QUICKPICS112 Posted February 18, 2009 Report Share Posted February 18, 2009 Photobooks? Any comments, is it relly worth investing? Kit seams very expensive (as usual in the photo trade) Or just order it through BOB'S BOOKS!! A passing fad? Told I need to do 2 a day to make it pay?!!!!!! No one asked for it yet so 2 a day looks like everest!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJLA Posted February 18, 2009 Report Share Posted February 18, 2009 I have been asked only the one time so I won't be going there. Surely someone is doing a few somwhere... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fujilab Posted February 18, 2009 Report Share Posted February 18, 2009 Simple solutuion - print on your lab with no watermark paper, put together on a Unibind system. - then promote. Nothing happened till we put posters up and told all the punters we could do them. They really are a 'touchey, feely' product so you need them on the counter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony.T Posted February 18, 2009 Report Share Posted February 18, 2009 Fujilab is quite right. Exactly what we do. Use 'photomix' software to do your layouts (very cheap, download off the interweb) The only thing is- I truly believe this is a passing fad. I promote them regulary but have had little interest. Is this another product that with digital we can do but no-one really wants?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philspectrum Posted February 18, 2009 Report Share Posted February 18, 2009 back in the olden days approc 15% of film photos ended up in albums. Maybe will be the same for digital ? Of this 15% - maybe half will be direct to album, half stuck in old way ...... OR - maybe direct to album will generate new market ? Software needs to get faster to use first thou - heard that most album jobs take 7 visits to finish project. very high drop out rate. I will prefre the multiples to do the educating, - but am happy to change my tune ..... P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilT Posted February 18, 2009 Report Share Posted February 18, 2009 This was a topic at the recent Mini Lab Forum My own view, and has been pointed out, for this to succeed, you must have several samples on hand, as they have to be seen and touched to understand what they are like. A number of solutions are available at different entry prices, so well worth looking into. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cecilh Posted February 19, 2009 Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 We use the Clixx Pixx system and are very happy with it. Please see previous post for full details: http://www.minilabhelp.com/forum/Blah.pl?m-1225169257/s-11/highlight-clixx/#num11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kioskguy Posted February 19, 2009 Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 Photo books have been good for us but it is all driven by promotion. Our customers know we do them from our window displays and menu board. Also, we have done lots of direct mail/email marketing. Of course, it is most popular at Christmas time but we are seeing an increase of people turing their holiday photos into books instead of 6x4's (or not printing at all). These days, if you don't promote you are dead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubar Posted February 20, 2009 Report Share Posted February 20, 2009 Most of the customer have heard about the photobook, but probably only 10% of them have seen one and less have touch it... I totally agree with most of the reply about marketing, in a world of image, if you don't show, you don't sale ! The POS is important, as the sales speech at the counter... Most of the customers that have touched it, feel it want one after... (when they can afford it...) of course, the choice of your samples is important... It's also a nice add-on in a wedding package, work fine with studio or simply as proof books... In two words : BE CREATIVE and not passive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digitalfotostudio Posted March 15, 2009 Report Share Posted March 15, 2009 hi cecilh i ordered the clixx photo book system after i read that you were happy about it. Should arrive from Germany next week. Would you please guide me on market selling prices for the 6x4, 5x7, 6x8, 8x12 albums or how you finalize a price of an album size with the number of pages orderd. Thank you. regards jason axisa the digital foto studio Malta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Photographis Posted March 15, 2009 Report Share Posted March 15, 2009 Deffinately a product that will not sell if not promoted. I do not think this is a passing fad, and there are specific areas (other than retail custom) that this could reap large rewards. All the 'old pro's' (photographers) that I have shown this product to, and explained the possibilities, have gone away re-thinking their marketing thrust. For them it is worthwhile (and quite normal) to spend hours pawing through piles of images. The problem comes when puting this to members of the public who do not have the experiance or time to collate. The clients who decide to do a 'year book' or similar every year are going to be very few and far between, rather sales will be a 'one off', maybe for a special event (multiple copies?). There will be DIY kiosks in a store, near you, before the end of this year, offering to do books within minutes. These will be of limited function, and open up the market for this product in a 'bespoke' fashion for us. Unfortunately, I feel that even with web exposure (yeah, I know) the numbers that I could sell would not support the equipment outlay, so we will not be doing these 'in house'. Unfortunately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cecilh Posted March 15, 2009 Report Share Posted March 15, 2009 A friend of mine has a part time DVD duplicating set up where he can write and print 25 DVDs every few minutes. He duplicates the software for us for customers taking home to plan their album. At first we handed them avay to everyone who seemed intrested but only got a small percentage came back. Now they pay up front for whatever album they want so all come back. The advantages with the clixx system is low outlay for set-up, using real photos printed on our own lab and double sided pages. Books simply don't look so good with single pages and Kodak or Fuji on the back of each page. