First of all, the convention will be held at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Columbia, SC! I know the beach is fun and all, but the feedback I've received for the past several years is that Columbia is a more convenient location for all members. The beach is a 5+ hour drive for a lot of folks in the Upstate and a large percentage of the membership is right here in the Midlands. In the past, some couldn't commit the entire 4 days and a 10 hour round trip to the beach and they missed out on the convention altogether. A centralized convention makes it easier for some to make a day trip or weekend trip if a partial conflict pops up.
Dates are Friday February 5th through Tuesday February 9th. Please mark your calendars now to avoid conflicts.
Second, I would like to introduce you to our first of four top shelf speakers that we have lined up.
Beth Forester
Beth (CPP, M. Photog. Cr.) operates a portrait studio in the small town of Madison, West Virginia. She has been named West Virginia Photographer of the Year three times and has twice won the title of Mid-East States Photographer of the Year. Along the way to achieving these titles, Beth has earned 10 Kodak Gallery Awards, 4 Fuji Masterpiece Awards, 13 Loan Collection images and the prestigious PPA AN-NE Award for marketing.
Beth's program will be about “Selling” the Senior Client
The 21st century requires a new approach to marketing; especially when you are trying to reach Generation Y. Join Beth as she discusses how to reach out to the senior client through word of mouth marketing and create a “buzz” about your studio. In her program, she will discuss such topics as: the psychology of the teen client, branding your studio, viral networking with Facebook, creating buzz-worthy product lines, and selling the senior portrait experience. Finally, she will discuss how to increase your average sale per senior using various techniques that she uses in her studio every day.
Check out Beth's website to see some of her work. (http://www.foresterphoto.com)
I will be intruducing the rest of the convention speakers in the near future so be sure to check out the blog at http://www.ppofsc.blogspot.com
Beth is sponsored by General Products and PhotoDUDS.
Clark
