As you can see, the booth set up is pretty simple. I have one 4′ work table and one 4′ presentation table. The banner in the back of the booth has all of the tat designs for the customer to choose from. The table for the tat artist is located near the front of the booth. Tats are a demonstration product. People like to watch them being applied and see the end result. Often someone who never wanted to get a tat will decide to get one after watching them being applied. This is why I like to place the work table near the front of the booth.

In this booth photo, the presentation table is located in the front of the booth. Normally I like to position the table along the side of the booth. This gives the customer a clear path so they can walk into the booth to select their tat. The presentation table holds a photo book with pictures of tats that have been applied to previous customers. This book lets the customer see examples of my work and different color options for their tats. Customers looking through the presentation book will help create a “buzz” in the booth which will draw attention. Unlike the booth photo, I like to have the picture with the Swarovski crystals on the work table where I apply the tats. When I am applying the tat I ask the customer if they want me to add a crystal for a dollar and I can point to the crystal picture with the samples.

Hidden under the presentation table are all my extra personal items, such as my necessity box, sweater, water, food, hat, rain gear, extra sun glasses etc.

The work table has my stencils, cotton pads and balls, spray bottle with alcohol, powder, mirrors, airbrush gun and cleaning tubs sitting on the table. Under the table, hidden by the skirting is my Power Palette, tool kit, and extra tat supplies.

I choose to use black for the table cloth and skirting in my booth. With all the colors of the banners and all the tats displayed on the banners, the booth has a busy look to it. The solid black adds simplicity to the booth. Black does not show the dirt and the solid black color gives the booth a professional look. The table cloth and skirting are plastic, which will clean up easily and are available from a party supply store. I use a staple gun to attach the table cloth and skirting to the side of the table. After the show I simply rip the table covering off and throw it away.

The banners in the booth are attached by bungees.

The furniture is limited to two stools, one for the customer and one for the tatist and a foot stool for applying ankle tats. I do have one folding chair to sit in when I am not busy. When I am busy I fold the chair up and hide it behind the presentation table. I only have one waste basket per tatist.

One final note on the wind. It does not take much wind to take any canopy air borne. Canopies need to be weighted down with weights. On the Easy Up the legs can have a strong cord looped through each leg and then tied to a weight. To be safe, I think you need to have at least one 20# weight at each leg. In most cases this will work to hold the canopy down. I have done shows where I have had to hold on to the canopy even though I had the weights. I just hoped I was not going to become another Mary Poppins.

While creating the booth photos for you I did discover one problem. I wanted to have my banners be color coordinated. This was an impossible task for me since our banners are not color coordinated. I spoke with our graphic artist about this issue and we are creating banners that are color coordinated. I hope to be able to show them to show you by next week.

I plan on having more booth photos for you next week. I feel this is such an important part of our business and I want to give you as many helpful tips as possible to give your booth a dynamite appearance and functionality. Since it is nearing the end of the season for 2008, you will have some new ideas to think about and hopefully implement for your 2009 season.

In my article, The Future of Tats, I claim that we’ll help 1,000 individuals build million dollar tat businesses.

What are we doing now to move forward towards that result?

Here are three immediate objectives:

1. Help you, our client MVP, book more private events.
2. Teach you new ways to make money with tats.
3. Teach you best practices to more profitably operate your business.

To achieve these objectives, we’ll hire a Chief Operating Officer (COO). This COO will, among other things, operate a new division, Flash Body Art (Flash).

The COO’s mission is to turn Flash into a million dollar business ASAP.

Flash will only provide tat services on a retail basis in Grand Rapids, Michigan. If we can do it here, we can teach you to do it there.

Flash currently has no customers. So, our COO is starting from scratch.

You should think of Flash as a laboratory where experiments will be conducted to determine what works. What brings cash and sales into a tat business fast? What’ll cause customers to refer others? What’ll cause tat customers to want to get tatted repeatedly?

