Seven
new designs join our five most popular from
last year to make up the twelve available CCS
Holiday greeting card options for 2007. These
will be available in all markets (except Schools)
starting September 14th.
Samples
images of each design will be available on
candidnet by September 14th and you can order
your own samples at www.picmyphotos.com,
password samplessamples. As you remember,
these are available in sets of 12 ($5.40) and 20 ($9.00)
and come with envelopes. Greeting
cards are a great remarketing product to offer to attendees
from previous events and give you anotherreason
to send an email communication to your pastcustomers.
New
Premium Greeting Cards in PPSOct 1st
CCS
is introducing a new line of premium greeting cards that
are printed on non-photographic paper. Initially
for this holiday season, they will be available in the
PPS market of QP2 starting October 1st. We
think these are the perfect premium card for family and
children sessions.The new Folded Greeting Cards are
5x7 in size (folded) and sold in sets of 12 for a lab cost
from CCS of $16.20. The cards are printed on high gloss
coated 10 pt paper. Each set is packaged, with box-flap
envelopes, in a beautiful black box, secured with a silver
tie. If
more than 7 sets are ordered of the same
image at the same time, then the price per set is $12.15
(25% discount).
We recommend shopping your
local studio competition on this type of product when
setting your retail price but our research
indicates a retail price point of $48 - $65
per set would be in line with the industry
(this represents a 3-4x mark-up and an average
of about $4 - $5.50 per card)
There are 5 border styles – full bleed, white border,
black border, red border and shadow border. There
are 6 greetings from which to choose – Merry
Christmas, Happy Holidays, Season’s Greeting, Happy
Hanukkah, Feliz Navidad and No Greeting. Customers
can also key in up to 3 lines of personalized text.
The
No Greeting option makes these cards perfect to include
in your year round product offering. Samples images will
be on candidnet by October 1st and you will be able to
order samples as well on www.picmyphotos.com,
password samplessamples.
Did you know
you can now access the QP2 Reports on Candidnet? To
access the reports go to the Order Track/Accounting
navigation link and then click on Invoicing Reports. The
Reports Login page will appear, type in your CCS
customer number and Party Pics password to access
the list of reports. Once
logged in a new page will appear with a list of reports:
Event Master Report; Products Sold Report; Margin
Report; Event Comparison Report; Order Activity Report;
Photographer Productivity Report; Customer Report;
Invoice Reporting; and Sales Tax Summary Report.
Click to enlarge
The
Invoice Report has been revised and is easier to use. You no longer
receive hundreds of invoices each day for every order place online. Instead,
all this information is contained in one report that
you can access online whenever you want.
The report can be run for any time frame, platform, event,
and/or order id. When
you run the report for a specific time frame a summary for each order number
will be displayed for that time frame. The summary
will show you the event type, sales subtotal, shipping,
tax, event sales, lab charges, lab credits, gross profit,
gross margin %, gift certificates used, non-remit sales
and remit sales.
The details for a specific order number can be viewed
by clicking the “+” sign
on the left side of the order number. The summary information for the order number
will display at the top and then a summary for each order id invoice for that
time frame will be displayed underneath. The Order ID summary will show the
order ID number, cycle number, source, order date, description
(name), sales subtotal, shipping, tax, event sales, print
cost, other costs, online payment processing, CCS credits,
gross profit, gross profit margin %, gift certificates,
non-remit sales, and remit sales for each Order ID.
Invoice Report
The details
for a specific Order ID # can be viewed
by clicking the “+” sign
on the left side of the Order ID #. The Order ID detail
shows the invoice #, invoice date, invoice type, amount,
any comments associated with the invoice, product codes
and descriptions, quantities and extended amounts. To
go back a level simply click the “-“ sign
to the left of the Order ID or Order Number.
Changes to the Invoice Report make it easier to tie out
lab bills and link retail sales with the lab bill. It also ties online commissions to an order. This
will allow you to calculate correct margins and provide you a better cost analysis. To
see more detailed information on the changes and benefits of the Invoice Report
read the Software Overview given by Demetri Barges at the Summer Workshops. You
can access this presentation on Candidnet under the Seminars / Workshops July
29-31, 2007 / Presentations link.
Spring
Sports Shoots Are Being Booked Right Now!
by Brian
Speers
Though
the calendar reminds us that it is September 2007, you
should be looking at the calendar as though it says March
2008; especially if
you are planning to market, book, and shoot Spring baseball or soccer leagues
for 2008. Though you may think this notion extreme or, perhaps even premature,
I can assure you that if you are not yet planning for the spring sports season,
your competitors are!
