New Changes to Express Shipping We
now offer express shipping on the retail grad,
sports and race websites without rushing the order
through the lab. If the customer chooses
to express ship their order, they will pay the amount
you determine from your shipping scale in CORE. The
order will flow through the lab with the normal turnaround
time then be shipped via FEDEX overnight. As
you had in the past, you still have the option to rush
the orders through the lab for a 1 day rush fee. For
more information on this feature please contact the
customer support department at 1-800-750-0494
Imagine walking into a mall where, instead of each
store having traditional names like The Limited, Hot
Topic, Macy’s, Victoria’s Secret, etc.
all the stores were named Yahoo, Gmail, AOL or any
number of generic labels.
Each day in the Customer Development department we
converse and communicate with a number of CCS customers
and potential customers whose email address is abc@gmail.com;
or xyz@aol.com.
If you consider yourself a professional photographer
and want to promote the name of your business while
building credibility in your name and establishing
a brand, then it is crucial that your business name
be a part of your email address.
Too often the easy (and low-cost) way is taken to
establish an email account on one of the free sites
like AOL or Google. This typically happens when you
are just getting started attempting to turn a hobby
into a business; trying to save a little money; and
still not quite sure if this is what you really want
to do. But quickly that “hobby” business
can take off and before you know it you are making
enough money to support your website, purchase additional
equipment and even add an employee or two.
The ease of acquiring a domain name couldn’t
be easier. All you do is go to any of the online domain
registration sites like www.godaddy.com or
www.GreatDomains.com, www.SEDO.com. At www.godaddy.com you
can acquire a domain name for as little as nine dollars
instead of possibly thousands of dollars for a premium
domain name.
Creating credibility with your website and your email
address is certainly the most important thing when
convincing clients to do business with you. The little
things DO matter and it is definitely worth it to expend
the effort to set your business up this way.
If you would like further information on creating
credibility for you photography business contact Brian
Speers in
Customer Development at 1-800-336-4550.
DIGITAL SPORTS FLYERS & ENVELOPES REORDER
TIME!
by Holly McCoy
Our very popular sports flyers and envelopes are an
exciting way to present products to your end customers.
Both the flyer and envelope have full color fronts
with blank backs for laser printing or for on press.
We
have been told some laser printers have trouble with
the gluestrip on the envelopes, so you can choose WITH
GLUESTRIPS or NO GLUESTRIPS. A lot of the customers
that are having these problems have said they would
rather us just print these without the glue. SO, we
are making BOTH OPTIONS available to you!
You can take
your file to a local “QuikPrint” type press
and they can overprint them for you for a reasonable
cost or you can also run these through your laser printer
much more easily without the gluestrip. The envelopes
are converted and the perforated flyer/back side of
envelope is left open flat for overprinting. You can
actually overprint either a mailing address or the
customer information directly on the envelope bottom,
and then put your company info and packages up top
above the perforated envelope/glue strip.
The whole
back panel (including glue strip and envelope back)
is 14-3/4" X 8-1/2" but you must allow about
3/4" in the middle of the overprinting side for
the glue strip, where no type can be printed. The envelope
itself will be 8-1/2" wide X 5-3/4" tall
once the top is torn off where the customer can keep
the top information. They can then enclose and seal
their check in the envelope. You can overprint whatever
you want on the backs---it’s up to you! Products
featured on the pieces include statuettes, super tickets,
sports borders, plaques, magnets, luggage tags, calendars,
all-access passes, magazine covers, memory mates, trader
cards, and buttons.
The FLYERS are 8.5X11 and are NOW GLOSSY FRONTS, with
dull back for overprinting. The glossy front makes
a much stronger piece!
We will be printing these every three months, so you
will need to estimate your needs for the next three
months. We will NOT be inventorying these, so you must
order what you need for this time period!! Envelopes
will ship via ground as soon as possible. Please allow
2 weeks time for the printing plus time for ground
shipment after the deadline date for ordering. DEADLINE
FOR ORDERS IS FRIDAY, JUNE 6TH, 2008!! So order yours
today! Download the order form here!
LEVEL TWO FLYERS REORDER TIME!
It’s time once again to reorder our Level 2
Flyers that show off some of the popular designs available.
