Steve’s Favorite Things, APM v7.0

June 30, 2009

The ancient Greeks believed the number 7 represented perfection and plenty (hence, the ‘7’ wonders of the ancient world as opposed to the 5 or 6).  While Moore’s Law and the pace of digital innovation make it impossible to claim any technology achieves perfection, Lucidiom’s APM 7.0 software certainly comes close.  It also offers plenty of hot new customer features and retailing aides.  So, I thought it fitting for this latest version of our APM software to highlight 7 of my favorite things for you as opposed to my customary 5 top picks. 

 The 7 Wonders of APM 7.0:

  1.  Instant Uploads – We’re calling it a software feature, but for the retailer, the ability to offer this kind of connectivity is really a whole new way of doing business.  With APM 7.0 any Photo Finale Web member can simply take her media card to the APM kiosk and upload photos to her Photo Finale Web account.  Why is this so extraordinary?  Ask anyone short on time. 

    2. Instant uploads reduce the frustration consumers face at home of long upload times and difficulty getting photos from their cameras onto their computer.  [Read more in this post.]  The in-store upload capability of APM 7.0 also provides an immediate new revenue stream for stores and drives future online revenue by promoting ‘social picturing’ – online sharing and ordering. 

  2. Photo Finale Web Downloads – APM 7.0 brings the in-store and Web experience full circle by also allowing customers to access their online photos from the APM for an in-store order.  When your customers are at the kiosk, they can now tap into their online photo collections from their Photo Finale web account. Their selected collection will be downloaded to the kiosk and then they can use the photos for in-store ordering. Plus, they can load photos from multiple sources for the same order — combine photos from various media cards, online collections, flatbed scanner, and Bluetooth or Infrared device.
  3. Redesigned Product Finder & New Style Previews – To help customers navigate the ever-growing breadth of photo expression options and find the perfect product for their occasion, APM 7.0 introduces a completely redesigned Product Finder.  Products are grouped by type and size, making it easier for customers to hone in on exactly what they want.  Four retailer-configurable “featured” product spots – one of which can even be an automatically-rotating seasonal selection – allow you to highlight top sellers and really catch the customers’ attention. The new “Browse By Occasion” tab lets customers quickly find products that match their needs — a birthday party, new baby, weddings, etc. While browsing products, customers can jump back to any point using the breadcrumb icons to change their selections. Plus, style previews three times larger than before give customers a large and clear preview of each kiosk product and provide a good sense of each product theme as they browse.
  4. Upsell Recommendation Screen – Another key innovation in APM 7.0 is a brand new product recommendation up-sell engine.  No more, “I didn’t know you did those!,” excuses… the kiosk now puts products right in front of your customers.  At the end of each order, they are presented with targeted products based on Lucidiom’s extensive database of historical kiosk sales data, powered by the APM Network.  For example, customers ordering a greeting card might be prompted to purchase a photo envelope, a set of thank you note cards and custom notepads, all in matching designs.  If one or more suggested products are selected, the APM will help you create them in a flash by defaulting to a similar theme and using the same collection of photos to produce the new product.
  5.  Multi-select – Gone are the days of hunting and pecking when it comes to selecting photos and print sizes.  In APM 7.0 customers now can select photos one by one or row by row.  Then they select the size and that size is added to each photo.
  6. Filtering / Sorting – We all know digital customers often complain of photo overload.  APM 7.0 allows them to now easily find the photos they want to order by filtering images by date range or by folder. Images also can be sorted by date (newest/oldest) or name.
  7. Photo Archive on DVD Cinema – This great product is made even better in APM 7.0. The DVD Cinema product now includes an archive folder on the disc with a copy of all the JPEGs, so the DVD can be used at the kiosk to reorder prints, as well as in a DVD player.  Encourage your customers to enjoy the movie; then use the same DVD to order prints from the kiosk.

