For the next blog installation of our How to Sell Your Photography Series we focus on how you can sell your photography at local stores and make a profit! Let us know in the comments below if you have other tips that have worked for you and your photography business!

1. Create a Wholesale Pricing Strategy:

Ensure that you can sell your photos to local stores at a price they can see a return on, without completely taking your profits. Find out the cost to you per photo include the printing, paper, card, envelope, and plastic sleeve. Once you have that decided, be sure to at least double it for a return on your investment. Also, know that stores will likely sell the cards for double the price they paid for them, so make sure the price isn't so high it won't appeal to consumers when doubled. 

Some stores may even allow you to sell on consignment, meaning that they only receive a portion of the funds after a purchase has been made. This way, it is less risk for the store owner opposed to buying them up front. Create a consignment strategy as well to offer if a store owner asks. 

2. Make a Portable Presentation

Design a portable presentation of your photos and go to local craft related stores with it to show them the variety of your photographs. It could be as simple as a binder portfolio or even a poster board to showcase your photos! Anything to allow a store owner to see if your photos will fit their store.

3. Do Some Market Research

Think about the types of photographs you take and who your customers are. Now try to find stores in your area who sell to the same customers that you are selling to. This will help get your photos in the eyes of your target customers and be discovered! For example, if you live near a beach and most of your photos are of the beach, find local beachy stores where people shop for tourist related items or beach themed items. Doing this research will also help you sell your photographs to the store owners if you can show that you have the same target audience. 

4. Create a Website

While this may seem unnecessary, you will want to leave a business card with shop owners and include in your cards that customers purchase. Having a website will lead them back to it to view more photographs and see your work. By having a way for people to find your photos outside of the store it will be easier to make a sale in the future. 

5. Follow Up!

They say it can take up to eight contacts to make a sale! Be persistent in your follow up strategy with shop owners who you have spoken or met with in person. Be sure to keep in contact with them so they think of you when they need to buy more photos!

Hopefully you have found these tips helpful for selling your photography at local stores, let us know how they work for you, or if you have any additional tips leave them in the comments!

Beni, PlymouthCards.com