They are 8.5”X11” in size. The front side
is GLOSSY and pre-printed in full-color with the design
options, and the back is actually uncoated/matte to
allow it to be overprinted through laser printers or
locally on press. We have also increased the weight
of the paper over the first initial run....and it’s
still light enough to run through the laser printers,
but bulkier and nicer in the hands of your customers!
Due to demand, we will run these flyers every 3 months,
along with the Digital Sports Envelopes and Flyers.
Please make sure you order for the next 3 months, as
we will not carry inventory of these! Please allow
2-3 weeks for printing and ground shipment after the
order deadline date. ORDER DEADLINE IS FRIDAY, JUNE
6th, 2008! Order yours today!!! Download the order form here!
ORDER YOUR SCHOOL PORTRAIT MATERIALS FOR THE UPCOMING
YEAR!
Check out these great School Portrait Pre-Pay Envelopes
and Flyers!!! They are an exciting way to present products
to your end customers. Both the flyer and envelope
have full color fronts with blank backs for laser printing
or for on press. We have been told some laser printers
have trouble with the gum on the ENVELOPES, and some
do not...SO WE ARE NOW OFFERING BOTH: WITH GLUESTRIPS,
and NO GLUESTRIPS!! You will need to test this to make
sure which you will need.
You can take your file to
a local “QuikPrint” type press and they
can overprint them for you for a reasonable cost too.
The Envelopes are folded and left open flat for overprinting
on the back. You can actually overprint either a mailing
address or the customer information directly on the
envelope bottom, and then put your company info and
packages up top above the perforated envelope glue
strip. The whole back panel (including glue strip and
envelope back) is 14-3/4" X 8-1/2" but you
must allow about 3/4" in the middle of the overprinting
side for the glue strip, where no type can be printed.
The envelope itself will be 8-1/2" wide X 5-3/4" tall
once the top is torn off where the customer can keep
the top information. They can then enclose and seal
their check in the envelope. You can overprint whatever
you want on the backs---it’s up to you!
Both pieces feature portraits along with the Kid’s
FunPak product in five different designs including:
Denim, Stars & Stripes, Metallic, Brights and Camoflauge.
This new envelope design is a great way to have the
students pre-pay for their portraits. We have used
this type of envelope in many other different markets
with great success! Order yours today!
**PLEASE NOTE!!! We will be printing these EVERY SIX
MONTHS. Please order all you will need for the next
six months. We will NOT be inventorying these, so you
must order what you need for this time period!! DEADLINE
FOR ORDERING IS FRIDAY, JUNE 6th, 2008. Download the
order form here!
Expand Your Markets During Slow Summer Times by Jessica
Irvin
July and early August are often slow times but, there
are several events taking place all over the state.
Take advantage of the warm weather, get outside, and
shoot summer events! Festivals occur all over the country,
and cover many facets, such as, Renaissance, Art, Wine
and even Blueberries. Most states have a website highlighting
every event that occurs throughout the year. This is
a great place to start your hunt. In addition, check
with the Chamber of Commerce website for additional
event listings. These events are great to shoot banner
and posed shots giving everyone the chance to have
a summer festival souvenir!
Family and High School Reunions are another great way
to generate revenue during the slower summer months.
Contact your area high schools, check the newspaper,
and search online for contacts. Reunions are a great
opportunity to provide portraits and group pictures.
If you get in contact with the reunion committee early
enough, you can pre-market the event and could even
work a deal where a group picture is worked into the
price of attending the reunion.
Other events often overlooked include, Golf Tournaments,
Benefit Concerts, Summer & Sport Camps, Car Shows,
Fourth of July Parties/ Parades, Swim Teams, and Dance
Schools.
Gearing Up For the Fall Now is the time to visit your local schools to book
Fall Sports. The best time to call on coaches and Athletic
Directors is the week after school is out. Everyone
is at the school finishing things up for the year,
and will have more time to sit down and discuss Fall
Picture Day.
Keep your eye on your local newspaper for registration
announcements for fall sports. This will help you gather
contact numbers, and provide you with the date and
location that all the coaches will be gathered at once.
It is also a good time to visit the YMCA and club leagues.
Preparing now will lead to success in the months to
come.
If you have any questions about booking, preparing,
and executing Summer Events and Fall Sports call your
Customer Development Representative at (800) 336-4550.
Lab Service Times for the week of05-18
to 05-24
by Bo Lewis
Problems
with, or suggestions about The Developments Newsletter? Email us
to see if we can help.