    8. As with all Lucidiom products, APM 7.0 is flexible, open and brand neutral.  Your brand is front and center and the technology works with legacy equipment and third-party printers.  Those are all the original wonders of Lucidiom.  We’re delighted to continue innovating new software and services that allow you to focus on your top priority – the customer.

(Posted by Steve Jr)

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Busy Moms, Rejoice! (Pain-free, No-wait Photo Upload)

June 15, 2009

Busy moms, rejoice!  APM 7.0 boasts the ultimate in time and hassle-savings…instant uploads to your online Photo Finale account right from the in-store APM kiosk.  Why do I think this is worth more than the typical new release hoot and holler?  Well, just thinking about all the steps previously required to transfer photos from my camera makes me yawn and want to procrastinate on my photo projects yet again.

In my case, I’ve got a serious backlog of photos of my 3 and 2 year old girls and baby boy is due in 6 weeks.  Like many well-intentioned parents, I’ve been meaning to get all my photos organized and projects printed, but I procrastinate and procrastinate until the digital mound is beyond intimidating.  Why?  My free time after the girls are in bed is just so precious that I’d rather spend it thinking up baby names or vegging out in front of the TV than battling with technology.   My PC takes an eternity to boot up and that alone makes me throw in the towel most nights.  Add to that the time it takes to: find the right cable, hook up the external hard drive, copy files, upload files, email links to relatives – yadda yadda and ugh.

My husband is part of the tech elite, but I certainly am not.  APM 7.0 instant upload is tailored to me, but pleases even the techiest of the techies.  Now, any Photo Finale Web member can simply take her media card to the APM kiosk and upload photos to her Photo Finale Web account.  From there she can print to her heart’s content and alert friends and family via email or the RSS feed so they, too, can place orders.  One-stop shopping is a reality.  Not only can I now check photo projects off my list right along with my grocery shopping and other errands, but with the in-store uploads I have the added benefit of sales representative assistance should I need it.  Sure, my husband knows this stuff inside and out, but when I turn to him for help we usually end up bickering the night away.  And with two (almost 3) little kids in the house, there’s enough stress without ‘fun’ photo projects becoming a stresser rather than a pleasure.

So, sing the praises of APM 7.0’s instant upload to all your customers.  Shout it from the rooftops – busy moms will thank you for it with repeat business and probably a few referrals.  One of the most powerful marketing outlets is a network of stressed-out moms who have found a time and hassle-saving retailer.  Their positive reviews spread like wildfire, so make it your store name they’re praising!

(posted by Jenny)

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Steve the Easter Bunny!

March 19, 2009

Photo books aren’t always about just printing your pictures.  Most of the marketing we all are doing is focused on “print your beach pictures as a photo book” or “wasn’t that a great weekend, make a book.”  But sometimes, books are about storytelling.  Here’s what I mean…

From Joel Miller at MotoPhoto Avon: “Our best EQ story starts with a couple designing a book and ends with them adopting a baby.  Apparently for couples hoping to adopt children the best way to communicate with adoption agencies about what kind of environment and family the child we be adopted into is thru photo books.  Hopeful couples regularly print 20+ books to distribute thru the agency to tell their story.  We helped a couple design and print a book and were thrilled to know we played a part in making a family whole.”

From John Goodine at Elm City Photo: “Every year my two sons and I make our famous chili for the holidays.  And every year various friends and family members want the recipe.  So we decided to do a photo documentation called “The Chili Chronicles” and we’ve created a 6×6 pictorial book of the process.  This included photos and documentation of the three of us doing the shopping, donning safety goggles to slice onions, step by step ingredients, doing the Hakka War Dance to rid the kitchen of bad spirits, and revealing some secrets about Chili.  We all got some great laughs and some great gifts. “

And, to get around to the title of this blog…this one is from me!  Every year my wife and I throw a big Easter shindig.  We usually have about 20 kids and how ever many parents that equates to these days.  Last year, my wife (the beautiful and talented Nancy) wrote a little story about the Easter Bunny, who came by ahead of time to get his plans set.  Nancy caught him in the act and wrote a little book about the adventure.  We printed out a bunch and handed it out to the guests, who loved it and have already requested the next installment this year.

