WoodYouLike
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Business novel 2, part 2 of Chap 1
(Had to cut it in two, not allowed more than 10000 characters it seem)
“No, not cars. Wooden flooring.” I retrieve one of my business cards from my jacket pocket and hand it over. “How many floors do you need in a year, eh?”
He studies my simple card.
“Very apt business name,” he comments with a smile, while offering his own card to me again. How can I refuse now? Expecting to see yet another consulting bureau I’m surprised to see he is a chartered accountant. Like mine his card is simple: business name, address and contact numbers but the catch phrase catches my eye: ‘Adding more than just the numbers’. Hmm, I wonder what?
My card has vanished in one of his pockets, while I’m still holding his. He taps my arm again.
“Back there, your remark was spot on, his method doesn’t apply to all business types. But there are many ways to increase business for a product like yours.”
Sure there are.
“Of course, I know that. But the only thing Mr Guru back there had right was that repeat business is the most easiest and cheapest to find. I’ve been to numerous other workshops, read numerous books about marketing strategies, but all ‘instant’ other ideas seem to cost the Earth and Moon together. Advertising only works well if you are able to repeat the same ad almost every week. Do you have any idea what a reasonable size ad in the simplest and smallest local paper costs these days? A small business like mine can hardly afford one a month. Then I’m told I have to have a prominent presence on the Internet where search engines are the masters of the Cyber Universe. But you can tackle them I’m told at yet another workshop by implementing clever web marketing strategies, preferably done by the company who is giving out free workshops as if it’s the last thing they’ll do.” Even I can hear the frustration creeping into my voice.
My fellow-rebel just waits patiently for me to continue. I sigh; I need coffee not another reminder of how my young business is struggling.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to sound so glum. I think I’m in the wrong kind of business, I should hold workshops myself: how to waste most of your valuable time listing to overpaid consultants at Business Exhibitions.”
“There are better organised workshops around.” He says. “Ones that can really make a difference to your business.”
Why didn’t I see that one coming I wonder? Next thing he will invite me to one of his own and I’m betting it’s not a free one either. He surprises me again.
“You have my card. Give me call any time; I would love to hear more about your business. No obligations.” No invitation to a workshop, no invitation to visit the stand of his company at the Exhibition, just no obligations.
With a last friendly tap on my arm he turns around to disappear into the throng of business people who are looking for new contacts or who are eager to visit stands of their existing suppliers to take advantage of the ‘only-during-the-exhibition’ offers. I drop his card into the plastic bag one of the organisers handed me at the start of the Exhibition, filled with leaflets and brochures of the exhibitors I probably will never read or can afford to use anyway and then I can finally make my way to the coffee bar.
(Had to cut it in two, not allowed more than 10000 characters it seem)
“No, not cars. Wooden flooring.” I retrieve one of my business cards from my jacket pocket and hand it over. “How many floors do you need in a year, eh?”
He studies my simple card.
“Very apt business name,” he comments with a smile, while offering his own card to me again. How can I refuse now? Expecting to see yet another consulting bureau I’m surprised to see he is a chartered accountant. Like mine his card is simple: business name, address and contact numbers but the catch phrase catches my eye: ‘Adding more than just the numbers’. Hmm, I wonder what?
My card has vanished in one of his pockets, while I’m still holding his. He taps my arm again.
“Back there, your remark was spot on, his method doesn’t apply to all business types. But there are many ways to increase business for a product like yours.”
Sure there are.
“Of course, I know that. But the only thing Mr Guru back there had right was that repeat business is the most easiest and cheapest to find. I’ve been to numerous other workshops, read numerous books about marketing strategies, but all ‘instant’ other ideas seem to cost the Earth and Moon together. Advertising only works well if you are able to repeat the same ad almost every week. Do you have any idea what a reasonable size ad in the simplest and smallest local paper costs these days? A small business like mine can hardly afford one a month. Then I’m told I have to have a prominent presence on the Internet where search engines are the masters of the Cyber Universe. But you can tackle them I’m told at yet another workshop by implementing clever web marketing strategies, preferably done by the company who is giving out free workshops as if it’s the last thing they’ll do.” Even I can hear the frustration creeping into my voice.
My fellow-rebel just waits patiently for me to continue. I sigh; I need coffee not another reminder of how my young business is struggling.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to sound so glum. I think I’m in the wrong kind of business, I should hold workshops myself: how to waste most of your valuable time listing to overpaid consultants at Business Exhibitions.”
“There are better organised workshops around.” He says. “Ones that can really make a difference to your business.”
Why didn’t I see that one coming I wonder? Next thing he will invite me to one of his own and I’m betting it’s not a free one either. He surprises me again.
“You have my card. Give me call any time; I would love to hear more about your business. No obligations.” No invitation to a workshop, no invitation to visit the stand of his company at the Exhibition, just no obligations.
With a last friendly tap on my arm he turns around to disappear into the throng of business people who are looking for new contacts or who are eager to visit stands of their existing suppliers to take advantage of the ‘only-during-the-exhibition’ offers. I drop his card into the plastic bag one of the organisers handed me at the start of the Exhibition, filled with leaflets and brochures of the exhibitors I probably will never read or can afford to use anyway and then I can finally make my way to the coffee bar.