This is a just a quick little business-y post on presentation. I have always made a pact with myself since opening my business that I would offer nothing but the best in quality of products and presentation materials. Recently I had two wonderful experiences with retail stores and it is what inspired this post. My first was at Janie and Jack, the children’s clothing store. I was searching for a cute little outfit for Matt’s sister, Jen, who is due any day now with her first baby! VERY exciting! So exciting in fact that I wanted to get the perfect little outfit since it’s such a special of a time in her life. Why not present your baby in the perfect little outfit? So my experience first started off with my knowing that I was going to head to Janie and Jack because I knew their clothing was absolutely ADORABLE and just walking by that store gives me a high. I have two kids that would look so cute in just about everything in that store, not to mention what the clothes would do for a photography session!
Anyhoo…I headed in and the sales girl was just about the best salesperson I have ever encountered. In fact I was so blown away that I wished secretly I could hire her for my studio sales. I also took the time to fill out their questionnaire on line to comment on her wonderful sales skills. I was sold on their cute little green one-sie outfit (and I sprung for the hat to match) the second she started showing it to me. First off because it was quality and you could tell. Secondly, because she spoke about it so highly about it, but tactfully without letting me feel pressured into buying anything that wasn’t in my budget. Then she rang me up and asked if it was a gift and if it needed to be wrapped. I am ALWAYS pressed for time, and frankly not the best wrapper out there, I admit. So I agreed! It started with the most precious spring-like box, dainty and baby like. She placed the clothes inside the box ever-so-perfect and folded over the matching tissue paper. She secured the box with a mint green ribbon and a Janie and Jack sticker finished off the look, tying it all together. “Easy peezy nice and easy”, the sales girl stated, as she closed out the sale. She was right. What more did I have to do? My gift was already in a pretty little bag and I felt pretty darn excited and proud to show it to Jen. I have to add, Jen did take notice at her baby shower of how pretty the wrapping job was! I wish I could take credit for it, but as I mentioned before, my wrapping skills are just not up to par with Janie and Jack’s!
The real question here I think was…What more did Janie and Jack have to do? Their product was not only one of quality, but it was well thought out in it’s presentation too. They didn’t stop at the high quality of clothing that they offer or the personable sales person in the store. They took it a step beyond and branded and packaged their product with care and style. I did indeed spend a bit more shopping at their store then I would have if I bought from another less boutique-ish type store. However, in my book…you get what you pay for.
Branding, branding and more BRANDING. Smart, smart, and more SMART!
Seriously, this is one major reason as to why I NEVER drop ship prints or books to clients. I want to present them with something special and put the thought and care into the presentation of the image as much as I put the thought and care into capturing their portrait or wedding.
the mint green ribbon to tie it all together!
a well crafted box…
The sticker to bring closure to the packaging…not to mention BRANDING.
Now to introduce this little guy! If you have ever gotten a gift card from Anthropologie before, you might have met him. This is the part two to my post. Jen and her husband Tim gave this gift to me just recently, and I can’t thank her enough for it because it was extremely generous of her AND it is my all time FAVORITE store! I can’t explain the feeling I get inside the Athropologie store. It is like no other. I of course am anything but a materialistic driven person BUT I do love me some Anthro! It is the girl in me you just can’t take out.
So here is what I was presented with…
A rustic and not so perfect crafty frog that is too cute for words! I am thinking you will know what I am thinking about this sewn in tag. BRANDING.
how perfectly the cards just slip right into his little pouch!
and the gift card has little notations of positivity ALL over it! LOVE it!
Buttons for eyes, and two little hands that don’t actually match in color. They don’t need to. They are imperfectly perfect. Am I making sense?
However, this little guy has been caught sleeping in the editing room on MY presentation and branding materials…
and has been caught chit-chatting on the phone during office hours…
Brushing his hair (ehem…the little bit that he has).
and trying to stay warm in my favorite pair of UGGS. How dare he?
So in a nutshell, my point in sharing this with you is that I know by shopping at both of these stores, that I indeed will have spent a tad bit more then if I shopped elsewhere. However, I enjoy shopping at both stores fully and feel my money is well spent on items that I am proud to present and wear, ones that I know will be in my closet for long lengths of time and possibly my children’s clothes saved and preserved for memories sake. The experience in both stores are honestly just that, AN EXPERIENCE. From the time I peek into the store windows and open up those oversized wooden doors (Anthro), to when I am presented with a cute little crafty frog as gift card holder, I know that both stores have put their thought, care and creativity into their presentation and products. This makes me realize my purchase was more like an investment. So when wondering what type of products I would offer to my clients to preserve and present their wedding and portrait images in, I couldn’t see why it would be anything but the best in the industry. Yes, indeed, you may give a bit more on the products I have to offer, but the thought and care of yours truly is behind every product and image I create and present to my clients. Not to mention your images become a family heirloom.
Happy Friday!
MEG