Photo Ops: Photos Get People in the Door at Tiger Graphic Services

When the University of Memphis faculty and students asked for on-campus photo printing services, Tiger Graphic Services got the picture and bought a Kodak GS Compact kiosk. Operational for about a year, the kiosk was a low-risk venture for the in-plant, according to Manager Penni Istre.

“It was a relatively small investment, about $3,800,” she states, adding that annual maintenance costs less than $500. “It gets people in the door, and we can up-sell other items.”

Customers use the kiosk primarily as a walk-up, self-service unit. The in-plant charges 14 cents a picture and Istre estimates output of about 50 prints a week.
During the school year, the kiosk resided in the in-plant’s Paw Prints student service center. “We brought it to our main facility for the summer, and people have migrated with it,” Istre reports. “Now, we’re looking at purchasing another kiosk to have one in each location.”

Tiger Graphic Services is also exploring photo book printing opportunities. The shop already has hardcover and perfect binding capabilities. “We can run photo paper through the [Océ 620 and Canon 5000],” Istre states.

The in-plant has approached Greek Affairs to gauge interest in photo yearbooks.
“And we’re planning to create templates for students that will let them create their own photo books,” she adds.