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philspectrum Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 Photome international showed an amaizing photobook kiosk at PMA in Vegas. tiny footprint, - and limited client choices, - but delivered a delightful little book A4 folded to A5 on Dye Sub paper. Everyone I showed it to has thought it the right compromise between size and price, - I could easy see customers getting one every 6 months or holiday or event, - and building a libruary. Kiosk Price attractive, OK media costs lots higher then RA4, BUT dye-sub prints may cost a lot more, - but they are VERY durable, - perfect for the heavy handling a family photobook will get. mechanics based on the photome 'bob-sleigh' we have seen for the past 2 or 3 years, - but very much compacted and automated. IF they can get the mechanics sorted and reliable, I predict seeing A LOT of these in supermarkets, (and minilabs?) near you soon ! P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony.T Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 And I don't Not unless that get that awful 'bobsleigh' contraption to work for longer than 2 minutes!! Everytime I've seen one at a show they have never worked long enough to do more than 2 books at a time before the screwdrivers and spanners came out. If it was me would have been a sledge hammer!! ;D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pskaro Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 to do more than 2 books at a time before the screwdrivers and spanners came out. If it was me would have been a sledge hammer!! ;D Ha, ha, ha, good one ;D When I saw first unit while doing the training, I was also disappointed with mechanism which for me had a lot off steps. In the time, I installed two Photobook Pro machines, one was V1+ and other was V2 (15 days ago), and I changed opinion. Off course the most important thing is very good table and ideal levelling, also room temperature (because off the glue) has to be between +15C and +30C (average is 22C). I had issues with first, changed main PCB and one belt, but the second one V2 I installed without changing any parameters (off course I done the best levelling possible), I only checked the settings, but from the factory it was perfect calibration. Off course, it is soon to have definite answer, because both customer did very small number off Photobooks, but latest installation gave me confidence that KIS is constantly improving. Probably V3 (when it came out) will be the winner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RogerM Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 Any suggestions for double sided inkjet paper suitable for photobooks? I want to test the waters with the unibind system before committing to $$ equipment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trevor brown Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 I think Phil is on about the Photo-Book Kiosk they have produced, saw it at Photokina looks great, easy to use limited options but ideal for the consumer, they had no price then nor did they at focus mid year before we should know that. Well worth looking at. The coffin or Bobsleigh is designed more for the Pro and def needs a robust table that cannot be knocked about rollers inside are all loose so easy to move out of place. Marcus Grover has one he could probably enlighten members about it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pskaro Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 My information for European release is beginning of May Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snpysnps Posted March 19, 2009 Report Share Posted March 19, 2009 The new one would have to be a lot smaller as the 'bob sleigh' was a monster of a machine. Personally I think it has limited appeal past the first week of 'newness'! Yes, when you first see the books they look cool, but after a while I am sure customers would be yearning for the traditional style. Also sorry to say but I would not be wanting to buy anything from PhotoMe because of their dicey situation. How much longer can they hang on after their recent financial performance. Is the machine actually made by them and could you get the glue consumable elsewhere? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pskaro Posted March 19, 2009 Report Share Posted March 19, 2009 Hi snpysnps, I do not know for this new smaller model, but old one Photobook Pro (V1, V1+ & V2) was made and assembled in Grenoble, France. DKS3 is assembling in Singapore. Regarding the glue, I think it is 3M and probably can be obtain elsewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony.T Posted March 19, 2009 Report Share Posted March 19, 2009 The bobsleigh was on special offer a year ago for £10,000 !!!!!!!! Ok, right..... how many photobooks would you need to do to pay for it? I estimate about 500. that would take me about 25 years at present. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Deverill Posted April 13, 2009 Report Share Posted April 13, 2009 I believe that tesco have bought photobook machines from Noritsu for EVERY extra store and will be up and running by xmas. I think the time has come to jump on the bandwagon, whether we want to or not. I will probably go down the kodak route, as its in the kiosk software already and at under 2k for the printer its not the end of the world, although the running costs seem really heavy. 55 per page (double sided I hope) compared to my Xerox at 7.5p per side. interestingly though I think that the card printing facility will be the earner! £2.50 sell 26p cost. much better than selling a book for £20 and it costing £10 + time!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubar Posted April 14, 2009 Report Share Posted April 14, 2009 For information about the new photobook machine by photo-me: rso1Tcy_17c Only one fixed size : 8x5,5 on dye sub paper; that's DvD jacket size. No information on the production cost yet ! From what I've heard, we might see a lot of those around the planet by the end of the year in big supermarket chains... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Photographis Posted April 14, 2009 Report Share Posted April 14, 2009 Couldn't agree more Tony. Realy nice idea, can think off lots of alternative markets for it, but the sums just don't add up (at the moment). After saying that, they seem to be going well on the continent........... We will soon see, if Tesco et.al. make it work, maybe they will create the demand. I do feel it is beyond us to create the demand for this type of premium product, needing very substantial promotion. But who knows? in 12 mths. we may be saying 'if only....' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony.T Posted April 16, 2009 Report Share Posted April 16, 2009 hhmm- I sit on the fence wrt to photobooks. Get VERY little in the way of enquiries. Now, slide shows on DVD- that is growing for me. I think (with a big gulp) the future market is going to be display based rather than print based, and that is the way I am looking..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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