…but
the treats you love are not loved by everyone.
Commercial
came on television the other day. During it, a brownie was shown
that was supposed to be a massive temptation. While I do love
a good brownie, I’m going to say this advertisement didn’t make
the most solid of connections with me. Instead, it reminded me
that we have some cookies in the freezer. End result: I didn’t
head out to buy anything from the advertising brand, and, later
when Karen goes looking there are two less cookies in the freezer.
I
tend to wonder about things like this. Moments where a presentation
is offering sweeping generalizations of cravings, and all of us
are suppose to be appropriately tempted or swayed. But, then…
well…
What
would you look for in a new house? Two sinks in the ensuite bathroom
of the main bedroom? A fenced in backyard for the dogs? Good amount
of property? An additional room that can be converted to an office?
Commute time to work?
The
list of needs, wants and more that we could create borders on
endless. But there is a simple truth: There is absolutely nothing
that you can do to your house that can be guaranteed as attractive
to every potential buyer. Not one thing. Not everyone likes a
deck. Not everyone wants a massive bathroom counter that can be
used by five people at the same time. Not everyone needs a good
school system.
Decades
ago, a fast-food restaurant chain was advertising a new sandwich.
And it was in following up on criticism to it that I heard one
of the greatest responses from a company to accusations they were
messing things up.
The
sandwich was beyond a statement of excess. It was a case study
in excess—THE case study in excess—one by which all future
examples of restaurant-based excess should be measured. When comments
began circulating about it, someone released a statement that
had a simple message: Our ads are designed for folks that want
to come in to our restaurants and enjoy what we offer, they are
for our regular customers and the people that might enjoy visiting
our locations, but they are not created for people that have no
intention of ever stopping in.
Wise
lesson that. If you know who you are and who you associate with
as a company, focus on that and not in investing time trying to
sway those that will never use or support your business.
Back
to that brownie.
An
initial response could simply look toward these examples of buying
a house and establishing your target audiences, then excuse my
reaction. I didn’t want that brownie, but maybe someone else did.
Simple enough. But is it?
When
was the last time you looked over a menu and saw pictures that
didn’t look all that appetizing? Doesn’t happen often. But once
in a while, the images offered to us aren’t that good. They don’t
have the perfect plating, captured with professionally set lighting,
with every item positioned exactly where it needs to be (including
the fries) on a flawlessly clean dish. Presenting something unappealing
happens so rarely that when it does, it startles you.
That’s
where our brownie disconnect takes place. It’s not that I have
an issue with sinfully fudgy goodness. I don’t. In fact, I look
for it whenever possible. Instead, it was partly that this brownie
didn’t tempt me in any way, but mainly that I couldn’t see how
it would tempt anyone. I was having difficulty believing that
someone creating it thought the visuals offered in the commercial
were a great idea to share. (Unless they were looking to hold
off some type of legal scenario caused by promising indulgent
treats and then putting one of these brownies on a tray to pass
over to the customer. If that was the case, a recommendation from
the lawyers to show the brownie because there were likely going
to be problems if they promised delightful and then served them
without having shown them, then I understand.)
This
upcoming weekend a few kids are being dropped off to spend the
night at our house. Family entertaining for family kind of arrangement.
We’ve got movies planned, breakfast options lined up, and an assortment
of games ready to go. Even thinking about doing some ice cream
sundaes.
For
the sundaes, we’ve got plans for three types of ice cream, two
kinds of sauces, and several items for the do-it-yourself toppings
bar. Because when you’re entertaining kids, especially under the
age of 10, the do-it-yourself angle not only works wonderfully,
it’s kind of mandatory. Apparently, they don’t worry much about
sliced almonds and chocolate sprinkles served up with a few cherries.
Gummy worms are one of the big things.
Gummy
worms.
Who
would believe that?