Some of these companies have some comedic names… and logos. i definatley wouldnt deal wityh them,

Thanks

Growing brand awareness and a good image is a difficult thing to do, for sure, and this is a great article. I find that beating out the competition is the hardest part of this process, simply because (unless you’re in a very unique market) there are always a million other guys trying to do the same thing you do, but cheaper.

Thank you for your response.

In reference to your comments on the meat and dog food sign, I don’t relate to your comments as cynical, the sign obviously appeals to you and therefore you are more likely their target audience than I am.

As far as your comment on the pizza restaurant: “I would rather eat in a “family” looking pizza place, provided it is clean and smells good inside”. Looking at the exterior of the restaurant, does it give you confidence that it will be clean on the inside and that the food will be made from the best ingredients? It doesn’t for me.

Regards, Ted.

To me, the fact that someone that offers meat also says they also make dog-food suggests that they will have less of a reason to try to sell me things that are not optimal. They “sell” meat and they “make” dog food. That, to me, conveys the idea that they trim the meat and are not sorry about it, because they can then retain the value, instead of having to throw it away.

I get your idea, but just wanted to show how the same sign might ellicit a different response in a “cynical” person like me.

Furhter, the idea of a “lingering flavor” sounds good to me, provided the flavor was good to start with.

As to the pizza, I might think that what they save in renewing their canopy they can spend in the best pizza ingredients. When I see expensive looking publicity, merchandise, etc. for inexpensive products I tend to think I’ll have to pay for the publicity (take Pizza Hut, for example) either in money or in quality. I would rather eat in a “family” looking pizza place, provided it is clean and smells good inside.

Now, completely off-topic: I had a situation very similar to “the case of the missing 20$ bill…”

When making a claim at an insurance company, I was sitting at the desk of a “front line” employee and had some minor disagreement. I politely asked him his name, and he only gave me his first name, which was, obviously, not what I wanted, given that we were having a disagreement and I had just told him that I felt he was not treating me correctly, so I asked him to write down his full name, including surnames (in Spain we have two). Instead, he chose to call a “senior” employee, who entered the room, did not acknowledge my presence (not to mention saying hello or introducing himself), remained standing, only listened to the junior employee’s story, without ever looking at me, and then leaned over me and, pointing his finger to the door, ORDERED that I leave the room and seat in the alley to wait to be seen by the Manager (by the way, the word used in Spanish was “el Director” the same name given to a “Principal” in school and the phrase was formulated as it would have been in a school if I had been a child waiting to be reprimanded by “el Director”). I did not move my chair back to stand up, as I normally would when having somebody in front: Instead just leaned forward to center my weight on my feet (which he was almost stepping on), looked down at him from my 10 cm. extra of height at the very small distance HE had forced on me, and asked him in a soft voice whether he was asking or ordering me to do so, so that I could decide whether I needed to call the police to tell them I was being coerced (there is such a crime in our criminal system: “delito de coacciones”). He stepped back and said he was asking, so I replied that, since he was asking, I would answer, and my answer was “No, I am not going to wait anywhere for anybody. I am going to the toilet, and when I come back I expect “Cesar” (the junior) will have finished the paper work for my claim, following the usual procedure. Then, I will walk out of this office and consider whether I will use the phone to cancel all my policies with your company, and when “customer service” calls to ask why, I will explain. I also would like you and Cesar to write down your names in a piece of paper so that I can take them with me when I leave, but it will not be necessary, if you choose not to. Thanks”.

When I returned, my claim had been processed, and the manager was waiting for me. He introduced himself and politely asked me if I would mind going with him to his office, where he listened to me, apologized, praised his fellow employees’ usual attitude but acknowledged that they had not acted correctly in this case, and said he was to blame for not having shown them how to act in such cases, and if I wanted to file a complaint, he would be very happy to help me with all the paper work. I said: “No. I am sattisfied. I will see what happens next time I have to come here”.

What a difference. Instead of leaving with a horrid impression of the company, I left with an excellent impression: they were smart enough to have managers that act correctly, upholding both the company’s reputation and their fellow employee’s. I was sure (I have been “managed” and been a manager myself) that, same as he had shielded them from me, he, being a good manager, would now be reprimanding them for their stupid behaviour, but not in front of customers.

Next time I visited them (I had to every 2 weeks during my illness), Cesar was extremely polite, he appologised and I have never seen the pushy fellow again.

As you will notice, English is not my mother tongue and I write “loooong” comments, so please accept my appologies if this was boring or not clearly expressed.

Regards,

Alberto.