This week’s blog is from Diana Morrison, branding maestro, civic super hero, Savannah’s #1 cheerleader, and founder of 28 year old Advertising Specialty Services. Read on as Diana ponders a language in which every successful entrepreneur must be proficient.FYI – – The Creative Coast’s blogspot is Savannah’s sounding board for local thinkers, innovators, wanderers and wonderers. Guest bloggers share their thoughts, opinions and creative noodling from all over the map…
The English language is said to be one of the hardest languages to learn. We have words like “live” and “live”.….what is the difference? I want to live on Jones Avenue so I can walk down the street and see a live show. That’s a big difference. Then there is “rose”: He rose to the occasion and presented her with a rose. Yikes!
My topic fits into the same category: “Does a sale really have to be a sale”?
The buying environment we live in seems to have a tag that reads “suggested retail” then “our price.” Or “reduced” price. Or “red tag” price. Really? Can’t we just have fair and reasonable pricing? Does everything have to be negotiated or reduced?
I love a true retail “End of the Season” sale as well as the next person and I understand its purpose, but this now “post-recession” selling mentality, in my opinion, devalues the product and makes me skeptical of the true value when I make a purchase.
That said, some things should never have a reduced price – – trust, honor and fairness, to name a few. These are things that can never be put on “sale.” Either you have earned a client’s trust through honor and fairness, or you haven’t. If you don’t have that trust yet, build it, earn it, own it. If you do have a client’s trust, cherish it, grow it and live by it.
Today’s business environment, with its recurring recessions, continual invasion of new buying tools, and an ever increasing field of competitors, is no different than previous business environments. These factors have been ever present and always will be. Just like trust. Trust is a sustaining factor in success, no matter your age or years in business.
Invest in trust; it will pay dividends for a lifetime.
Diana]]>
