2012 MPS Foto Survey Results

A few weeks back we asked our school and sports league customers to complete a short survey. The idea was to gauge how we were doing for them and identify areas where we can improve.  We surveyed all of the stakeholders at a customer - secretaries, administrators, league coordinators, coaches, etc - and the responses were anonymous if the respondent chose.  In summary, it looks like the energy we place into delivering the best overall experience in terms of quality, value, and customer service is paying off.

There are always areas to improve, however. Probably the most valuable part of this process was that, through the survey, two cases were identified where a task had not been completed on time. We had dropped the ball and our customers told us about it. Thankfully, we were able to use the info they gave us to quickly remedy the situation.  

In the interest of transparency, the best thing to do is to share the results and some of the individual comments.

Charts and Graphs (click on the graph to enlarge)

Customer Comments

• "We have a great relationship of strong communication."
• "I believe that MPS is committed to a high level of service."
• "In addition, other principals, yearbook advisor and athletic director are both satisfied with working relationship between MPS and our school district."
• "Our Yearbook has turned out Fantastic ... The quality of the product is excellent"
• "We had a couple of problems with identification of students and teachers, but nothing major."
• "We receive the school pics disk for yearbook a little later than I might have liked, but that may have been a hold up in our main office."
• "When MPS Foto came to our school, I was ready to listen because I wasn't excited about the company we were using. He made me feel comfortable with the idea of trying MPS, no high pressure, just an honest, wholesome presentation that won our business. We are very happy with the product and positive results."
• "We are so grateful to have a company with customer service like this"
• "very few retakes"
• "Over the first two years, they have been responsive to concerns and questions as they have arisen. I recently met with Jay to discuss some questions that were posed by the office staff. I am confident that these will be areas of focus as we head through our third year."
• "I usually received a reply to my emails or phone messages within 24 hrs, which was much appreciated.

Sometimes You Just Gotta Believe

An environmental experience room at the
Springmill Learning Center in Mansfield

When people ask me what makes MPS Foto different from other school photography companies, one of the things I often note is the fact that we're quite a bit smaller in size than some of our nationally based competitors like Interstate Studios and Lifetouch. I explain that we consider this an advantage for our schools, because we deliver a more personal experience for them. Instead of putting them in our system, we wrap our system around them. 

This is a significant difference when placed into practice. Typically, it leads us to seek a deeper understanding of the unique needs of a customer and then help them create a photography program that - while streamlined and efficient - fits really well with their organization and families. It isn't easy to do school and sports pictures this way.  There is a lot more work involved. We have to listen much more carefully, and being open to change and criticism is a requirement.

Interestingly, the environment that envelops public education these days is not altogether different. 21st century learning standards and the new Ohio core curriculum are encouraging (and demanding) more and more differentiation from instructors. Educators at all levels must provide adaptation to the unique learning styles of the students being served. Schools have to be leaner, run more efficiently, and improve the educational environment for all learners.  And just like businesses keep score in dollars, schools are held to account through state testing - earning grades and rankings which have a huge impact on enrollment. In other words, schools are being asked to listen to their customers and deliver an experience that fits their individual needs. Oh yeah, and they have to do it with less money and more accountability. Sounds awfully familiar.

Recently, I had the good fortune to tour the Springmill Learning Center; an incredible new facility being constructed by the Mansfield City Schools. It is going to be a fantastic experiential learning center that will combine COSI-like science, math, and engineering workshops with interactive history exhibits, and more than 20 acres of land for outdoor education.  What was most heartening is that I walked through this facility with the president of the local teacher's union who -- in the moments between explaining how everything was geared toward creating an environment where kids could learn in unique, engaging, and individual ways -- talked about how (and I admit I love this) he just believed.  He believed that Mansfield's schools would be rated excellent soon, believed in the administration's vision for the schools, believed that the district was going to succeed if for no other reason than to prove that it could. As I drove home, I couldn't help but be happy for our hometown schools and the kids who go there.  It has been a long way back for Mansfield and there's lots of work to be done, but I could relate. MPS Foto is growing amid a rapidly changing business environment. We have a lot of work yet to do. We work hard every day to take care of our each and every individual customer, and, well, we believe. 

MPS Foto, Ohio Bird Sanctuary Team Up!

