 "Photo:")
When you think "soccer mom," usually the minivan full of screaming kids with big appetites comes to mind.
For soccer mom Jennifer Harper, it was the creative force behind Peek-a-Pic!, a fun and fashionable photo mailer that holds up to 24 pictures and a photo CD and doubles as a picture frame.
Brook Rosser, graphic arts professor and college friend to Harper, enabled the idea by bringing life to the photo mailers with her vivid and colorful designs.
"Jennifer had mentioned over dinner one night how she wanted a fast, easy and creative way to send out her kids' soccer game pictures to friends and family," Rosser said. "It was just one of those quirky ideas that really turned into something."
"Nowadays, with all the online photo-scrapping, pictures rarely get off of the computer," Rosser explained. "We wanted people to print their photos and share and enjoy them again."
Rosser and Harper worked to get the idea off the ground. Rosser created the designs, while Harper managed the business marketing aspects.
It took the two more than three years to finally get a patent pending. The initial mockups were too similar to other products on the market, Rosser explained. But the dynamic duo persevered and finally came up with something different enough to pass a patent review, she said.
In March 2007, negotiations with superstore H-E-B began, and by August, Peek-a-Pic!'s were on the shelves in 20 store locations.
The photo mailers were considered more of a test product at first, Rosser said.
But the product had no problem selling, and just four months later, the two found themselves renegotiating a contract that would put Peek-a-Pic!'s in 60 H-E-B stores statewide.
"Our current photo buyer said it is one of the best-selling add-ons in the photo area," Rosser said with a smile. "We are selling a minimum of five a day."
Although Peek-a-Pic! is taking off at rapid speed, Rosser and Harper have yet to collect any profit.
"It took a lot of money to get this going," Rosser said. "We hope to break even soon. It often takes several years to make a profit, but we hope to be in the black this year."
Breaking even is only the beginning for Rosser and Harper. The two are aiming for far more.
"Our goal now is to be available in any store that features photo processing nationwide," Rosser said.
Peek-a-Pic! is already building national exposure at its Web site at www.mypeekapic.com.
Print graphics sophomore Vernelle Martinez gets firsthand experience by keeping the Web site revamped and updated.
"I think it's my responsibility to keep designing while I teach because it really benefits the students," Rosser said, "and a successful business is an added benefit."
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