If you have decided that Youth
sports will be a viable market for you in 2008 then the
groundwork must be laid now. Don’t think that you
can wait until February of next year to begin planning
what will happen in the second quarter of 2008.
So where do you begin? Well, decide first what spring sports you want to
focus on (why not all of them), and search through your files to see if you can
create greatlooking samples, which you’ll need to market
your services. If you don’t have great-looking images, CCS can provide
sample images for most of the popular sports played in the 4 to12 age group.
Great looking samples will be an integral element to whatever marketing materials
you’ll be leaving with your league decision makers, along with a letter
of introduction, testimonials from past customers and a sheet detailing why they
should be working with you.
Next, you are going to need some leads. A good source of potential clients
for your sports business is church, school, and league websites; city/town recreation
departments; and also competitor’s websites. If your competitor has an
online presence, it’s very easy to visit their site to see in what towns,
leagues, or schools they may be booking business, and you may even learn about
their pricing structure.
After accumulating leads a sales plan must be designed and implemented. Are
you going to plan an email campaign to potential leagues; or, perhaps, use a
cold-calling phone campaign to establish appointments or presentations to league
or school administrators? Whatever you decide, it must be something that your
lead sales person is not only comfortable with, but also will take the time to
integrate and to follow through.
The sales process for Spring sports has an early wake-up call. Think of
it as spring training that happens to take place in the Fall. PhotoMatch
is now available byDanette
Reinbold
PhotoMatch is
a photo identification
program and hardware
combination to which Candid Color has purchased the exclusive
rights. This software was first designed six years ago
to identify and match images to email addresses provided
by those pictured in the images. It was adapted to work with QuicPics and
was used at NBC in New York City for four years. The use of PhotoMatch
at events in New York has generated over $3,000,000 in online retail sales.
Since introducing PhotoMatch earlier this year, Candid has revamped the entire
system and made it even more user-friendly. Used in conjunction with QP2/QPPlus,
the PhotoMatch systems now allows you to create emails with a link that will
take your customers directly to the favorites page, populated with their images. Online
ordering has never been so easy!
Currently available for the QuicPics market using QP2, PhotoMatch is currently
being beta tested for use with CORE Schools.
The PhotoMatch system consists of scanners, software and synch cords. The
scanner cost $240.00 and includes the scanner, an USB synch cord, and 3 rechargeable
AAA batteries. The software cost $100.00 and includes the camera synch
cord. This cord allows you to synch any digital camera with a synch port
or hot shoe adaptor to the software, thus eliminating the need to tether to a
computer. Additional camera synch cords are available for $35.00.
Sheets of blank, perforated card are available from CCS for $42.00 per package. There
are 500 sheets per package, with each sheet containing 10 cards. These
can be used as single password cards or as 5 two-part cards—per sheet—that
would allow you to collect email addresses. For the full benefit of the
PhotoMatch systems it is recommended that you use a two-part card, as collecting
the emails allows you to proactively market your images after the event. Templates
for the cards are available from Tech Support, 800-750-0494 (select option 2). They
can also assist you with acquiring the Barcode Font 39 that you will need to
create your barcodes. These cards are created in MS Word.
If you would like to purchase PhotoMatch or have any questions, please contact
Danette Reinbold at 800-336-4550 ext. 136 or Amy Ramsey at 800-750-0434 ext.
439. Cleaning
Digital SLR Camera Sensors by Steve Foisy
Have
you ever cleaned your camera’s sensor? (CCD,
CMOS Chip)
If not, then your may be overdue for
a cleaning. Over time, dust and lint can
collect on the camera’s sensor. These
will be most visible on the lighter areas of an
image. Larger particles or dust spots are
visible on almost any portion of a picture. “Is
that a mole on that face or a dust spot?”
Cameras
with non-removable lenses such as the Canon G3, Kodak 4800
or Olympus E10/E20 do not require cleaning since they are
assembled in a dust free environment and have sealed non-removable
lenses. Some, but not
all new cameras such as the Olympus E300 & E500,
Canon 30D and the upcoming Nikon D300 have a built in
sonic wave mechanism that automatically cleans the sensor
when the camera is turned on. All other digital
cameras with a removable fixed focal length lens or zoom
lens (air flows through these as you zoom in and out)
are vulnerable to a build-up of dust particles. The
more you remove your lenses, the more likely you are
to experience dust. Even brand new cameras out
of the box should have their sensors cleaned prior to
use since there may have been dust particles that settled
on the sensor during shipping.
