If you own a pet store, would you let visitors take photos of your pets?

(05-05-2012, 07:38 AM)Mantis Wrote: I think sometimes when visitors take photos, they're looking for approval of the pet from their family or friends, and of course the only way to show what a pet looks like without taking them with you is to take photographs when you're there. I would agree with pet shop owners who request no camera flash, though. But yes, if I owned a shop I would allow photos to be taken. If I didn't I could lose valuable customers, and not to mention (especially if I had just started my business), word of mouth is a powerful means of marketing. Photos are taken to be shared usually. It's free advertising.

I agree. I would allow people to take pictures. Part of the reason is what you just said. Free advertising.

Someone can take a picture and have it on facebook in less then a minute. Now you possibly have 300+ people that will see that picture. Some will like it or comment. Then the people on their list now will get to see that picture. So in 10 minutes you could have a few thousand people see a picture of a pet that you have for sale. Someone is going to ask where that was taken. Once answered your store has just been posted to thousands of people and will remain on facebook for as long as the person who took it leaves it there (which could be forever).

Maybe this is why he has a tiny store and not a large one.

The only reason I could see you not wanting pictures to be taken is if you had unhealthy pets. But that is going to come back to haunt you, pictures or not.

James