Posted by Tom Blue on September 28, 2009 under Companies, Profiles | 
Below is a recent eInterview with Mike Stoll, the Director of Photofest…
1. What do you do? 2 sentences max – Photofest rents high-end digital point and shoot cameras as an eco-friendly replacement for disposable cameras. We offer nationwide service, and specialize in weddings, graduation parties, reunions and corporate events.
2. Who are your competitors? (just the names) – Camerarenter.com and YouShoot.com.
3. What makes you different than your competitors? – Three major differences: 1) We offer package rentals (5, 10, 15 or 20 cameras) and don’t charge for the “extras”. We don’t nickle and dime our customers – and our customers really like this. 2) We’ve managed to set up price points that are significantly cheaper than our competition, while still providing outstanding customer service and a first-rate, professional product. 3) While all three of our businesses are eco-friendly (using digital cameras instead of disposable cameras results in less waste), I feel that we’ve taken a few extra steps to offer our customers an even more environmentally friendly option. Just a few examples: we reuse our shipping containers for several events (then recycle them once their service life is met), utilize rechargeable batteries for our cameras and have camera lanyards manufactured from recycled plastic bottles.
4. What are your or your ceo’s biggest challenges? – Marketing, marketing, marketing. We provide a service that most folks don’t even know exists, so it’s very challenging to utilize online search to drive customers to our website. And though there are hundreds of sites on the internet that would help us target particular verticals (weddings, reunions, party rentals, etc), most of them aren’t set up to support nationwide businesses, and all of them are relatively expensive. Very difficult to adequately fund enough advertising to determine which sites provide the best ROI.
5. Which marketing tactic/strategy has produced the most leads/revenue for your company? E.G. A PR Campaign, Please be specific as our users want to know how to grow their own business. – Despite the above, Google Adwords continues to drive the most leads to our website, but mostly from customers who are familiar with our particular service. Second to that is word of mouth referrals. I know that sounds cliche, but once folks see our service at a friend’s or family member’s wedding, they immediately “get it”. To tap into this customer base, we utilize small, branded information cards that are attached to each camera lanyard. Event attendees are encouraged to take these cards home with them, so they can view the photos taken at the particular event they are attending. We’ve had some success converting these types of leads into booked jobs, and I expect that success to grow as we do more and more events.
6. How long have you been in business? – We just celebrated our first year in business this past August.
7. How many employees do you have? – This is a family run business, so there are only four of us. Myself, my business partner Eric, and both of our wives.
8. What are your revenue estimates for 2009? Is that an increase from 2008? – 2008 gross revenue was $2,300. 2009 gross revenue is estimated to be $6,600.
1. What do you do?
Photofest rents high-end digital point and shoot cameras as an eco-friendly replacement for disposable cameras. We offer nationwide service, and specialize in weddings, graduation parties, reunions and corporate events.
2. Who are your competitors?
Camerarenter.com and YouShoot.com.
3. What makes you different than your competitors?
Three major differences: 1) We offer package rentals (5, 10, 15 or 20 cameras) and don’t charge for the “extras”. We don’t nickle and dime our customers – and our customers really like this. 2) We’ve managed to set up price points that are significantly cheaper than our competition, while still providing outstanding customer service and a first-rate, professional product. 3) While all three of our businesses are eco-friendly (using digital cameras instead of disposable cameras results in less waste), I feel that we’ve taken a few extra steps to offer our customers an even more environmentally friendly option. Just a few examples: we reuse our shipping containers for several events (then recycle them once their service life is met), utilize rechargeable batteries for our cameras and have camera lanyards manufactured from recycled plastic bottles.
4. What are your or your ceo’s biggest challenges?
Marketing, marketing, marketing. We provide a service that most folks don’t even know exists, so it’s very challenging to utilize online search to drive customers to our website. And though there are hundreds of sites on the internet that would help us target particular verticals (weddings, reunions, party rentals, etc), most of them aren’t set up to support nationwide businesses, and all of them are relatively expensive. Very difficult to adequately fund enough advertising to determine which sites provide the best ROI.
5. Which marketing tactic/strategy has produced the most leads/revenue for your company?
Despite the above, Google Adwords continues to drive the most leads to our website, but mostly from customers who are familiar with our particular service. Second to that is word of mouth referrals. I know that sounds cliche, but once folks see our service at a friend’s or family member’s wedding, they immediately “get it”. To tap into this customer base, we utilize small, branded information cards that are attached to each camera lanyard. Event attendees are encouraged to take these cards home with them, so they can view the photos taken at the particular event they are attending. We’ve had some success converting these types of leads into booked jobs, and I expect that success to grow as we do more and more events.
6. How long have you been in business?
We just celebrated our first year in business this past August.
7. How many employees do you have?
This is a family run business, so there are only four of us. Myself, my business partner Eric, and both of our wives.
8. What are your revenue estimates for 2009? Is that an increase from 2008?
2008 gross revenue was $2,300. 2009 gross revenue is estimated to be $6,600.
Posted by Tom Blue on September 4, 2009 under Companies |
We just did an e-Interview with Martin Serrano who heads Business Development over at Private Eyes, Inc. See below.
1. What do you do? Pre-employment Screening Services. Background Checks and Drug Testing
2. Who are your competitors? Choice Point, Preemploy, Hireright.
3. What are your or your ceo’s biggest challenges? Companies think that because we are a Women Owned Business we can’t handle the volume.
4. Which marketing tactic/strategy has produced the most leads/revenue for your company? E.G. A PR Campaign, Please be specific as our users want to know how to grow their own business. Email Marketing, Cold Calling, Trade Shows and Conferences.
5. How long have you been in business? 10 years
6. How many employees do you have? 90 Full time and 30 Part time
7. What are your revenue estimates for 2009? Is that an increase from 2008?
8. What is your bio? Since 1999, the staff at Private Eyes, Inc. has committed themselves to providing the best pre-employment screening, background investigation and employment security solutions for businesses seeking to reduce their liability risk in their hiring procedures. Our clients include high-level Fortune 500 companies who are successful in large part due to their understanding the vital importance of hiring the right people and securing their hiring processes.
With more than 40 years combined experience in the security industry, our staff knows how to perform thorough and thoughtful background checks and employment investigations with sensitivity and discretion. Our commitment to your security and confidentiality will ensure you make informed hiring decisions that will help your company grow and keep your employees and customers happy and successful
9. (Optional) Have you had any new press recently? E.G. Announced a partnership, a new big customer, etc. We just signed a big contract for 90 Hospitals, That is all together a total of 124000 Employees; This contract is through Premier, Inc. The largest GPO in the U.S.
1. What do you do? Pre-employment Screening Services. Background Checks and Drug Testing
2. Who are your competitors? Choice Point, Preemploy, Hireright.
3. What are your or your ceo’s biggest challenges? Companies think that because we are a Women Owned Business we can’t handle the volume.
4. Which marketing tactic/strategy has produced the most leads/revenue for your company? E.G. A PR Campaign, Please be specific as our users want to know how to grow their own business. Email Marketing, Cold Calling, Trade Shows and Conferences.
5. How long have you been in business? 10 years
6. How many employees do you have? 90 Full time and 30 Part time
7. Have you had any new press recently? E.G. Announced a partnership, a new big customer, etc. We just signed a big contract for 90 Hospitals, That is all together a total of 124000 Employees; This contract is through Premier, Inc. The largest GPO in the U.S.
I have been doing some testing with different search terms at