Can 360Booth® be installed outside? I don’t recommend it.
First of all, you have a cloth. If it gets wet, your cloths will be stained. The plastic will not be affected; the lights are waterproof and drop proof. Everything is powder-coated steel. So, in theory, you could, but I believe the number one reason why you’re looking at a studio is to increase your sales. Our customers are saying they’re going up 20, 25, 30%, with higher grosses, and selling more cars out of state than ever before.
So, my question to you is “why the hell would you want to put it outside?”
I know the answer. Space. If space wasn’t the issue here at 360Booth®, we’d have 10,000 in the ground. I know you’re limited on space, but if you want to grow your business, you have to put in the effort. We need to go indoors.
Here’s the good news. I travel to your space for free, your dealership for free, literally for free. The owner, the designer, the developer travels to your dealership for free. I bring lasers. I’ll measure your space. Let me come in and evaluate whether you have the space. I know you do. You just don’t want to give it up, but let me evaluate your store before you make a decision to not go with us or to build a building.
We do nothing but new construction now, like, 70% of our business is new construction. Give me a shot. Spend my money for free! Let me come see you!
FAQ
Can a 360Booth® be installed outside?
360Booth doesn’t recommend it. The plastic, waterproof lights and powder-coated steel can handle it, but the cloth top will stain when wet.
What if I don't have space inside?
Jay Smithweck will visit your dealership for free, measure with lasers and help find a suitable indoor space before you consider outdoor options or a new building.
Honestly, nothing will happen to it. A gust of wind will push it off its track. The cloth top will get stained, but the number one reason you don’t want to go outside is that you need to increase your sales.
That’s why you’re here. You’re trying to increase your sales. You want to go indoors so you can shoot 24/7. If you don’t have the stomach to put in the process, to make sure all your cars are online 24/7, and shoot day or night indoors, putting it outside just makes the process harder.
So, no. 360Booth® does not go outside. You want it inside so you have 100% of your inventory online–new and used cars, fresh trades–online 24/7, not on Friday before the weekend– 24/7.
FAQ
Why should a 360Booth® be installed indoors?
Indoors you can shoot day or night in any weather, so new cars, used cars and fresh trades get online consistently. Outdoors, wind can push the studio off its track and the cloth top can stain.
Will installing it outside make the process harder?
Yes. 360Booth’s view is that an outdoor setup undermines the reason for having a studio: a consistent, all-weather photo process.
Why is 360Booth® so popular and successful? It’s really simple, simple, simple.
How do you operate it? Simple. You simply walk up and push it. That enables you to direct the light on the vehicle at any time and simply. By the way, there are no motors, no turntables, no failures.
Here’s how it works. You walk up to the studio, and you simply push it. This is a 28-foot studio. It’s 1000 pounds. It only takes 30 pounds of pressure to move it.
FAQ
How do you operate a 360Booth®?
You walk up to the studio and push it to direct the light where you need it on the vehicle. There are no motors or turntables.
How hard is it to push?
360Booth says a 28-foot studio weighs about 1,000 pounds but takes only about 30 pounds of pressure to move.
You’re considering 360Booth®, and the only space you have available is right next-door to your detail department, and you think it may be an issue.
It’s not going to be an issue. Now, unless your detailers start crazily spraying the cars and it’s getting the cloth top all wet; that will stain. I wouldn’t recommend that, but the walls are plastic. Everything is steel-powder coated. It’s not going to be a problem.
Let me evaluate your space. I’ll do it at no cost. I’ll travel to your space. I’ve been to Anchorage, Alaska, New Zealand, Australia, Guam. I’ll go anywhere to listen to somebody who wants to take their photos to the next level and grow market share and higher gross. Give us a shot.
But to answer your question: Yes, you can put it right next-door to your detail bay. You do not need a wall or a partition.
FAQ
Can I put a 360Booth® next to my detail department?
Yes. The walls are plastic and the frame is powder-coated steel, so moisture won’t damage them, and you don’t need a wall or partition.
Is there anything to watch for?
Keep spray off the cloth top, which can stain if it gets soaked.
Will your space that you developed, like this one, need to have AC or heat? That is entirely up to you. Let me explain.
When I rented this space, we used our studio for testing and beta testing a ton of cameras and ideas. I’m in Florida, and I don’t know if you can tell, but I’m a little “dewy.” We don’t spend eight or nine hours per day in here shooting, and we have some fans around, so I chose not to do an AC.
I’ve personally been in spaces in Canada and New Jersey, and one experience was eight degrees. I walked into the studio, and the photographers were in a mask and gloves. It was eight degrees.
What happened to the studio? Absolutely nothing. The plastic, though, when we put the seams together, because of the cold air, shrinks, and it creates a little seam. You can’t see if the photos are shot properly. That’s the only thing that happens.
So, to answer your question, do you need AC or heat? That is entirely up to you.
I’ll ask you another question. If I had you shooting the cars, and you had to spend six hours in a freezing building, how long would you stay?
FAQ
Does my 360Booth® space need heating or air conditioning?
That’s your decision. The studio itself works in hot or very cold spaces.
What happens to a 360Booth in cold weather?
Nothing harmful. In very cold conditions the plastic can contract slightly and show small seams, which shouldn’t be visible in properly shot photos.
Is there a reason to heat or cool the space anyway?
Staff comfort. If photographers spend hours shooting, a freezing or very hot room makes the job harder.
Does your space need to have the doors or windows blacked out? It’s a great question.
Let me tell you one thing. If you haven’t heard, I visit–personally visit–at zero obligation. In six years I’ve never asked for a check. There is no pressure to get a check. My goal is to make sure you fully understand what you’re getting into; if it fits in your space; do you have the process, or how we can set up a process to make it easy.
But to answer your question about blacking out doors and windows:
When I evaluate your space, I look for that exact thing. Many times, because of the year and the sun angles, I actually wouldn’t do anything until I get there and/or after the studio has been installed. The worst-case scenario that could happen is that I would have a skylight directly above my studio. If that’s the case, I probably would cover that or spray paint it.
To answer your question “Do I need to black out my garage door windows or windows in the building?" I’ll make that determination for you and give you a little heads-up when I visit, and/or, because of the year and the sun, I would wait before I do anything so you don’t spend money needlessly.
FAQ
Do I need to black out windows or garage doors for a 360Booth®?
Often not right away. 360Booth checks during the site visit, and because sun angles change through the year, may suggest waiting until after installation so you don’t spend money unnecessarily.
What about skylights?
A skylight directly above the studio is the main concern. 360Booth will usually recommend covering or painting it.