Steve the Bunny

Steve the Bunny

Now, my wife is not a professional photographer and she can’t figure out the white balance, but I guarantee you won’t even be thinking about the photo quality when you get into the story (which is very clever and thought up entirely by Nancy, by the way) and try to guess who is in that suit!  And that’s my point!  That is our business, the story, and that’s what is important here.

You have to see the book.  Follow this link to download the order file and pdf:  http://www.lucidiom.com/share/steve/easter/9971883680.order.zip (If you visit the Marketing Tools > Sample Kits section of lucidiom.com, there are directions on how to import this into Lab 50 for easy printing.)

The great possibility here is that you have a relationship with your customers and you can inspire them in different ways.  Profile a winning consumer idea in your next enewsletter, make story as a 4×4 flip book with store and product info on the last few pages, keep samples on your counter… share, share, share!

Any more creative photo book or storytelling ideas out there?  What are your customers putting in their books?  Comment on this blog, let’s hear some ideas!

(posted by Steve Jr)

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Noritsu to Acquire Lucidiom–What Does This Mean for Lucidiom Clients?

March 12, 2009

The slot machine noises have just about stopped haunting me at this point, but I’m still pumped from last week’s PMA show.  As always, it was a great opportunity to catch up with Lucidiom’s friends and partners, but this year we also noticed that attendees were serious about strengthening their businesses and were more focused than ever.  We had some big news to share this year, as well – our pending acquisition deal with Noritsu America Corporation.  The announcement came the day before the show opened, so the Noritsu and Lucidiom booths were buzzing with questions from attendees, press and customers.  In case I missed you at the show, here’s what it all means for you.

 

Most simply put, Lucidiom will stay Lucidiom.  This means we will stay the course as the industry’s most open, flexible and brand agnostic imaging solutions provider.  Although we’ll be part of Noritsu once the deal is finalized later this spring, Lucidiom will continue to develop our full product line and continue to support third party printers and other equipment.  More than 55,000 Lucidiom APM licenses are deployed worldwide and we realize we’ve achieved this level of success in 8 years largely because of our willingness to work with each and every customer to find just the right solution for their particular business.  We remain committed to these company ideals.

 

The Lucidiom team will remain intact as well, so the only noticeable change for our customers will be the expanded offerings, service and support made possible by our new affiliation with respected global leader Noritsu.  Becoming part of Noritsu will allow us to deliver our company’s award-winning technology beyond where we could have taken it solo.  We’re bullish about the possibilities now before us.

 

We at Lucidiom have always prided ourselves on pushing the industry forward – first with offering enlargements alongside standard print sizes, then with the ‘Beyond 4×6’ Long Tail revolution and now with social picturing.  Consumers have turned the imaging experience into a social phenomenon via the internet and Lucidiom is busy building money-making technologies to help photofinishers capitalize on the experience.

 

Our latest photo kiosk software, APM version 7.0, is one such technology.  This latest award-winning software version, which we demonstrated at PMA 2009, features connectivity between the kiosk and the customer’s Photo Finale Web account.  From the kiosk, consumers now can upload photos to or download photos from, a Photo Finale account.  As well, we have added an enhanced product finder and a helping hand for retailers in tough economic times – a unique up-sell engine at the end of each kiosk order that suggests complementary products.  But my favorite new feature is our new RSS feed.  This means the customer updates his photos on Photo Finale Web, and any RSS device, like an iPhone, Facebook or even a digital picture frame, picks up that live link and shows the new photos.  The best part about this for the retailer is a little Order button under each photo, that will link back to your PF site for easy ordering.  This type of full circle access for customer and retailer alike is the key to the industry’s success going forward and we’re proud to be at the forefront of it all.

