> Hi!

> First, Dien and Gordon, your forum is now
> the #1 on my list of boards to visit.

> Onward, as Halbert always said in his
> letters:

> Here in Austin there's a big lake nearby and
> boating is a mini-craze. Austinites love
> their huge boats and their huge dogs.

> So why not give them a photo of their toys
> that they can hang on their office walls?

> What you'd need would be a good camera, a
> way to get up high (like a builder's ladder
> or something), a truck to carry the ladders
> on, photo manipulation expertise, and
> knowledge about getting free publicity and
> word-of-mouth advertising.

> Before I describe the product, the
> word-of-mouth advertising would be created
> by setting up the normal affiliate program,
> except that people you sell to are
> affililiates and they make a commission by
> helping you spread the word. The Web is
> going local, and this is just another way of
> making it work.

> The product that you sell would be a picture
> of the boat owner and his/her attractive
> significant other and/or dog, appearing to
> drive the boat at high speed on the water.

> Actually, it's trick photography: you go to
> the boat owner's domicile, climb up your
> ladder, and photograph the boat while it's
> sitting on its trailor, posing the
> appropriately dressed owner.

> You then strip out the background using
> photo products that already exist and do
> this kind of thing flawlessly, and add the
> water and sky. You could show the boaters
> happily doing their thing with all kinds of
> exotic backdrops. You could show them racing
> the Titanic if you wanted!

> Needless to say, the same idea could be used
> with expensive cars instead of boats. You're
> selling to monied people, so you should be
> able to get a fair price for your expertise
> and artistry.

> Hope this was interesting and useful in some
> way!!

> Best,

> -Boyd

interesting point in her post. "t-shirts" That could be a very nice additional product. A great t-shirt for the guy/gal to ware on their next outing. Just thinking out loud.

Good Luck!

Gary


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