What I Notice at Camera Stores That Works
One of the best parts of my job as CEO of Delkin Devices is traveling around the country and visiting camera stores. Even on a day off, if I am traveling and pass a camera store I must stop, and I probably get to more than 50 per year.
First there are the more obvious items that probably every camera store owner knows. Is it easy to park, does the store look bright, clean and inviting, am I greeted when I enter and do people make eye contact? Then I move on to the depth, and breadth of the inventory. Is this store focused on Advanced Amateurs and Professionals, is there a mix of DSLR’s? Or is this store more focused on the point and shoot crowd. One hint is items like lighting products, software tools and long lenses? Those items tell me these folks are serious.
My next gauge is a harder one to describe and is different for every user I am sure. I want to know if this store inspires me and promotes the passion I have for photography. Do the graphics, books, magazines and displays intrigue me and make me stop and look? Are there classes, images on the walls and staff that get me excited about my hobby? Does the store demonstrate some areas that might interest me? Is there action cameras? Nanny or Security cameras, interesting mounts or the ability to make bound books or print panorama images I could never do on my own? I walked in on a Time lapse photography demo in a store one day, it was fascinating, and I learned a lot. If I lived in that town I would go to that store all the time. I got excited!
Successful stores excite and inspire their customers. They are a friendly place to learn and share our favorite hobby together. Make your store a place people want to come back to again and again, and you will be among the folks who succeed in this business.
One other point. I always ask when I am in a store, if they have an email or mailing list. About half on average have one that they can quickly and easily show me. This always seems to me to be such an inexpensive and effective way to keep in touch with your very best customers. What better way to grow your business than to just sell more to the people who know and love you? These days it is so easy. An iPad mounted to the counter with an app that allows people to sign up is easy to set up, and you can probably use it to demo the mount! If you want directions on what app to get and how to make this easy, just drop me an email.
Very best regards,
Martin Wood
mwood@delkin.com