because I do Smug Mug I can't do a package deal, but I have thought about throwing in something as a bonus if they spend X amount I will give them something in return...

Any Suggestions??? Besides not doing it at all...it's really not an option for personal reasons...just help me figure out how to increase the sales..please.

If you remember anything from this thread you started, remember that if you started @ a 4 x 6 there is no room to go DOWN!

Start with a BIG beautiful picture printed on glossy, matted or canvas!
Try not to give them the small options, and if you do make sure they buy a full page of 4 x 5, they can get 4 on an 8 x10 and that makes you more $$$ then one 4 x 6!
Also if they want to buy 4 x 5 or 4 x 6, they need to buy a package and then they have to buy at least 1 page of 4= 4x5s, which is one 8x10!


good luck,

[bcody]

I think Greg is on to something. My daughter had dance pictures done last year, and will again this year. Most Mom's are not photo savy, and looking at them on screen doesn't seem the best, especially if you can only pull them up one at a time and they can not compare them side by side. The studio that did ours last year were not the best, all the group shots were off centered and that really bugged me. But, they did have the individual pictures in great traditional poses fore the style of dance the girls were in.

I do not know who is doing ours this year, but I hope it is not the same people, their customer service was the worst, and a lot of the parents have said they will not buy anything no matter how good from the them.

Just a note, at this time of year we have just finnished paying for recital fees and costumes, not cheap. I would think of you could send something out in the middle of June when dance is over, a little note with the web site or something as a reminder, that perhaps a few more sales would be generated. July is the first month without dance studio fees, so a few extra $$ to play with!

[toverman]

Smugmug does offer products beyond prints, so that it might not even be difficult for you to emphasize those like Greg does in his work.

[SpeedRacerSlots]

Never bought the ones from our dance studio for the 6yrs the girls were going through it... the photogs changed 3 times in 6yrs, but was always some form of a "friend that does photography" or "friend of an instructor". The last year, based on what I saw at the dance studio, the final product ended up inkjet printed on generic photo paper from office depot (complete with logo on the back of the paper...)

[carrbowl]

Well it appears Greg was on to something...I had a few things printed...and already got one comment..."I didn't know we could order those"..It's amazing people still don't know how to use computers!! Also set up my computer and have someone babysitting it, showing people how to get on the website, get to the photos and order. So far, it appears to be helping..two more days of shooting...

On the other hand.....I am still playing in a narrow field by only having SmugMug to allow people to order from...it doesn't allow me to use other labs and have customers direct order...

[gregt1310]

Renae - are you saying you are only using Smugmug for your dance school pics? Don't get me wrong, I love Smugmug, but I think Miller's does a better job and they offer more trinkets (Magazine Covers, Bag tags) and have better pricing on them.

Thanks for the compliments!!

My first dance school shoot this year is the day after Texas School(and it's also my daughter's studio)....

Good luck to you.

[jamesw]

Greg,

Millers and Mpix are the same right? Does Millers do ALL of the fulfillment, or do you have to place the order yourself and have it mailed to the client, then send the client a separate invoice?

I love the Mpix/Millers quality - and they do all sorts of great products, but I just use it for my personal stuff.

Cheers
James

[icetraxx]

I just finished up shooting my wifes dance school. I have pretty much given up on the magazine covers. I think that I sold maybe 5 in the past 3 years. Key chains are almost in the same category. I offered statuettes from mpix. Orders from them go up and down from year to year. My biggest trinkets are buttons, magnets, and trader cards. I found a place that you can download a Photoshop template and create your own card. I'll put the dancers full length picture on the front with their name and school name. A headshot crop with their age, teacher, dance name, and # of years of dance. The bag tag started off really popular for me. That was until all of her competition team had one. Then sales dropped sharply. The one that I was selling was hard plastic with the picture of the dancer on one side and their address on the other. hope this helps
Larry

[gregt1310]

Originally Posted by jamesw

Greg,

Millers and Mpix are the same right? Does Millers do ALL of the fulfillment, or do you have to place the order yourself and have it mailed to the client, then send the client a separate invoice?

I love the Mpix/Millers quality - and they do all sorts of great products, but I just use it for my personal stuff.

Cheers
James

James - yes Miller's and Mpix are the same. Mpix is the consumer side, and Miller's is only available to professionals.
Miller's will do all of the fulfillment (for a 10% fee), but to me it is worth it. I edit and upload based on the clients selection. Miller's fulfills and individually packages each dancer and mails them back to me. I deliver (for this particular studio which happens to be my daughters) at the recital dress rehearsal. For other studios, I just deliver all of the packages to the studio and let them distribute.

Greg