T & I Package configurations

[Bill_Gaze]

Hi folks,

I have just been awarded the opportunity to the T&I for my local High School. I have been doing yearbook and sports action and candids for the past couple of years, and now have the opportunity to do all of the T&I.

In the past, the folks who have done the T&I were not very successful, and I was wondering if part of the problem was their package configurations and available "extras".

I think that High School students and parents probably have different buying habits from what they purchased when they were in the pony leagues and just starting out.

I would appreciate any insight into what package configurations have been successful and what "extras" appeal to this age group. My own kids were not jocks so I have no personal experience.

Thanks for your help and comments.

Regards,

Bill

[Mike_Rogers]

My own experience has shown that traditional T&I just doesn't appeal to kids older that about 14. And by then, the parents have so many photos that haven't even been sorted or displayed, that they just say 'No More!"

Our approach, which we have just started this season, is Posters. A posed photo as one of the images on the poster is fine, the rest are usually the action photos that didn't sell well either. The team image can also be incorporated, as can a collage of several divverent players in action.

We offer two styles, and have sold both to the same people. First is the individual poster, with just images of that person. This is considered "custom", and sells for $150.00 and up, depending on how many other images are on it. Second is the "Team" Poster. This one will include a posed team shot, and at least one action photo of each member of the team, under 20 or so members, or overall action shots on the field of several people during a play if the team is larger. They both will have lettering and logo as well. This one sells for a little less, as so far 80% of the team seems to buy. Price is around $115.00.

We do these at 24x30, so that we can also make a print in 8x10. These are available ONLY as an add-on after the poster is purchased, and still sells at a premium of $40.00 for 1 or 3 for $100.00.

So far, we have sold over 500 posters this way since February, to leagues that have not usually been good sales-wise. Has opened up the older leaagues to us, and will hopefully continue.

[Bill_Gaze]

Thanks Mike,

I have been thinking about adding a poster, and you have pressed my button a bit, hence the following list of questions. Do you sell the posters at the time you take the formal photos, pre-order, or are they sold on-line? Is most of the purchasing done at the end of the season? Do you still offer the "standard" packages?

Do you use a template and produce a similar poster for each athlete, or are they custom done? I have been looking at templates from Artistic Action and they seem to be a little much for my taste, but I have only viewed them on-line, not up close and personal.

I currently host and fulfill using Exposure Manager. They have recently changed printing labs and now offer a metallic print. What finish do you offer and do you offer your clients a choice?

I really appreciate your response and comments.

Regards,

Bill

[Mike_Rogers]

Bill-
We generally do not do an entire season with any leagues. If we can, we will show up on an off-day or two, and take action photos from the sideline. Although we don't try to hide, we DO NOT offer any sales on those days. But those are great days to advertise the upcoming T&I days, and we mention that action photos will be available then. That gives us a little time to sort, clean up and crop. For small leagues, we will generally preprint all the useable action shots in 5x7, and just post them on a board or table when we do T&I. Sales are usually about 75%. Just hard to resist something that you can pick up and feel RIGHT NOW. (How's that, Norm).

For the larger leagues, preprints of at least 3 of each kid (if we can identify them), and the rest sorted by kid on a viewing station. We let the parents know that we have more available, TODAY.

Now about the posters. Since we should already have a nice collection of action for each kid, we sell the posters on T&I day, as an extra item. Like a 16x20, which I do not print on-site, we take the money and ship the poster in about 2 weeks. I generally create a specific template for each sport each season. If I get a new league in a specific sport, I can use a previous template, keeping the new ones fresh. The hardest part of the poster creation is the original design. Gotta admit, I look at everything I can find, and then adapt from there. Second hardest part is cutting out a couple of the action shots to lay over the background. the rest I put in frames on the background. I usually allow the parents to have some input on what photos they would like on a poster, but always tell them that if there is a problem with one photo or another, then I will make a decision based on my experience. So far, NO complaints, and lot's of compliments.

My first posters were not as good as the most recent, but as in everything else I have learned about this business, no excuses, but keep growing.

[Mike_Rogers]

Oh, and all we offer right now is standard glossy, printed on an HP750C printer. Hope to buy my own soon, as I have room for it in my truck. Then I could print some during the slow times, as well as just the large pieces for marketing

[ChristopherStockman]

Hi Mike,
Can you share with us what one of your posters looks like? I will share one of the items that sells really well for me. This is an 8x24 "custom collage". we charge $100 regular price or $80 as a special if it is purchased while we are at a particular venue. The basis of our price is the print goes for $65 and the "custom collage setup fee" is $35. These take me 10-12 minutes to create in photoshop. And it prints out perfectly on the ML500.

We photograph all the sports , dance and cheer programs at five schools. 4 Junior high schools and one high school. We do not offer memory mate photos as we just do not make any money with those at this level.

Our packages
2 8x10, 2 5x7 + 16 wallets of the indiv and one 8x10 team $37.95.

2 5x7, 4 wal of the indiv and one 8x10 team photo $27.95

Same individual photo with out the team photo subtract $6.00

Tons of add ons; refridgerator magnets, bag tags, all help the bottom line.

All are pre-paid orders and nothing is done on a speculation basis.

Sports: Football, Volleyball, Both girls and boys basketball, some of the schools have track and others baseball and softball. So we stay busy through out the school year with the 5 schools.
Cheer and Dance are usually done in the early part of the school year.

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