OBS executive director, Gail Laux
shares some valuable time with Ohio students

We're proud to announce that MPS Foto will be working with the Ohio Bird Sanctuary during the 2012-2013 school year!  It's a project that has been in development for some time and we're excited to kick it off!  The text from the official press release is below...

Mansfield-based school and sports photography company MPS Foto has partnered with the Ohio Bird Sanctuary in a move designed to boost availability of outdoor and biodiversity education in schools.

The photography company will offer a special benefit for area schools that choose MPS Foto as their school picture provider. The company will provide 25% of all OBS programming costs, up to $100.00 per school year.

“We’re an Ohio-owned company that serves schools and families all over our region. We know from personal experience that the OBS is a tremendous educational resource within our community, and it only made sense that we partner with them to help kids receive a well-rounded education.”, says company vice - president and OBS board member, Jay Allred.

Gail Laux, executive director of the Bird Sanctuary sees the partnership as a win-win for everyone involved. “When MPS Foto brought this up to us, we thought that it made perfect sense for everyone. The schools benefit from reduced programming costs, and the OBS gains a partner to help further our mission of providing wildlife education to area young people.”

For more information about participating in this program, schools may contact MPS Foto at 419-529-9010 or at fotosales@mpsfoto.com. To schedule programming with the Ohio Bird Sanctuary, call 419-884-4295 or visit them on the web at www.ohiobirdsanctuary.com.

Introducing Foto Fusion Yearbook Software

We publish a lot of yearbooks for our K-8 school customers.  They are a fun and affordable way to provide a lasting record of a child's year in school.  We only publish in full color, offer tons of fun options like personalization, custom covers, and will even handle all of the design and layout for our customers. 

Some schools, however, want to design and build the book themselves.  There are tons of advantages to doing this -- it saves money, the finished yearbook is a more complete look at the year -- except for one thing.  The software.


If the school volunteer wasn't a professional designer, they've often had to make the compromise between really cool design and ease of use.  We're happy to announce the end of that problem.  LumaPix Foto Fusion removes the compromises and makes it easy, affordable and fun to make a school yearbook that looks fantastic.  Contact us to learn more about MPS Foto Fusion.

Kevin Honeycutt at the OASSA

photo courtesy of Kevin Honeycutt

This past week, MPS Foto was one of the exhibiting companies at the annual fall conference of the Ohio Association for Secondary School Administrators.  The conference usually hosts around 300 secondary school administrators from around Ohio for a couple of days of professional development, networking, and head-above-water thinking.  We're obviously there to help grow MPS Foto and meet new people, but an important side benefit is being able to learn more about the issues facing today's school administrators.  Seeing the challenges faced by Ohio schools allows us to better understand how we can fit our service to meet the needs of our customers.
One of the themes that rose to the surface was how to best use technology to meet the needs of 21st century learners.  This year, we were able to sit in on part of the keynote presentation by Kevin Honeycutt, who is booked solid with speaking engagements on the innovative use of technology in schools.  What a revelation.  Mr. Honeycutt was more than entertaining and funny -- he was inspiring.  His technique of demonstrating exactly how teachers can use simple and inexpensive technology like the iPad to engage their students was amazing.  But here's the thing... I wonder if the reason Mr. Honeycutt is in such demand is directly related to the fact that so many adults (myself included) are amazed by what he does.  What I mean is that technology flips the script on just who is educating who these days.  My nine year old officially knows more about Windows Movie Maker than I do, and that requires an open mind and a tiny ego in order to keep up with her and be part of her digital life.
Which is why we're forwarding links to Mr. Honeycutt's videos and other resources to the administrators and teachers we know. How do your kids use technology in the classroom?

We Have a Winner!

Congratulations to Christine Thompson of Clear Fork Middle School!  She was out winner of the August 2011 $100.00 gas card giveaway.  It won't be long before we announce our September winner.  Remember to pre-pay for your pictures online and you'll be automatically registered to win!

MPS Foto Buys Your Gas!

Guess what?  Now purchasing your school pictures online is more than just convenient.  Buying online can fill your gas tank.  Each month in 2011, starting in August, every person who pre-pays for their photo package online will be registered to win a one hundred dollar gas card!  Here are the details.

-Each order placed will represent an entry.
-We will randomly select a name from all the orders placed that month and notify the winner via e-mail.
-The winner will be selected at the end of each month.
-You may only win once.
-The gas card will be at a station convenient to the winner's location.

So who will be our first entrant?  Will it be you?