To the extent that our tat industry is seasonal, and it currently is largely seasonal, we’re launching Flash at the worst time. We launch on October 1, towards the end of summer, to prove a point.

I’ll provide you with monthly reports on how we’re doing. I’ll give you the numbers. We’ll then make our best practices available to our MVP Masters starting November 1.

(To learn about our MVP Program, go to our home page at www.TatStore.com and click on the MVP Program link on the navigation bar on the left.)

So, who’s our new COO and why do I think he’s a great person to run Flash?

I can tell you that he’s an experienced entrepreneur in his early fifties.

He has build and run his own ten million dollar company. He built it from scratch and later sold it.

He will ultimately take over all operational responsibility at TAT International (TAT). He has strengths that I do not have. (My forte is marketing and sales.)

Freed from operational concerns, I’ll focus on marketing and innovation.

I’ll do all the marketing for Flash, for example. I can’t wait to get started. I can’t wait to wow you with my results. I’m excited.

Can I really help you build a million dollar business?

I was talking to an MVP who told me that he’s taken his tat business to $175,000 a year in sales in three years. Naturally I want to do more than that with Flash in our first year.

-Kirk

P.S. I’ll send you a video next week and introduce you to our new COO.

P.P.S. Our goal will be to take Flash to over a half million in retail tat sales in its first year of operation. Can we do it? We’ll see! Our MVP Masters will be looking over our shoulder every step of the way. ]]> http://blog.tatstore.com/2008/08/27/what-im-working-on/feed/ http://blog.tatstore.com/2008/08/26/marketing-with-flikr/ http://blog.tatstore.com/2008/08/26/marketing-with-flikr/#comments Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:00:43 +0000 Mark http://blog.tatstore.com/?p=526 I have been following a thread on the forum that you can find here about using Flickr. I wanted to share a blog post I found on the Influential Marketing Blog that tells how to use Flickr for marketing purposes. Enjoy!

Hey.  I’m going to take this opportunity to let you in on the process I use to teach myself how to do complicated graphics related tasks.  I find something I like, try to copy it, then use those techniques in my own original works.

So what we are going to do with this tutorial is to copy the YouTube logo using Inkscape.  Pay close attention to the use of paths in this tutorial as that is a new technique to the readers of this blog.

Have fun, and after you are done, give it a shot.  If you do try anything feel free to post it here as a comment.  (If you don’t have access to a website, just upload your picture to flickr and drop the link in a comment box).  I’d love to see them.

(sorry about the audio, first time with my new mic and it didn’t go very well. I’ll figure it out soon)

My very first blog post was on the overwhelming benefits of using Mozilla’s Firefox browser. I briefly discussed add-ons and how they can be used to customize your browsing experience and improve your efficiency online. Today I will share my list of Firefox extensions which are essential to enhancing the Internet. All of these can be found in the Add-ons section of Mozilla’s website.

Tab Mix Plus

Whenever I install Firefox, the first extension I add is Tab Mix Plus. TMP adds increased functionality and customization to Firefox’s tab system. You can set certain events to trigger certain options and also control how and when new tabs open. For example, when I double-click on a tab, it refreshes that page. Or, when I type a URL in the address bar, that page will load in a new tab. The add-on also allows a multi-row display of tabs that greatly improves the default of a scrolling tab bar. You can choose how the tabs themselves look by changing color, style, focus, and close buttons. With TMP, you can find a system that works for you, saving you time and keeping you organized.

Easy DragToGo

This extension may sound gimmicky, but after using Easy DragToGo, you will wish every computer had it. It allows you to drag hyperlinks to open them in new tabs. You can customize the gestures so that dragging in different directions changes how the tab opens (ex. Focused or Background). Another feature allows you to drag highlighted text to do a Google search of it in a new tab. This add-on has increased my browsing efficiency more than any other. I guarantee that using Easy DragToGo will become so second-nature that you will try to use it on computers without it out of habit, but unsuccessfully.

