starting new business

"Tina Mateo" wrote in message

Is there a way as to how I can get demographics or a
geographic despcription of where my customers are coming from?

Ask you customers??

Tina Mateo wrote:

I am currently conducting research in to the latest digital photography and image manipulation technologies available to lounge an image, or photo restoration business. Is there a way as to how I can get demographics or a geographic despcription of where my customers are coming from? or develop demographics description of my target market? Can someone advise?
Thanks

Hi Tina,

assuming it would be the same anywhere, over here in Melbourne – picture framers can be a great source of photo restoration work. I get all my photo restoration work from picture framers.

You would need a decent portfolio to begin with to showcase the quality of your work, and you would have to have some pricing structure in place. You will also need an approximate turn around time. Then, visit as many picture framers as you can in surrounding areas to your business and show them your work. Over here, most of the framers I initially canvassed already dealt with photo restorers, but they were so open to looking at someone new, I was really surprised. If you provide better service, a faster turnaround, better price, better quality of work (any of these), they will be quite happy to deal with you. They may still deal with the other restorer and you.

The higher the quality of work you do, the better the picture framers look to their customers and the more business they get! They not only make a markup on your work, they pick up the framing job at the same time!

I initially started out making phone calls to try and make appointments. Then I had a better response just turning up. As long as you approach them in a non-pushy and casual manner, they are usually happy to have a quick look at what you have to offer. I found a lot of them gave me work to do the first day I visited them, to "try me out" so to speak. It just took off from there.

Just something to think about, good luck.

Brian.

On Tue, 29 Mar 2005 22:21:01 GMT, "Tina Mateo" wrote:

I am currently conducting research in to the latest digital photography and image manipulation technologies available to lounge an image, or photo restoration business. Is there a way as to how I can get demographics or a geographic despcription of where my customers are coming from? or develop demographics description of my target market? Can someone advise?

If you had a business in the first place then I’d say query your database. If you don’t then the only method short of going round and asking all your possible competitors is to pay someone to do a survey for you, or to pay for the results of a survey which has already taken place because somone else has already asked the same questions. Neither way is cheap.

Seriously, you need to read about what everyone else is doing by purchasing magazines, going to and joining professional organisations and then using *their* resources.

—

Hecate – The Real One

Fashion: Buying things you don’t need, with money
you don’t have, to impress people you don’t like…

Brian wrote in
news::

Tina Mateo wrote:

I am currently conducting research in to the latest digital photography and image manipulation technologies available to lounge an image, or photo restoration business. Is there a way as to how I can get demographics or a geographic despcription of where my customers are coming from? or develop demographics description of my target market? Can someone advise?

Thanks

Hi Tina,

assuming it would be the same anywhere, over here in Melbourne – picture framers can be a great source of photo restoration work. I get all my photo restoration work from picture framers.

You would need a decent portfolio to begin with to showcase the quality of your work, and you would have to have some pricing structure in place. You will also need an approximate turn around time. Then, visit as many picture framers as you can in surrounding areas to your business and show them your work. Over here, most of the framers I initially canvassed already dealt with photo restorers, but they were so open to looking at someone new, I was really surprised. If you provide better service, a faster turnaround, better price, better quality of work (any of these), they will be quite happy to deal with you. They may still deal with the other restorer and you.
The higher the quality of work you do, the better the picture framers look to their customers and the more business they get! They not only make a markup on your work, they pick up the framing job at the same time!

I initially started out making phone calls to try and make appointments. Then I had a better response just turning up. As long as you approach them in a non-pushy and casual manner, they are usually happy to have a quick look at what you have to offer. I found a lot of them gave me work to do the first day I visited them, to "try me out" so to speak. It just took off from there.

Just something to think about, good luck.

Brian.

Hi Brian,

I am also in Melbourne, but I have discovered a whole new market (maybe you already do it also). I have found the country areas have a wealth of old families that have extremely old photos that need work. Also try Gaenelogy Societies who need restoration work done for Family Trees.

What are you printing on BTW?

Mick Brown
www.photo.net/photos/mlbrown