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Oct 14, 2009

Sometimes It IS About the Money

cappucino

My friend June’s question to the waitress embarrassed me when she asked it many years ago. We were having lunch at an Italian trattoria in Fairfield, CT and deciding whether or not to have their capuccino. “How much did your capuccino maker cost?” June asked. She was once the owner of a high-end catering and event planning business in NYC. She knew food and equipment.

“$5000,” the waitress replied when she returned after being asked that impertinent question.

“I’ll have a regular coffee,” June said. Then, knowingly, she leaned over and told me that that was too cheap a device to get really good cappuccino.

More recently, at the Artsy Girls exhibit opening on October 2, Liz Ball, the owner of the Pierce Ball Gallery, had on hand beautiful reprints  of the write-up in the Norwalk Hour about our show. The quality of the reproduction was spectacular. I would be proud to send copies to my clients and prospects. Several of us were grilling Liz about them. We wanted to be able to download the pdf and make our own–just like these.

“Is this laser paper?”
“Are you using special inks?”
“How did you get Maggie’s image in color?”

We had temporarily lost sight of the fact that Liz is also the CEO of a top-notch branding and corporate communications company, TFI Envision in Norwalk. She had digitally inserted a color image over the space where Maggie’s illustration was placed in the paper. She, of course, used the best quality paper. “Perhaps,” she added, “it was the $30,000 printer we used.”

Sometimes having the best tool does make the critical difference. Knowing when to make that investment is equally important.

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4 Comments

  1. wendy

    When I heard you speak recently you were talking about business cards and how important it was to create a good, lasting impression.
    I tried several companies and formats before finding the quality and design that I was happy with. Whenver I give one out I always get a good comment on them. It does make a difference and they were not ridiculously expensive at all. It just took a bit of leg work something that I would be proud to hand out and reflected who I was.
    A fellow designer handed me a business card the other day. She told me how amazed she was that she could get them for free. On the back it had a promo saying that you can get free business cards at such and such a website.
    As judgemental as it sounds, it did make an impression on me, and it was probably not the best one.

    Reply
  2. Kathryn Doherty

    We lived in Italy many years ago when cappuccino was a daily experience..and I would say “experience”. I once asked an Italian friend about the general impression of Americans, and without hesitation she said “money replacing the soul”. This began a conversation I never forgot. The most expensive stove does not cook a satisfying meal, the best camera does not come with a good eye, and a perfect showroom house filled with tasteful objects does not guarantee a happy home. I know I am not saying anything new to someone who literally wrote the book on being a “Soul Proprietor” and I love the best tool for the job and beautiful objects. I really kind of cringe if I have to write with a pen that doesn’t feel right in my hand and I am in the business of designing objects I want people to want to live with…so, nothing against quality, efficiency and gorgeous things over crap. I just feel moved to say that I think there is a loss rather than a gain whenever the tool/object is valued, appreciated or more important than a person/experience….or, better put, if “money replaces the soul”.

    Reply
  3. Lennie Rose

    That was one of the comments at a recent PINK convention in Chicago. Where do you invest in the big ticket items that will yield the best return for your company in the future – and while it might hurt at the time, the “gamble” is part of an investment vision. A friend and interior designer says, “Buy the best you can buy so you only need to buy it once.” Another friend says, “I can’t afford to buy cheaply.” This is part of my own challenge – knowing where to cut corners and where not to. I won’t be serving you guys coffee!

    Reply
  4. janepollak

    @Kathryn
    Your comment deepens my entry and adds what I did not express. Thank you for this.

    @Lennie Rose
    This entry can be balanced with the reminder to do the best with what you’ve got. I, for one, don’t always make the best choices only to have to re-invest down the road. But, in the moment, it was the right decision for me. Thanks for your thoughts.

    @Wendy
    It ALL goes in the hopper of our minds. I’ll form an impression and am willing to have it dispelled, but it is there… Thanks!

    Reply

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