Hello Everyone!
One of the best parts of going to WPPI, or PartnerCon, or any type of
photography event like these, is always the tradeshow. Tradeshows
give you a chance to see, touch, and handle products from all the
different album, print, and gear vendors available out there, which
can be vital in determining which products you want to use in your
business. Some products that look great online or in a catalog might
not be so spectacular in person, while others might be much better
than their marketing materials portray; and in either case you’re
still getting the company’s information about their own product, which
may not reflect the experience of actually doing business with them.
But there’s not much to be done about that– other than going to WPPI,
the only way you can usually see a company’s products in person is to
buy a sample of them yourself…until now.
In honor of this being WPPI month, we’ve decided to do a Tradeshow
Show-n-Tell for this month’s meeting. This will be a rare opportunity
to see and touch a variety of albums and other pro photo products
without attending a conference or buying your own samples. This is a
great opportunity for people who may not be going to WPPI this year to
check out some of your colleagues favorite products in person.
Each person attending the meeting should bring in their own favorite
vendor products–whether it be a Finao album, satin business cards,
Asukabook coffee table book, WHCC proof box, Cypress album, Pictage
Willowbook, or any other photography product that is marketed directly
to pros for resale to our clients. These could be products you use
regularly and are pretty familiar with, or products you just started
using. Each person will have a chance to talk about their sample
item, who makes it and what it costs, how they use it, and what they
like and don’t like about the product and the company who makes
it…then everyone at the meeting will have a chance to take a close
look at the product. Between all of us, we should have a large
enough variety of products so that every person will be able to
discover something new to incorporate into their own business.
Everyone coming to the meeting should bring at least ONE sample item,
but feel free to bring more. Please only bring products that are
available to any professional–don’t bring your own handbound albums
you make in your basement, etc (unless you are about to start selling
them to other photographers).
For example, you might bring your Leather Craftsmen sample album, your
Pictage event cards, your WHCC press printed greeting cards, your letterpress business cards, etc…
Please let us know what product(s) you plan on bringing when you RSVP,
so we can make sure to have a variety of things. If you’re not sure
what to bring, you can email us with a list of the stuff you’re
thinking of bringing and we’ll help you narrow it down. Let us know
if you have any other questions as well.
Hope to see you there at 146 Mansell St, SF CA!
Thanks!
Keri Vaca
and
Lauren Cohn-FrankelMeeting Wedn
