In David Mamet's gritty classic Glengarry Glen Ross, the air was ripe with the scent of desperation (yes, even in the movie theaters, or at home with NetFlix!) Audiences would tense and twist as one, seeing the sales pitch coming a mile away.
The old borax hard-selling spiels (think time shares, used cars, property that needs to be developed) relied on protracted discussions to draw in, engage their victims people to a point where they were either worn down, or talking and thinking in circles, and thereby weakened, could fall prey agree to purchase.
OK< so we all hate being pitched. When I first launched The Refreshed Home, typically the first questions were How much?, and Why can't you just give me a price? ...and I don't know was my first response.
I didn't like saying it, or how it sounded, and I got that 'don't pitch me' face all the time. I thought *I should* know the answer...*I wanted* to have an answer that was as succinct as the question.
Quoting my hourly rate-the short answer- was only half the equation; I don't know or the longer It depends, tell me what you need were not helpful either. Listeners were bored, annoyed, or frustrated.
'Knowlege acquired under compulsion obtains no hold on the mind' ~ Plato
Thirty+ years in this field has proven an authentic, unvarnished, horrible, totally unbearable truth: Interior Decorating and Home Staging are personal services, and for you to get the helpful and accurate info you want, you will need to talk to me. And give me your attention. For more than 15 seconds. Another indignity-you may even be asked to answer questions YOU don't think are important!
Costs always need to be considered, but you need to participate in the process. How much? or Why can't you just give me a price? are simple, and valid questions. But I don't know is an equally valid first response to someone I've never met, about a space I've never seen.
As a small business owner, I have neither the time for, or interest in unhelpful conversations. But I love what I do. I have seen the power of a re-worked space lift burdens and transform lives. I am never, ever too busy to speak with an interested or curious person about how they might better their space.
If you are thinking about making some changes in your space-and by extension, in your life contact The Refreshed Home today. A few minutes will give you good answers to more of your real questions that you can imagine.
Comments(4)