Adblock Plus

This add-on does one thing: Blocks Ads. After using Adblock Plus, the Internet will start to look different to you. It removes almost every single advertisement on the web. Most importantly it removes banners, text ads, and the paid ads subtly placed with search results. Even if you do come across an advertisement, you can right-click it and select “Adblock Image” to prevent its future appearance. Not only does it remove the abundant eyesores placed everywhere on the internet, but it improves speed and load time.

Linkification and Copy Link Name

These two extensions are small, but greatly improve two elements of browsing. Linkification automatically creates a hyperlink of any text formatted as a URL. For example, the following text: http://blog.tatstore.com would automatically become a clickable, working link, saving you the time of copying it and pasting it in the address bar. I often find myself trying to copy linked test. Another example: you have to carefully highlight the text TatStore Blog without clicking on it in order to copy it. With Copy Link Name, you can right-click a text hyperlink and select Copy Link Name to avoid tricky highlighting.

Others

If you enjoy Firefox and wish to share your favorite add-ons, please leave them in the comments. I’m always looking for a new way to improve my Internet experience.

Since selling tats at fairs/festivals is a big part of the tat business for so many people,  I think the topic of booth set up is extremely important.

The first consideration is space.  Most fairs/festivals I have done limit their booth space to 10×10.  However I have been pleasantly surprised at some fairs/festivals to find they have allowed extra space between booths so I can spread out a little.  It is better to be prepared for bad news rather than good, so I have my booth designed so it will work in a 10/10 space.

I feel that I only need one small table to work from and another small table to hold my picture frame with the crystal display, pricing and also a display book with pictures of tats I have done on some previous customers.   These tables are covered with a black plastic table cloth and black plastic skirting.  The table cloth and skirting is available at any party supply store and is very reasonably priced.  I can rip this table covering off at the end of a show and replace it with fresh covering for the next show.  I attach this covering with a staple gun.

My tat designs are all on display on the banners hanging in by booth.

A banners on the front of the canopy, reading “Airbrush Tattoos” is essential.  If you are lucky enough to have a corner booth, a banner on each side is necessary.

I you are using posters to display your tat designs you can attach the posters to a metal grid.  These grids are available at store fixture supply shops.  These grids work well because they are heavier metal, can be zip-tied together and look neat.  If you zip-tie three of them together you can set them up in a triangle shape,  this will be a very stable display and your posters will stay in place under windy conditions.

Remember to keep children’s designs closer to the ground so they can easily choose their own designs.

A cash register is not necessary.  The only way I would use a cash register at a show is if I had employees working for me.  I would also place a sign in my booth reading “If you do not get a receipt, your tat is free.”  I can check the register tape at the beginning of the show and at the end to see how much business we did and compare that to the cash given to me by the employee.  When I do any show,  I keep all my cash in a fanny pack strapped to my waist.  I keep my money on me during the entire show.

I stock an “essential needs”  box and I bring it to all shows with me.  It is small enough to hide under one of my tables and holds:  aspirins, antacids, scrap paper, receipt book, 1^st aid wipes, band aids, tape, pens, calculator, scissors, stapler, extra clamps, zip ties, small roll of duct tape, peanuts and granola bars.  This little box has saved me at several shows.  I can’t tell you how many of my grateful neighbors have repaid me with freebies because I have been able to help them out at a show.  It is a simple idea and a life saver.

See ya next week, with pictures.  For now, check out this picture from our blog provided by Airbrush Gypsy.  It shows how you can make the most of your flash.

I’m sending an email to all of our MVPs today to share some new developments.

Before I get to the bad news, let me tell you about the gift.  The gift is intended to help our MVP Affiliates earn TatStore.com credits.

Any MVP can sign up as an affiliate.  Affiliation is free – exclusively for MVPs.

(If you are an MVP and would like to become an affiliate, call Mark at 1-800-275-0591 or e-mail him: Mark@TatStore.com.  He’ll set you up for free; you’ll get your gift ASAP.)

So what’s the gift?

To see it and learn more about all this go here.

