The Decline of 360 Booths

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The event industry has always been a rapidly changing landscape, where today's innovation quickly becomes yesterday's news. And, if Google Trends is any reliable indicator, the once-booming 360 photo booths are on a steady decline. Peaking in 2021, their popularity has waned considerably, with interest diminishing over the past couple of years. The graph is clear: what was a money making cash cow is slowly declining.

But it's not all about doom and gloom. In this shifting market, other photobooth experiences like Glam Bots and Ai Photo Booths are quietly making their mark. Although they're currently only a quarter as popular as 360 photo booths were at their peak, these alternatives show that the market is still there—it's just changing.

I have seen within my own business a steady decrease in the quality of leads that are coming in for 360 Booths. Once upon a time, there were plenty of corporate leads and that has been replaced with birthday and graduation parties.

With the sheer supply of 360 photo booths available, consumers will see less and less the value of what more experienced companies bring to the table and will purchase solely based off of price alone.

Does this mean you’re never going to sell another 360 booth again? No.

Does this mean that you don’t need to be buying 360 booths right now? Also no.

Are all of your clients going to completely ditch photo booths and we’re never going to eat again? Absolutely not.

Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t mean to alarm or scare anyone, however we do need to pay attention to trends happening in our industry.

You are welcome to disagree with my analysis, however I’ve been around long enough to know when it’s going to happen again. I’ve survived the 2008 crash, a global pandemic, and Mariah Carey’s album “Glitter.” We’re going to get through this.

Things like this are bound to happen. The popularity of certain experiences ebbs and flows. And if you’ve been around long enough, things that go out of style, eventually come back in. It happened with GIFS, it happened with flip books, and it’s going to happen with 360’s.

Now, to the all-important question: What does this mean for your business? Are you prepared to navigate these shifting tides to ensure your business not only survives but thrives?

Remember when everyone had their huge clunky photo booths and then iPad booths came out? Many people were incredibly hesitant to make the switch. “BuT tHE QuAL!Ty?!” was the number one argument I heard back in the day. And now? I would venture to say that 70% of the industry is on iPad photo booths.

Change is good.

I remember when I started in the industry in 2004. I went to Las Vegas for WPPI at the MGM Grand. Wow what a sight, that tradeshow was incredibly packed and booming! The hot topic that year? People were still shooting on film and the number one debate on that show floor was have you switched to digital.

You had photographers figuratively duking it out on how each thought their way was superior. The difference was the clients. What did the client want? HINT: it wasn’t film.

Pivoting your business could be a valuable strategy. This doesn't necessarily mean a complete overhaul but could involve integrating newer photobooth technologies or diversifying your offerings. What's your next big thing? How will you surprise and delight your customers?

One of the things that has been a constant theme with our workshop Photo Booth Live is what makes you Different, Better, and More Special?

Adjusting your pricing strategy could also help. Maybe it's time to reassess your packages, offer competitive deals, or introduce loyalty programs. Price is a powerful lever, and tweaking it can sometimes make all the difference. Value adds are going to be a great way to show value to your client without diminishing the service your offer.

Remember, trends might come and go, but the need for human connection, celebration, and capturing memories will continue on. It's about staying agile, listening to your customers, and being bold enough to try new things.

So I ask you, fellow entrepreneurs and Photo Booth owners, what's your move? How will you ensure your photo booth business isn't just a memory in a fading photograph? Share your strategies and thoughts—I'm all ears! Text RYAN to 833-209-9555