 

We’re the same smart technology company with the same people, entrepreneurial spirit and passion for the business of printing emotions.  Lucidiom’s EQ (emotional quotient) remains our customers.  We will continue to deliver the industry’s best in-store and online imaging solutions so that you don’t have to think twice about the technology driving your business.  We understand your EQ is your own customers.  So go get ‘em – we’ve got your technology covered.

 

(posted by Steve Jr)

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Video Message to Lucidiom Staff at PMA 09

March 10, 2009

Will sends a video message on behalf of the crew working in the home office to Lucidiom staff working the booth at PMA 2009.  Every year at PMA we all go out for a big Lucidiom family dinner, and the last few years have taken to speech-giving, which is where we learned that Will, one of our developers, is very talented in the art of public speaking.  He wasn’t at the show this year, so sent his speech via video.  We all watched it before the show started, and put everyone in a great frame of mind and set the pace for the 3 days of the show.

(posted by Rachel)

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Lucidiom PMA 09 Sunrise Fun Run!

February 24, 2009

Come and join Lucidiom staff for a 3 mile Sunrise Fun Run at PMA 2009 on Tuesday March 3rd and Wednesday March 4th.  We will meet at the Las Vegas Hilton east entrance (which is on Joe Brown Road) at 6:15am (to stretch) for a 6:30am run.  We have an alternate shorter walking route mapped out also if you prefer.  Wear red and we’ll know you’re there to run!   Any questions or comments, post here. 

See you in Vegas, don’t forget your sneakers!

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Steve’s Five Ideas for 2009

February 3, 2009

Today, the photofinishing industry faces significant, but not insurmountable hurdles. Not only are we in the midst of a major industry transition to personal publishing, or as I like to call it, ‘social picturing,’ but at the same time we are in the midst of a challenging international economic environment.  While the headlines paint a grim picture for businesses large and small alike, the New Year also brings new possibilities and new resolve.
 
 Like most of you, in college I was forced to study all kinds of useless stuff.  Something from those studies has been running through my mind lately.  It is a quote from the British poet Anne Bradstreet.  She said, “If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.”  Together, let’s welcome that prosperity.  I for one am sick of the adversity. Here are my ideas for 2009.
 
1. Increase creative sales. Did you realize that in 2008, ninety percent of orders were non-creative and 10 percent were creative?  And the average non-creative sale was $17 while the average creative order was $37?  Clearly, creative is how we will get back to prosperity.  In 2009, the industry should strive to move creative orders from 10 percent to 15 percent.
 
Creative is not only more profitable, it’s what consumers want. With the digital revolution, consumers have gained greater control over their personal content, including pictures. The photo book has gained traction, but consumers are quick learners and soon they’ll be looking beyond the photo book for new creative products to use to express themselves and share their memories.  If you’re not already on board the creative train, it’s time to get an express ticket.  Give me a call.
 
2. Push the personal publishing revolution forward.  In the 80’s, the industry experienced the minilab revolution as retailers shifted to 1-hour photo. Today, we’re in the middle of a revolution to the brave new world of social picturing. Consumers no longer walk in and out of your store simply dropping off rolls of film. They are exploring the plethora of new in-store and online possibilities and many of them are looking to you for guidance. Be prepared to walk them through the Long Tail of personal publishing. Need help?  Give me a call or visit www.Lucidiom.com.  
 
3. Focus on the consumer, not the technology. Photofinishing at retail has been going through a shift for some time. The consumer used to spend about 5 minutes in your store for every roll of film. With digital they started spending more time; the kiosk became a vital tool for your success.    The trend has been to find the best technology in all sectors, massage it to meet your needs, and then find more technology. This is the year that needs to shift. The focus needs to be on the customer not the technology.  How can you help her find what she is looking for? How can you help him express how he feels?  How can you help your customer explore the possibilities of social picturing?  It’s also more important now to find a technology partner you can trust so you can forget about technology. “Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain,” as they say in the Wizard of Oz.  Focus instead on your customers, marketing and the amount of your average sale (reminder – creative orders have a higher average sale!).
 
