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A man calls me about signs or suggestions for his fireplace business. I'm standing in front of his store talking with him about it, and he says: you got any ideas? Says me: I'm reading a book on marketing, and the writer says that you're not selling (think of examples quick Jim) brakes, you're selling safety, you're not selling fireplaces, you're selling comfort. He got a kick out of that and said: "That reminds me of another man in my industry I met at a trade show, He said when people ask me what line of work I'm in, I tell them I'm in the Fun and Romance business. It usually gathers a small crowd, and I can pitch fireplaces to more people!"
I suggested a simple illustration deplicting a family together in front of a lit fireplace. So I'm at home wondering how that would even begin to look. I drew a rough sketch of a smiling family sitting bolt upright, worshiping the fireplace god. Sometimes I show Stephanie, my wife, what I'm up to, this being one of those times.
She takes the pencil and draws this way cool sketch of the same family, but dad and mom are on a love seat sort of thing, leaning way back, he's stetched out, got his arm around his wife, she's laying her head against his shoulder, he's holding a hot drink in the other hand. The kids are both on the floor, the boy's laying on his stomach, propped up on his elbows, the little girl is sitting down, playing with a toy, all gathered around the hearth.
Like I said, a woman's touch.
-------------------- James Donahue Donahue Sign Arts 1851 E. Union Valley Rd. Seymour TN. (865) 577-3365 brushman@nxs.net
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what's for lunch, Benjamin Franklin Posts: 2057 | From: 1033 W. Union Valley Rd. | Registered: Feb 2003
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I don't think he'd sell alot of units that way Joey.
I think most of his stuff is the "modernistic" gas burning kind, some even have thermostats built in.
Some years back, I decided the best way for me to get a gauranteed amount of exersize was to get all my firewood with a crosscut saw. You know, the kind that are 6' long, got big 2" teeth, and no motor. I've been doing that for some years, but now the kids, (oldest 11) are immitating dad and sawing wood themselves. They get so much that I saw a fraction of what I did before.
It's sorta like that Johnny Cash song, A Boy Named Sue, someday they'll grow up and realize how easy other kids had it, but too late, they'll be in good shape by then.
-------------------- James Donahue Donahue Sign Arts 1851 E. Union Valley Rd. Seymour TN. (865) 577-3365 brushman@nxs.net
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what's for lunch, Benjamin Franklin Posts: 2057 | From: 1033 W. Union Valley Rd. | Registered: Feb 2003
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