Affiliates have the right to sell or sponsor sales of all TatStore.com Power Systems and Kits.  They receive a ten percent (10%) credit of the amount of all such sales which they in turn can use to buy anything at TatStore.com.  If an affiliate sponsors a Power System sale, that affiliate earns a ten percent credit on the entire initial order plus all subsequent purchases of the new system owner.

To help our affiliates sell Power Systems, we’ve created a new bonus card which is the size of a business card.  One side of the card provides instructions on how to care for a tat.  The other side offers $500 of bonus merchandise with the purchase of a Power System.  There is a space on the card for the affiliate to write their unique identification number so they receive credit.  (We give the new Power System owner the bonus gifts.)

Our MVPs are putting tats on people at public events.  Whenever they place a tat on a customer, they hand them a card explaining:

This tells you how to care for your tat.  If you want to learn more about the tat business, look on this other side to see where I got my tat system.  If you, or someone you know, decide to get a system like I did, you’ll, or they’ll, receive $500 worth of additional goods free and I’ll get a little credit too.  Incidentally, you’ll get a lot of stuff I didn’t get.

To encourage our affiliates, we’ll give them 500 cards free.  When ordering, we’ll include it without additional charges or they can order the cards and pay only $7.50 for shipping.

So, what’s the bad news?

We’re intending to launch a new program, MVP Master, on November 1, 2008.  This will be an amazing program – to check it out, go here.  Our intent is to book private events for our Masters, to guarantee to them a monthly stream of income, thousands of dollars every month.

Here’s the bad news: We’ll initially only accept a handful of people into the program.  Since this is a new program, we’ll want to insure that all is working properly.  Next year we’ll accept additional affiliates into the Master’s Program.

-Kirk

PS.  Check out this video

Dear Friends,

Holistic Henna is proud to serve the community and help raise funds and awareness for Cancer.org again this year.

We invite you to attend the “Relay for Life” event

and get some henna artwork in San Francisco at Crissy Fields near Golden Gate Bridge today August 16th 2008.

100% of the proceeds will go to the charity.

Click on the link below to be directed to our events calendar for more information on this event and to learn how you can contribute as well.

http://holistichenna.com/calendar_of_events

We look forward to seeing you.

Warm Regards,
Daxa

The parts I really like about this particular email are the way she addressed the email to all of her friends, has a great tie in with a charity event, and TWO points of contact for customers to get back in touch with her. One is the link to the web site and the other is a phone number she listed after her name (I removed it for privacy sake). Another terrific part of this email is the footer:

(Note: This is not a spam email. You are receiving this email because you are either a loved friend or a customer and we would
love to be able to keep you informed about our charitable events and new happenings. However we do not want to send anyone
an unwanted email. If you really wish to no longer receive emails from us you may send us an email back with “Unsubscribe”
in the subject line. Thank You.)

–
Thank You Again,

Kind Regards,

Daxa Patel

Event Coordinator

HOLiSTiC HENNA
Artists, Entertainers & Event Planners

(510) ***-****

Again, more points for the customer to get back in touch with the store. The bracketed portion is a requirement for sending out any email with commercial intent. It is part of the CANN Spam act. For more information on that, you can read my post on emails.

Creating a great email program to stay in touch with your customers can be fun and easy, and always worth the effort.

Shiny buttons tutorial (absolute must watch!)

Icon like the staples easy button tutorial

Sphere tutorial (watch out - no sound here)

PS. Remember while watching these to watch for mechanics. You can use each technique in different combinations and see what you can come up with.

Transferring, sharing, and distributing files is a task performed by nearly all computer users. Different situations may have different solutions, depending on what you need to share. For example, I would not use the same method to send a friend a PDF as I would to transfer my music collection from one computer to another. Today I will countdown the 10 best strategies for transferring files, when to use them, and their possible drawbacks.

