| Historically, photo buttons have been used in every | | | | or the big city leaving their pets behind in the care of |
| political campaign since the 1870's. Today, photo | | | | mom and dad. Here the use of a premium could be |
| buttons are used as wearable portraits along with | | | | used to up-sell to a larger print size of that pose with |
| photo T-shirts, etc. Photo buttons are most popular | | | | pet. That premium could be the photo button. If you |
| as a very profitable sales "add-ons" for sports, dance | | | | have another premium in mind, try that, but try. Of |
| and event photography and come with a pin, magnet | | | | key importance is not waiting, hit the senior of that |
| or mirror back. For other types of studio | | | | emotion during the sales presentation. |
| photography, buttons have great promise to enhance | | | | Example 2: Schools need cash! Funds raisers are now |
| that all too shrinking bottom line. Selling photo buttons | | | | common place activities at nearly all schools K-12. To |
| is a quick profit builder. At a wholesale price of about | | | | raise funds, schools need to sell something - why not |
| $1.50, photographers are selling photo buttons | | | | photo buttons, magnets and mirrors? Schools these |
| between $4.00 & $8.00. Not shabby for just checking | | | | days will take the time to listen to most any fund |
| the button box on your ROES lab print order. Note: | | | | raising idea. Again, let's look at high school. Photo |
| the lower price is usually an add-on to a package | | | | buttons of sports teams and cheer leader squads can |
| while the higher price is a button sold separately. Size | | | | easily be sold to other students and at the games to |
| of photo buttons play a big part in demand. Kids | | | | parents to raise money. Don't forget school bands! |
| really like bigger buttons - 3.5 inch diameter. As a | | | | These are booster buttons and should be marketed |
| refrigerator magnet or mirror, Mom's also appreciate | | | | as such. You may want to dismiss the idea, but think |
| the 3.5" button. Seems the larger image size attracts | | | | it through. Look at the internal contacts you can |
| more attention. | | | | make: teacher-sponsors, coaches and administrators |
| So you are not an event photographer. Photo | | | | and to say the least, the student body. You are in |
| buttons for children and pet photography makes | | | | the cat bird seat here. You can provide something |
| sense if used as an "add-on" or a "premium." Grand | | | | they need - -access to money. |
| parents appreciate and cherish every picture of their | | | | Here is how the school booster button program |
| grand children. Photo magnetic-buttons can certainly | | | | works. You provide buttons to the school at $3.00 to |
| satisfy their need. Grand parents love refrigerator | | | | $5.00 each on speculation. They sell the buttons at a |
| magnets. Most photographers could easily make | | | | 2x mark up (no less) or more to whom ever. This is |
| photo buttons of "new borns" and "the 3 month old," | | | | easy money/profit for the school. Every student or |
| a big hit with their customer base including grand | | | | household will purchase a button. You buy the |
| parents. | | | | buttons in quantities of 50 or more and reorder more |
| Premiums. Potentially, the use of premiums can help | | | | buttons when needed. All you have to do is capitalize |
| any retail enterprise including the professional | | | | on the PR. You are a hero in the school's eyes. In the |
| photographer if appropriately used. Premiums as a | | | | mean time you are busy photographing individual |
| marketing tool can both be used to increase or | | | | cheer leaders and athletes in your studio because of |
| maintain market share. Photo buttons as a premium in | | | | contacts you made, all because of a simple |
| other studio product lines as a means to increase | | | | promotional button. |
| profits does warrant experimentation. | | | | Hint: with more of your own imagination you can |
| Example 1: 30% of all senior portrait sessions | | | | surely think of more uses that photo buttons can |
| comprise of a pose: senior with pet. If one stops to | | | | make on improving your bottom line while increasing |
| think about the long term emotional impact of this | | | | your market share. Key is the fact that buttons can |
| particular pose, more portraiture could be easily sold. | | | | be used for each sitting or in volume for promotions. |
| In just 12 months those seniors will be off to college | | | | |