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jmichel@webworxonline.com's blog
Lifepics/ New for 2011
With the beginning of each business year, all of us at Mastercolor try to reflect on the recent busy season and how we could improve services for our customers. It is a convenient time for us to tackle this task because January is typically our slowest month. In 2010 what we already knew was confirmed once again: uploading images is not the most comfortable thing for most digital camera users. I have discussed the frustrations of how to organize and order your images in my previous BLOGS, but what I want to do is introduce you to a new service that we have finally launched. We waited until after the Holidays to have a campaign for this service because we wanted our staff to have the extra time to answer your questions.
Friends Helping Friends
I have always said that the best part about working at a small photography business is the chance to work closely with friends, and to create images of their families and from their memories. It seems like just yesterday that my friend Karen Kelly came in to Mastercolor wanting us to create a stretched canvas for her of a really fantastic shot she had captured while visiting Maine on a family vacation. At the time we were already printing on canvas, but to be honest, we really did not want to get into all the materials and space needed for creating Canvas Gallery Wraps. Well Karen is one of those special types of people that can tell you what you should be doing without coming across as pushy. Long story short Karen knew our business better than we did, and now Canvas Gallery Wraps are some of our most requested items.
After Karen convinced me how easy they were to make, told me where I could go to buy the stretcher bars, and how popular these would become, Mastercolor produced our first Giclee Gallery wrap with her image of the "Good Ole Buoys". Karen’s Gallery Wrap has been hanging in our lobby ever since .
The advice given to me by a close friend has really helped shape the future of our business. We even designed a separate website just to handle the volume of Giclees and Canvas Wraps we received, www.mastercolorcanvas.com.
Slow times can be good times
I think everyone would choose to stay busy in their jobs rather than having eight long weeks to wonder where all of your customers have gone. Unfortunately in the photofinishing industry we have grown use to it. However, when life gives you lemons, reach out and talk to your customers.
We recently returned from the Carolina Nature Photographers Association convention in Charlotte N.C. which was held at the HiltonCharlotte University Place. Let me start by saying if your company ever needs to hold a conference in Charlotte I would highly suggest staying here. The weekend was packed with lectures, workshops and the trade show. The CNPA was pleased to announce their largest attendence ever for a convention, just under 500 people. Standing at a table for 10 hours is never something that anyone looks forward to, but talking to photographers that really are still in it for the fun is a nice change. We spoke with all levels of photographers, but despite the difference in their knowledge, it was great to see that spark of imagination in their eyes. On the drive home to Greensboro my father and I each commented how much fun it was to be working in an industry that started as a hobby for each of us. Our table at the trade show was located beside Dan Beauvais of the Outerbanks. Dan is not only an accomplished photographer, but he is known all over the east coast for repairing both Nikon and Cannon digital cameras. While at the show he an his partner must have cleaned over 400 cameras, folks were lining up with bags full of cameras for his $30 show special. If you camera needs repairs or just a good cleaning I would consider Dan an excellent source. Contact Dan: dan@danbeauvais.com