10. Public Sharing Site

If you are looking for a way to share your content with millions, a public sharing site may be an easy solution. These sites include internet giants like Youtube (video) and Flickr (photo). Have vacation photos or the next big viral video? These allow others easy access without the need to download. This method does not actually transfer the files to someone; it simply lets them view their content. Most sites of this nature require you to sign up for an account and have upload limits.

9. Windows Live SkyDrive/Dropbox/GMail Drive

These services offer a simple solution to store and backup files to an online server, but require you to install software on your personal computer. Dropbox is currently in the beta stage, but is sending periodic invites to those who sign up. It places a folder on your computer which you save to like any other, then syncs that folder to their servers, allowing you to access your files from anywhere with internet. Transferring files is easy through use of shared folders. Gmail Drive is very similar to Filedropper, but is exclusively for personal starage. It creates a drive (which looks like an additional hard drive) and files saved there are backed up to the storage provided with your Gmail Account. SkyDrive is a newer solution from Microsoft that offers personal storage, sharing with friends, and the ability to share with all. It is similar to Dropbox, except the folder you save to is already online. The drawback with these three is the need to install software (and have others install it if sharing). However, SkyDrive has a public folder option that allows you to share files by sending a link with no software required (similar to File Dropper below).

8. FTP

If you have a web hosting plan, you can use FTP to share files easily with anyone. FTP is a client used to upload files from your computer to an online server. This option gives you further control over your files because you upload them to your server. Just share the URL of the file and others can download like anything else on the internet. With this option you cannot control who can download the file, so security may be an issue for certain files. As long as you don’t publicly post the link, you shouldn’t have any issues.

7. Pownce

Pownce is a social networking site that focuses on sharing files, links, posts, and events. This site works well, if the people you wish to share with have also signed up for Pownce. You can send the previously listed items to a single friend, list of friends, or all friends on Pownce. The service offers impressive upload sizes, and with a pro account for $20 a year, upload limts are 2.5x larger. Pownce also has a desktop application, eliminating the need to open the site in a browser to share files.

6. Network

If you need to move files between local computers, transferring them over the network is easy and free. This option requires initial setup, making sure both computers can share files and are properly connected to the network. Windows has a public folder by default, but you can set any folder to be shared. You can copy whole directories over to a shared folder on another computer. The drawback to sending large files and folders over the network is that transfer speeds can be slow. Another problem that occurs when you start to work off of multiple copies of a file is the need to keep track of which is the latest version.

5. IM

The option to send files over instant messenger is built into most clients. You will be able to see transfer progress from both ends and you instantly know when the transfer is completed. With IM, transfers fail often and speeds are can be painfully slow. Also, both users must be online to make a transfer. This option can be best for quickly sending small files to one person.

4. CD/DVD

This option has been a standard in moving files for years. Burning files to blank media is fast, easy, and has a decent storage size. It also allows you to keep a physical backup of your data. You can even send it through the mail. CDs and DVDs scratch easily and are not reusable (except for ±RW). If you are making a one-time transfer, there are more environmentally friendly methods.

3. Email

Email makes it this far up our list for one main reason: everyone has it. Attaching a file to a message is simple and convenient. Drawbacks to email file transfers include file size limits, restrictions on file types, and very slow transfers. Email also seems to be plagued with issues. How many times have you heard (or said), “My email is broken.”

2. External Hard Drives/Flash Drives

The best solution to transfer files locally is using an external hard drive or flash drive. Flash drives are small and convenient, can be carried in a pocket, and are available in ever-increasing sizes. External hard drives offer the highest size limits available. Both are fast and reusable. This solution only works as far as you are willing to physically move a drive.

1. File Dropper and Other Sites

File Dropper offers two ways to use its service. You can create an account and use it as online storage, or you can upload and share the link of the file. File Dropper offers free and paid accounts, depending on your storage needs. Also, you can use it without creating an account. The site has a very simple layout and the simplest method conceivable for sharing a file: upload, share link. There are many sites similar to File Dropper, but it is the best I have used to Date.

Other Soultions

I hope you can take advantage of these numerous options. If you have any other methods to share files, please leave them in the comments.