AJLA Posted June 10, 2009 Report Share Posted June 10, 2009 As well as the usual and expected services a minilab has to offer what are you guys offering as add on services. I can't help thinking that maybe after missing out on the VHS to DVD thing for so long I may have missed another opportunity. Some of the services we offer off the top of my head: Passports Canvases Photogifts T shirt printing Photocopying Tape to DVD (SOON TO COME SLIDE TO DVD) Fax Laminating Watch batteries inkjet/photo paper Probably missing something but any further ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nash Posted June 10, 2009 Report Share Posted June 10, 2009 Photocopying is a good service i charge .20p per black + white copy better margin than photos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
photo7studio Posted June 10, 2009 Report Share Posted June 10, 2009 PRINTER INK CARTRIDGE? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJLA Posted June 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2009 Yep do both of those, the photocopier brings a lot of foot traffic into the shop. Inks I only stock Epson compatibles, great cartridges with good profit margins. I also do quite well on SD cards etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nash Posted June 10, 2009 Report Share Posted June 10, 2009 Yes but have you considered of doing your photocopies at 20p each Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJLA Posted June 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2009 No I charge 10p with at least 4 other places in the street where I am charging 5p self service I couldn't get away with it unfortunately. A lot of people even complain about this but you can't please everyone hey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nash Posted June 10, 2009 Report Share Posted June 10, 2009 hey it`s the same for me but i explain that i charge 10p for a digital photo so i can`t be the cheapest on everything "I do have overheads", but theres always a concession on large amount of copying. An average of joe public does about 7 copies so £1.40 is not bad, small busineses do a lot more so for them i charge just 5p Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Dave Posted June 10, 2009 Report Share Posted June 10, 2009 Here are some things that others are doing that I didn't see listed above: Shoe box scanning ? Photo Jewelry Photography Classes setup a little mini photo studio ? Custom Framing Posters, Collages, wide format vinyl signage Greeting cards / invitations Some of these could be categorized as "photo gifting", but could be strong on their own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony.T Posted June 10, 2009 Report Share Posted June 10, 2009 Cine to DVD transfer..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fujilab Posted June 10, 2009 Report Share Posted June 10, 2009 Photo books and collages are not mentioned anywhere here. No need for more investment - do them on the lab you already have. We do both and there are huge margins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jvc1986 Posted June 10, 2009 Report Share Posted June 10, 2009 What programs do you use for collages? And photo books, what system do you use, since you use your lab? ClixxPixx? And Photo Jewlery, what excactly does that mean, any good links to share? What do you use to print t-shirt prints? And do it work on colred textiles? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nash Posted June 11, 2009 Report Share Posted June 11, 2009 here JVC have a look at this link http://www.hometogifts.co.uk/Jewellery.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jvc1986 Posted June 11, 2009 Report Share Posted June 11, 2009 Thanks, great link! How is the life time for these things? Do they last long before fading? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nash Posted June 11, 2009 Report Share Posted June 11, 2009 well i`ve doing these for about year now and i estimated i`ve done about 50 to date and no returns as yet. When printed onto the pendant it feels like enamel and tough as car paint very scratch resistant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony.T Posted June 11, 2009 Report Share Posted June 11, 2009 JVC- Do your photobooks and collages using 'photomix' Do a google for it and download a trial. Cheap to buy if you like it. Use the unibind photobook system, again do a google for it. Very cheap to get started. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jvc1986 Posted June 11, 2009 Report Share Posted June 11, 2009 Thanks for the tip! Unibind looks great, but how does it work, on the demo it just seems like you put the pages into a "frame" and put it on the machine. Is there some kind of glue inbetween each page? And can I use this cheap thing, or what system do you recommend? http://www.adorama.com/FSUPBC.html?searchinfo=unibind&item_no=7 Edit: I do see now that the linked one is only for 8,5x11", kinda small? What do you use? This: http://www.unibind.com/unibind2008/PDF/BookCreator.pdf? Lab only print 1 side, do you glue them together to get images on both sides? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jvc1986 Posted June 11, 2009 Report Share Posted June 11, 2009 Got a request from a customer today, if we could to Cake topping with photo (you know, cakes with a picture on top, eatable) I guess one would need some eatable paper and "ink"? Edit: Found something here: http://www.cake-decorating-supply.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=6 Edit2: Wow, shipping on the photobook creator from US to Norway is more than the thing itself, And the price for the XU 238 quoted Kr 7990,- ( 1140$ ) from the Norwegian importer of Unibind.. They did not sell the cheap one, US only.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fujilab Posted June 11, 2009 Report Share Posted June 11, 2009 Tony is right, download a program from the internet and use a Unibind system. We are looking at installing OBLO kiosk software now that does the books and collages automatically. I saw it working in Paris recently at the PhotoService shops. Worth checking out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colopt Posted June 12, 2009 Report Share Posted June 12, 2009 I have found custom framing is good. Although it can be time consuming, but I still have lots to learn with it, and feel there is much more potential, as I only take on basic framing jobs. Have started doing block mounting, and want to do more display type printing as my large format printer is really under utillised. Tried inkjet carts, but couldn't give them away. Do some watch batteries, but steer clear of the expensive looking ones! Passport photos are always good, have set up a mini studio for this. Overall I am trying to keep things simple and concentrate on doing a few things well, rather than trying to offer a million different products, I am only a small business! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Dave Posted June 12, 2009 Report Share Posted June 12, 2009 Don't forget, to survive and thrive, we have to look at the "long tail of retail".... offering lots of different things, and making small amounts for each. We can no longer survive on 4x6's alone. We recently introduced photo crystals (outlabbed), but we're selling 1-3 of them a week. This is a LOT more than we ever expected. Our vendor is happy with our sales as well and delivers them once a week. At $8 - $30 USD each, it's pretty good. It's "better than nothing". If we can't do it well in-house, I'd rather outlab it and make a little than not offer it at all and make nothing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Noritsu Posted June 12, 2009 Report Share Posted June 12, 2009 www.vincentcheung.ca/shapecollage Check this out for collages. Its free and very versatile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJLA Posted June 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 12, 2009 The photo t shirts are sublimation but I use vinuyl for the promo/event t shirts and they do very well. I also do the t shirts for our local sports shop ie the local running clubs, football etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nash Posted June 12, 2009 Report Share Posted June 12, 2009 AJLA what do charge for T Shirt printing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJLA Posted June 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 12, 2009 Vinyl printed t shirts vary on how much vinyl i'm using ie text front or back or both etc the average lets say hen night t shirt I usually retail for about £8.50 including the shirt they sometimes bring their own shirts so the price is about £6.00 again depending on what they actually want. I also do a range of our own slogan t shirts which I retail @£9.99 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philspectrum Posted June 12, 2009 Report Share Posted June 12, 2009 T-shirts are not a known price item, - and I don't think they are very price sensitive, - price just needs to seem reasonable. YOU are offering same day or 1 hour service - not competing with web or outlab, - so put prices up to reflect your quality and service. You can always discount, - but cannot easily increase price ! We find that £10 is a base price for print (cut) only for 10+ items Why give it away - or do you think you are wallmark ? P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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