4. Focus on the up-sell. The most difficult thing to do in running your business is to attract new customers. Customer retention and up selling are much more lucrative in the short run. Since attracting customers will be tougher this year, bundling and up-selling will play important roles in maximizing the sale. Don’t just promote folded cards; show your customers how they can create a complete set of event stationery from that favorite photo or set of photos.  If they’ve come in to create a personalized birthday party invitation, encourage them to add custom photo wrapping paper, a poster to hang at the party, customized party favors and thank you notes to send out afterwards.
 
5. Invest smart. The fight or flight instinct certainly comes out during tough economic times and while it might be tempting to flee or hibernate, now is not the time to stop moving forward. I am not saying you need to invest like you did in the past. If you used to spend $150,000 on new technology every year, just don’t take the budget to zero.  Find out what is really important to your customers, then figure out if there are smart investments that can pay off this year.  If you don’t invest in the future at all, you’ll come out weaker than you started.  Invest wisely and you’ll come out stronger.  Drive through it and most of all market into it.  Your brand is vital to your success.  Let your customers know that you are still moving forward and are bringing their stories to life at your store.

(Posted by Steve Jr)

4 Comments | Inspiration, Photo Industry | Tagged: , | Permalink
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All You Need is Love (Valentine’s Day Inspirations)

January 29, 2009

The APM has a bunch of products perfect for Valentine’s Day…so dim the lights, light the votives, put on some Michael Bolton and break out the chocolates and get your staff in the mood…hey! not that mood!  The mood for creating and selling (jeez guys)…and get them to crank out some samples on your kiosks and printers. 

Here is the assignment.  Write each idea down and have your staff pull out of a hat the one they have to create.  Award the best one if they need some motivation.  For a variety of samples, put in multiple copies of each.  If you have any more ideas for samples, reply to this post.  If you tried this and it worked great, let us all know!  If it flopped, well, you probably did it wrong. 

  1. Photo cards for an elementary classroom…some of these that are in the kiosk even have a slit marked so you can cut and add a lollipop.
  2. Folded card and envelope for that special someone…use the inside cover to write (or copy) a poem.  Hint: the envelopes don’t need to always have addresses on them, type in a person’s name, make the font big and move it to the center of the card.
  3. 10×30 banner print for the high school age sweethearts…what better than a photo of your dearest to gaze at between algebra and PE? 
  4. Scrapbook page with a poem…there are some templates perfect for romance–just drop in a photo or two, add a message you’re done.  And duh smartypants, promote it with all those square frames you have collecting dust!  Show this to every man that walks in the store, you will have a sale.  It’s an easy gift–doesn’t require a lot of planning or thought, but it sure looks like it did!  (Perfect for the men out there!  ha ha ha)  And, slap a little John Donne or Lord Byron on there and it’s sure to make the wife cry!  (In a good way.) 
  5. Order up the teddy bear EQ Gift product with a lovey-dovey photo on the tshirt the bear wears. 
  6. Make up a photo book with a love quote on each page, so your customers have something to copy into that card or scrapbook page! I’ll make it easy for ya, here are 22 quotes that are perfect for this Hallmark holiday…from The Bard to Homer (Simpson, that is) and more…

She walks in Beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that’s best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
Thus mellowed to that tender light
Which Heaven to gaudy day denies.
~Lord Byron

For you see, each day I love you more
Today more than yesterday and less than tomorrow.
~Rosemonde Gerard

Grow old with me!  The best is yet to be. 
~Robert Browning

The hours I spend with you I look upon as sort of a perfumed garden, a dim twilight, and a fountain singing to it.  You and you alone make me feel that I am alive.  Other men it is said have seen angels, but I have seen thee and thou art enough.
~George Moore

