We are excited to announce the release of APM & Lab 50 6.1! (Download it here.)
I would like to tell you about a few of my favorite things about 6.1. No, I’m not talking about raindrops on roses or whiskers on kittens, though brown paper packages tied up with strings might fall under this heading if that brown paper can be swapped for our new wrapping paper product! So many readers said they enjoyed my list of “favorite things” from our last software upgrade (APM 6.0), so here we go with my top picks for 6.1. These are sure to be top-sellers during your busy holiday selling season:
Wrapping paper…which I think of it in Mastercard ad terminology:
- Another scarf for grandma – $30.
- A tie for grandpa – $40.
- Wrapping paper with the grandkids in their “I love you grandma” t-shirts…PRICELESS!
Previewed at the PRO and IPI shows, Lucidiom’s wrapping paper is the must-have new product of the 2008 holiday season. With this product you truly can offer one-stop shopping for the holiday shopper…custom EQ photo gifts, folded photo cards and photo wrapping paper. All the customer has to do now is drop it in the mail. Basically, it’s a wide format inkjet print with photo or logo designs that tile so the pattern repeats. We’re selling this as an a la carte product, at a cost of $300 per kiosk. Not bad for something that’s sure to have customers buzzing. And be sure to ask your Lucidiom sales representative about discounted bulk “site license” pricing.
APM Gift Wrap
Proof books…think Card Catalog meets customization. These are like a contact sheet, but in book form, great for customers or professionals who want an easy reference of their photos. Proof books are available in the following sizes: 6×6, 8×6, 11×8.5 and 12×12. People loved it so much we had to build on it. The Card Catalog product is an order upsell (like Index Prints or the Image CD) where you define the product and customers can simply select if they want it or not. (If you’re not offer that product, you should be!) Proof books are available like photo books, where the customer has control over size, photos included and photo editing.
Photo book covers…these are covers, or dust jackets for photo books. According to PMA market research, the photo book market is expected to reach $389 million in 2008, up from $267 million in 2007. With Lucidiom as your partner, not only are you going to be selling a lot of photo books, you also now have a way to upsell all those photo book customers – the photo book dust jacket. These are the perfect finishing touch and create a real coffee table look and feel for the photo book. Customers can choose a single photo or multiple photos for the jackets and can include text if they wish. Even the inside flaps are customizable–you can put a photo and book summary or “about the author,” just like in a hard cover book you’d buy. Offered in 11×8.5 and 8×6 sizes, these are sure to be a customer favorite.
Note Cards…presented to customers as stationery 10-packs, these are folded cards in sizes 4×6 and 6×4 with a photo cover (various edges available) and a blank inside. And, this is what I love about note cards…they make a perfect last minute sale at the register. If I had a store in our area, for instance, I would take 10 local Washington DC shots and print up a few 10 packs to sit by the register and see how they do. As soon as I sell the last pack, I print up a few more…inventory on demand! And, of course, Kesley comes up with an even more creative spin on my idea…“Take a stationery pack, a pen and tie it up with a ribbon and you’ve got the perfect teacher’s gift or hostess gift.” Even better! For the teacher gift, use a photo of the school on them–great for a teacher gift. Again – you’re providing one-stop shopping for your customers.
Scanner Calibration. Ok, this one isn’t nearly as flashy as the others, but I know you retailers have been waiting for this one for a long time: the ability to calibrate your flatbed scanner through the APM. This is particularly helpful now for two reasons: 1) calendar and book season is approaching and those use a lot of scans! 2) we have restoration available as an EQ Gift product, and when you send your scan in for restoration, you want the best possible quality. **Insider Tip** Restoration as a service is coming soon…scan image, order restoration and print on the APM, image gets sent electronically to the restoration service and delivered directly back into Lab 50 for printing! How slick is that?
(posted by Steve)
