Pros/Cons of minimum print purchase???

[misspinky]

I'm trying to decide if I should implement it or not...

If you have one, how much is it?

Thanks

[AndyM2020]

I don't think I would try and force a client into a minimum order - I think it would put people off if they knew they had to buy, say, 5 prints after the session when they may only want 2 or 3. And other than charging them beforehand, I don't know how you can really force them to buy anything after. If you make them sign a contract and then "chase" them, it could cause them to feel ill will towards you.

The only way I would perhaps approach this is to do a package that includes an amount that is to go towards the purchase of any prints, canvases and so on. For instance, the client buys a package that costs them $250 - $100 of that is for the session, and $150 they redeem against an a la carte product menu.

An advantage as well (for you), is they may not quite buy enough to use all of that amount - there may be $10 left over unspent, that is extra profit for you. If they decide they do not want to "waste" that $10, they may buy another print, paying the difference over that $150.

[mshockley]

I do not require any minimum print purchase with my sessions. Although I do offer perks when a print order reaches certain totals.....for example Photobooks and Video's created of prints selected, etc.

I do have print packages that I offer that are a good deal when compared to purchasing the package prints separately to entice people to order the package, but honestly I'm even considering doing away with this, as I usually end up changing the package for my customer anyway!

Really, I think in the end you set your print prices and go with it, and as mentioned, you can always run a "print special" or some sort of promo throughout the year, switch it up to make it interesting,etc. to drive print sales up.

[misspinky]

Yeah I'm definitely thinking about packages, do you decide exactly what they get in the package or do the credit thing where they can choose whatever they want for the amount of credit?

I also like the idea of having perks for ordering so much, I'll definitely think that one over!

Thanks for your input

[mokka]

I do packages. I wouldn't call it a minimum print, just, for this much money you get x hours of my time and x photos ... additional hours or photos are charged extra for. Make it look like you're throwing the photos in for free as part of the commission.

From the client's point of view this is more attractive, after all, what they're thinking about isn't really how many hours of your time are they getting, it's how many photos are they gonna get. It's always worth reviewing how your services look from the client's perspective, for example even though most of my commission fees aren't based purely on how many photos the client gets out of it, I always work out how much the client is paying per photo because I know this is how the client will see it.

[terri33inne]

I would recommend following 'Easy As Pie' on Facebook (and her blog)... she made 100K her first year in business, and has great advice on running a photog biz.

[PeaceFire]

I haven't read Easy as Pie (yet) but I know that implimenting a minimum order policy can really increase your income. I implied a simple $50 minimum order (done through my proofing site so I don't have to chase anyone down or regulate it, the site does that for me) just so I could weed out people who would randomly order 1 4x6 print. It'sjust not worth my time/energy. But a $50 order is.

[Kit]

terri33inne, I'm assuming that you have purchased and read "easy as pie" and I was wondering if this has improved your sales at all. It's all very well to say she made X amount but did you improve your sales having purchased and read the book?

I purchased an othe e-book written by the same author and wondered what you thought?

[PeaceFire]

Originally Posted by Kit

terri33inne, I'm assuming that you have purchased and read "easy as pie" and I was wondering if this has improved your sales at all. It's all very well to say she made X amount but did you improve your sales having purchased and read the book?

I purchased an othe e-book written by the same author and wondered what you thought?

I know this wasn't directed at me, and I've never read this book... BUT someone on my other board raved about it, saying she'd gotten two order that were over $4,000 each from her last two projects after implementing what she learned from EAP. That's HUGE, IMO.

I almost bit the bullet and bought it after that, but money was tight (we just bought a house!) and I think you can get this information in other places that are maybe a little cheaper. For instance, I did a free webinar with Sal Cincotta and implemented a few small things that he recommended. The next week I made a $1,750 print sale. The next day I made a $350 print sale. The next day I made a $400 print sale. That wasn't a shabby week for me! But that was a FREE webinar. I'm also taking his seminar in Minneapolis in a couple of weeks which I paid $49 for my ticket. I figured that if I still feel like there are things I can learn I can invest some of the income from these sales into it. That and I'm waiting for her to run a sale again.