I’ve fallen in love many times… always with you. 
~Author Unknown

What I need to live has been given to me by the earth.  Why I need to live has been given to me by you. 
~Author Unknown

I asked him with my eyes to ask again yes and then he asked me would I yes to say yes my mountain flower and first I put my arms around him yes and drew him down to me so he could feel my breasts all perfume yes and his heart was going like mad and yes I said yes I will Yes
~James Joyce, Ulysses

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
~Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Tell me how many beads there are
In a silver chain
Of evening rain,
Unravelled from the tumbling main,
And threading the eye of a yellow star: -
So many times do I love again.
~Thomas Lovell Beddoes

My bounty is as deep as the sea,
My love as deep; The more I give to thee,
The more I have, for both are infinite.
~William Shakespeare (Romeo and Juliet)

One half of me is yours, the other half yours—
Mine own, I would say; but if mine, then yours,
And so all yours.
~William Shakespeare (The Merchant of Venice)

When I saw you I fell in love, and you smiled because you knew.
~William Shakespeare (Romeo and Juliet)

Hear my soul speak:
The very instant that I saw you, did
My heart fly to your service, there resides
To make me slave to it.
~William Shakespeare (The Tempest)

I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! – and if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
~Elizabeth Barrett Browning

I seem to have loved you in numberless forms, numberless times, in life after life, in age after age forever.
~Rabindranath Tagore

Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.
~Emily Bronte

If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day, so I never have to live without you.
~A.A. Milne (Winnie the Pooh)

A thing of beauty is a joy forever:
Its loveliness increases; it will never
Pass into nothingness.
~John Keats

Bart, with $10,000, we’d be millionaires! We could buy all kinds of useful things like…love!
~Homer Simpson

Come live with me, and be my love,
And we will some new pleasures prove
Of golden sands, and crystal brooks,
With silken lines, and silver hooks.
~John Donne

Footfalls echo in the memory
Down the passage which we did not take
Towards the door we never opened
Into the rose-garden.
~T.S. Eliot

For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul.
~Judy Garland

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My Custom Thank You Notes

November 11, 2008

My son Joseph and I were recently given two beautiful gifts from friends–a cute little yellow and green striped hand-knitted sweater and an adorable orange pumpkin hat (it even has a green stem coming out of the top!!).  Well, a standard thank you note wouldn’t do (even though I have a load of thank you notes leftover from my wedding a few years ago that I would love to get rid of!).  So I turned to the APM.  (What else, I work at Lucidiom, right?!)  Well, I will post them so you can see how cute they turned out.  I even made a matching envelope for the one for the pumpkin hat.  Have you ever gotten a thank you note thanking you for a thank you note???  Just wait…

Thank You Note (Pumpkin Hat)

Thank You Note (Pumpkin Hat)

 

Thank You Note (Sweater)

Thank You Note (Sweater)

(posted by Rachel)

2 Comments | APM Content, Inspiration | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
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Worksheets for Faster Photo Books & Calendars

October 8, 2008

Photo books are a hot product, bringing in hundreds of millions of dollars this year alone, but you could realize even greater profits if your customers finished the books they started!

According to a new photo book report from PMA, 29% of households said they didn’t complete a photo book because the process takes too long.   We not only have the software solutions to create stunning photo books (complete with dust jacket), we have time-saving tips, as well.

Photo Book Prep Form
A little advance planning makes a photo book a simple project.  We’ve created a photo book prep form available for retailers to download and share with customers to make the process smooth and straightforward.

The form provides instructions and guidance on the four basic steps of photo book creation: organize, conceptualize, stylize and create!

Calendar Prep Form
If customers are encouraged to spend a few minutes getting organized before they get started in-store or online, the process will move a whole lot smoother and we’ll likely see those incomplete photo books hitting the printers.

We’ve also made a similar worksheet for calendars, with space to collect monthly events and photo ideas. For the forms visit: www.lucidiom.com/marketing.

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