My Back To Business Strategy

By Neil Moore, commercial, business, agricultural and marine specialist is a professional photographer from his studio near Marlborough, Wiltshire. He's also a member of the well-known Swindon referral group BusinessWise.

Summarise how Covid-19 has affected your business? 

Projects planned before the Covid-19 Lockdown, and subsequently during, were all cancelled due to the lockdown and worry of infection.  This is even when we have explained that we will not be in close contact and would be wearing PPE. That is now slowly starting to change and it's entirely possible to do a professional photo shoot and maintain a safe social distance.  

What has been your plan to continue?  

I have taken this time to collate a vast catalogue of photos in storage and have been slowly uploading them for stock library usage. Many businesses find stock photography useful in their marketing strategies - many don't realise they can also buy this imagery from a local supplier. 

Many of them have also been collated for use in books that I am currently producing for release shortly.

How has business changed for you over the last few months?  

Fortunately I have been able to fall back on my other business creating websites during this slow period for commissioned photographic work.

However, we have had the odd studio product shoot and even a commission to photograph flora and fauna for a book publisher that has kept the cameras oiled!

As lockdown eases what measures have you put in place to get back to business? 

During the lockdown I have continued using my excellent PR Company to keep my profile high with existing and prospective clients.  

I have also been in contact with my current clients, and we are currently planning their photographic requirements and planning a realistic timescale for delivery.

What has been the most challenging aspect of all of this? 

The most challenging aspect from all this is still the unclear advice and timescale for businesses to plan a back to work strategy which is safe, secure and ultimately profitable.

From our perspective we need our clients to become busy again so they are able to increase their budget for marketing collateral and advertising.

What has been the most positive aspect? 

For me that has been the time to learn new software and techniques.  

I have also improved my video camera work and film editing production output in order to increase my offering to my clients.

Has it made you consider how you feel about other businesses/suppliers/customers/clients for good or otherwise? 

I have always carefully assessed how other businesses may be successful or suffering and adjusted my offering and tolerance accordingly.  

However we all need to make a base turnover to survive and our decisions will always be determined by this. 

How important is the phrase 'buy local, supply local' to you? 

To buy from your local shops and suppliers is vital and something I have always done.  If you support other local businesses then they will support you if they have a need for the service or product you offer. 

If nothing else, if there is a problem you don’t have to worry about posting it back, you go down to the shop and sort things out. It's the same with a local supplier. It's easier to have a conversation and come to a solution when you are both local. 

What are your top tips for other business owners at this time? 

1. Plan for a slow recovery

2. Keep informed about developments in this country and abroad.

3. React immediately when opportunities arise.

How can we buy from you? 

As a commercial photographic studio we are keen to fill the studio with products to be photographed and to this end we are happy a to offer for a limited time, a 15% discount, to those who react to this article, until 30th June 2020. 

Quote: “TOTALGUIDE-15” to claim your 15% discount on product (packshot) photography – this offer ends 30th June 2020. 

Your parting thoughts? 

Don’t be selfish.  Those you help will also help you.

For more information visit www.moore-photographics.com