It’s winter in Alberta. Therefore it is cold…or not, It’s windy… or not, and it’s snowing, or raining… or not. One thing that we can count on is that we are probably not getting a lot of sun, unless we succumb to the siren song of the southern latitudes. In which case I highly recommend the liberal application of Aloe Vera (have you noticed that the colours of our Canadian flag are an exact match for the tan lines of many Canadian tourists who have just tried to soak up six months of sunshine in a ten day beach vacation). The point of this narrative is that the days here are short and gray, but we have a remedy for the malady.

We at Wall Décor and More have just finished inventory and have found that our bins are full to bursting with mats! We have hundreds of mats in a rainbow of colours and we would like to share the wealth with our "Colour Your Winter" promotion.

For the month of February, on any full framing project we will include any of our in stock mats for FREE. That’s right, bring us that image or object that you have been waiting to frame and we will add a riot of colour at no extra charge. After all, wouldn’t you rather drift into that vivid holiday memory that’s hanging on the wall than stare out the window at another predictably unpredictable Alberta winter day. Hurry in, this offer ends February 28^th.    

The Cadillac Experience

In the 1930s Nicholas Dreystadt took over the management of the Cadillac Division of General Motors.  Cadillac was in dire straits and probably would have sunk like a stone but Nicholas took a new tact.  “The Cadillac Customer” he said, “does not buy transportation, he buys status!”  This statement would have been nothing but hot air except for one thing.  They could supply the quality to back up the claim.

A Caddy to the uninitiated looks much like any other vehicle, four wheels, seats, headlights, etcetera but it’s what’s underneath that takes the product to the next level.  I believe that there are parallels that can be drawn in any competitive service industry, so let’s take custom picture framing as an example.  On the surface most frames look basically the same: four corners, hangers and wire surrounding some worthy art piece.  But there is much more to it than that.

 

The obvious questions run something like this: Does the frame compliment the piece in color, texture and style?  Does the weight of the frame and the width of the mats or liner support the piece visually without overpowering it?  Is the whole package pleasing to your eye as the paying customer?  What’s underneath is actually more important than what is on the surface.  Cadillac would not have become an icon if it had built pretty cars that couldn't stand the test of time.

                                                                                                                                                    

Will the framing package that you are buying preserve that work of art or destroy it?  The quality of framing products varies widely and often the effects are not immediately noticeable.  Are the mats conservation quality or will they discolor and erode the artwork?  Does the glass block ultraviolet light which will damage the image?  More importantly can the person behind the counter guide you through the maze of what you need or do not need to give you the best product for the best value?

Framed $100 bill, Museum glass,Suede mat with debossing, Double frame with fillet.
An investment in status

The Cadillac experience begins on the showroom floor, where the customer is treated as a person of status.  Sales people are expected to be knowledgeable and courteous.  The product should please the eye while resisting the effects of time.  The entire experience should be completed as a dialogue that enables the customer to make an informed decision that satisfies the wants and needs of the purchase.  Every customer deserves that same experience whether buying a car, a picture frame or simply investing in status.
This post by Scott