Here’s a question. Following on from the last post, have you ever met a workman or workwoman who takes a hot beverage with fewer than two sugars?
TENFOUR is having an office debate. Generally, we don’t think such an animal exists. Answers in a comment below please.
TENFOUR’s been a member of a networking breakfast group for a couple of months now (see ‘Show me some passion‘ post).
At each weekly meeting, every member gives a 60-second presentation about their business. Some presentations are easier to remember than others, as you’d imagine. Interestingly though, the more memorable ones tend to have one thing in common: they end with a business strapline.
Let’s give you an example here. One member - an accountant - uses the tag ‘it’s not what you earn, it’s what you keep’ at the end of every 60 seconds. Then there’s a hypnotherapist who goes by the line ‘taking the world by calm’.
We’ve realised that remembering a strapline means you often remember the person and the company too. Let’s face it, a copywriting company is not often going to recall the ramblings of an accountant. Nothing personal meant - he’s a nice guy, and it’s our loss not his. I guess we’ve just come to the conclusion that a strapline is something worth thinking about.
So, we’ve heard a few now. But, the best one - in our opinion - was delivered by a London plumber. After telling the room a little bit about what he did - that’ll be plumbing - he hit us with a genius line. “Speak to Mr X Plumbing,” he said. “Where a flush is always better than a full house.” Clever, heh.
It can be a surprising experience going into a Post Office. Well, almost…
TENFOUR was sending a package the other day. Whilst hoisting the box up and onto the scales, the chap behind the screen suddenly piped up: “Do you have a credit card, sir?”
“Eh?” replied TENFOUR.
“Do you have a credit card, sir?” he repeated. “Because the Post Office credit card has a very competitive rate, and a 0% interest on transfers for six months. It’s all in this leaflet. Perhaps you could take it away with you to read. Then, if you’re interested, you can queue up at the counter over there and they will see to your request away.”
Blimey. Drop by the Post Office and you could walk out with new credit and loan opportunities, car insurance, more minutes on your mobile, the lot. Is this cross-selling one of the few elements that survived the organisation’s attempted rebrand to Consignia all those years ago?
Watch out for those stealth selling techniques. Scary.
There are good newspaper headlines… and then there are great newspaper headlines.
TENFOUR was walking along the Euston Road today and saw the following on an Evening Standard billboard: “Mourinho arrested in rabies raid. Pet terrier still on the run.” We thought this one had everything: (1) Chelsea FC’s manager and serial monger in controversy, Jose Mourinho; (2) an animal - more specifically, a diminutive Yorkshire Terrier; and (3) rabies. Simply brilliant.
It also reminded us of the winning entry in a newspaper headline of the year competition. The story, which was published in a regional title a fair few years ago, was about a local chap who’d won a tomato growing competition. He revealed the well-kept secret to his monster vegetables - namely, his homemade fertiliser. And the headline? Wait for it… “Ground Control for Major Tom”.
We read it and wept.
Remember Boo.com, the online clothing company that was one of biggest victims of the 90s internet boom and bust? Well, the name’s back… but this time as a travel site.
“It’s a short, catchy domain that works across multiple languages,” said the chief executive of the new travel portal. No chance of a jinx then, wonders TENFOUR?
So, what about other crock brands from the past? Well, it looks like we’re all too late to register betamax.com, it having been snapped up by a German telecoms operator. How things change, heh?