Camera sensors should be cleaned every 1-2 weeks depending
on usage. Below are two different methods to clean
your digital SLR camera’s sensor. The second
method utilizing a sensor brush has only recently been
available and thoroughly tested.
WARNING: Follow the cleaning procedures
according to the instructions in your owner’s manual. Failure to
follow the proper procedures can damage your camera. Cleaning the
sensor yourself (even if needed) may void your warranty.
Cleaning with an Air bulb/Air Blower
Step 1: Assemble items required for cleaning.
You will need the camera, an AC adapter for older
cameras such as the Nikon D100, an air blower without anti
static brushes, a desk lamp, the camera owners manual opened
to the sensor cleaning section and a clean (air) environment
to perform the cleaning. Air blowers can be purchased
at most camera stores or at your local drug store. The
large bulbs used for ear cleaning are the best.
Because it is so easy to mis-use, we do not recommend
the use of sensor cleaning swabs. You will typically
void your warranty if you use them and some digital cameras
have filters in front of the sensor that can be damaged
with the use of a swab. If not done properly, you
can cause more harm to your camera sensor than good.
This type of cleaning should be done by a trained professional. Also,
we do not recommend the use of canned air because of
the high pressure and moisture content in the propellant.
Step 2: Set camera to cleaning mode.
This menu item is normally found in the custom functions
menu on most cameras. Most Nikon cameras will require the use of an AC adapter*
to activate this feature. Using the camera’s menu driven cleaning
setting will lock the mirror and shutter curtain in the up or open position
and will also change the charge of the sensor which helps to repel the particles
when blown with air.
Step 3: Remove Lens and Point Camera Down
Take your lens off of the camera once you have activated
the cleaning setting. Do not do this in a dusty
environment and do not let anything touch the sensor. If
you look into the camera through the opening where the
lens is mounted, the sensor will be visible as a shiny
turquoise or greenish looking rectangular object. Point
the camera straight down to reduce the chance of dust
falling into camera body.
Step 4: Position Camera Over The Air Blower
Hold camera pointing straight down and directly
over the blower with the tip of the blower no closer to
the camera’s sensor than the front of the camera body. Do
not let the end of the blower touch the sensor. You
may find it easier to hold the blower steady by resting
it on a table top.
Step 5: Squeeze Air Blower Squeeze
the air blower directing the air blast onto the sensor. Do this five
times.
Step 6: Examine the Sensor
Hold your camera under a desk
lamp and examine the sensor. (Don’t
use a dusty lamp!) By tipping the camera back and forth,
you will be able to see the reflection of the light on
the sensor. This will make any large dust particles
more visible. If you see any large dust particles
still on the sensor, repeat Step 5 until the spots are
gone. Do not touch the sensor! If you cannot
remove the dust particles off of the sensor or you still
see spots on your images even after cleaning, then your
camera should be returned to the manufacturer for cleaning.
Step 7: Blow Off Lens and Mount on Body
Blow the back end of the lens off prior to putting it back onto the
camera. Do this promptly after cleaning. Using the camera menu,
turn the cleaning mode off.
*In an emergency, you can clean a Nikon camera sensor
without an AC adapter with the camera’s shutter
speed set on bulb. It will be more difficult to
clean every particle from the sensor, but larger dust
spots may still be removable. Do not release the shutter
button if the air bulb is obstructing the mirror.
Cleaning with a Sensor Brush
Available through http://www.visibledust.com/,
the senor brush is a wonderful tool to clean your camera sensors quickly and
safely. Most brushes will run $70-$80 each.
Step 1: Blow tip of brush with Canned Air (moisture
free) for 10 seconds. (It is OK to use canned air for
this part of the process)
Step 2: Turn camera on
to cleaning mode using the same steps in the Air Blower method.
Step 3: Once the camera is in cleaning mode and
the lens is removed, gently clean the sensor using one
continuous stroke from left to right. Avoid touching
the brush to any other portion of the camera to avoid
picking up camera lubricant which could damage the sensor. Step 4: Repeat
if steps 1-3 if needed. Never
brush twice in a row without blowing off sensor brush.
Clean the brush occasionally with mild detergent or alcohol.
Contact Steve Foisy in Customer Support at 800-750-0494
ext 858 for
more information on sensor cleaning. Lab Service Times for8/26/2007
- 9/01/2007
by Bo Lewis
Problems
with, or suggestions about The Developments Newsletter? Email us
to see if we can help.
