The Abbotsford Mysteries
Impressed by The Shoppologist’s ‘university of walking around’ approach, I tried it myself.
I found three mysteries in just 100 m of local shops!
Tax Agent
To my mind, this window does not emanate professional credibility. Yet it’s been like this for over a decade. Only the price of photocopies has changed.
Perhaps this business has a stable client portfolio and doesn’t need walk-in trade.
Water Bed Shop
A water bed with no water. In a room that looks like a Bucks Fizz film clip. In 12 years, only one thing has changed in this window. A cardboard sign that read ‘YES! I AM A WATERBED!’ has vanished.
Maybe it’s better that way.
Tool Chest Manufacturer
There’s a limit to what you can do yourself. This home-made communication bears scant resemblance to the glittering, beautifully wrought products within.
A great shame.
Graffiti Studio
I’m no fan of graffiti, but these girls have done a sensational job of their primary exterior wall.
No mystery here.
With regard to the other three, I welcome all your theories!
Paul Hassing, Founder & Senior Writer, The Feisty Empire
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I scratch my head in disbelief (and yet I am sure I could find similar specimens in my town)… how is it that these businesses survive? when I think of the time, effort and ever-more-scarce cash flow I committ to presenting a professional, consistent, branded presence…
Paul, I’m not sure whether to say thanks for this post of just cry into my brand architecture
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Paul Hassing, Megan Wilson. Megan Wilson said: What does your shopfront say about you? http://bit.ly/n3fqt [...]
But I haven’t even gotten around to commenting on the last blog article yet!!!
I’ll be back…
Cheers
Stephen G
Dear Lisa, I’m very keen to see that pic of yours. Are you able to put it on http://tweetphoto.com or similar?
If you do, you can use the button below the comment box to make the shot appear here.
Failing that, you could email the pic to Megan and she’ll add it from her end.
Nearly there, Lisa! Can you right click on the photo as it sits on the hosting site, then paste that URL into the dialogue box that comes up when you click: You can add images to your comment by clicking here?
A simple ‘no’ will shut me up!
Good on you, Lisa! How’d you do it?
uh hmm…fairy godmother
mmmm… fairy godmother
Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by PaulHassing: 3 misses + 1 hit. Take a 4-pic tour of my local traders: http://bit.ly/3GHmuc Laugh. Learn. Link!…
Ok…I’m back
Yep! It’s marketing Captain, but not as we know it
It does provide some evidence to suggest that ‘marketing’ is not The Universal Constant to which many would have us subscribe? Perhaps they follow some strange and unusual paradigm that currently eludes the majority of the global business community? Some strange ‘new’ concepts like ’service’, or ‘reliability’ or a bigger business somewhere else against which they are able write-off the losses of these beauties?
Ooh! Am I setting myself up for crucifixion here or what? Better get off topic where it’s safer
…or I at least feel safer 
Are you up for an update on the trials & tribulations of nosh-it Wood-Fired Pizza…or as I’m now calling it – ‘Sudden Infant Business Death Syndrome’?
I won’t make that a rhetorcal question by assuming that you want to know…I’ll respectfully wait & see…but here’s a clue – ‘Battlestar Galactica’
Cheers
Stephen G
Great to have you back, Stephen. Do please take this leather soapbox I’ve been keeping warm for you.
SIBDS is going to take OFF! That’s my hot tip. Over to you for the latest…
Like you Paul I have often been amazed at the perception from others that business simply needs to erect a sign, open the door and money pours in. Alas, whilst many of these businesses will not necessarily go bankrupt, they will simply make a living from a lifestyle that is no different from previous jobs they may have had. The businesses that do not communicate what they do effectively and with pride are simply “buying themselves a job”.
They are not creating lasting value – which should be at the heart of any REAL business – both tangible AND intangible value!
I would love to issue a challenge to any business that has similar appearances and show me the potential buyers that will gladly offer them a suitable bucket of cash to buy a business that does not show respect to their potential customers. What do they really expect to get for a business that has a hand written drawing in the front window?
Thank you, Mike. Given your line of work, I’m particularly grateful for your views.
The concept of ‘buying yourself a job’ rocked me when I first encountered it on a Michael Gerber CD. He said the purpose of building a business was to SELL IT. And if you didn’t, all you’d done was changed bosses.
Profound stuff. Thanks for the timely reminder!
Ooh! Geez! In that case, does anyone wanna buy mine? ;-P…It’s got lovely signage and it’s a great deal because this business is in ‘as new’ condition… ;-P
I can also attest to changing one boss for another too. It seems that I’ve changed one bunch of bureaucratic bosses for another even bigger bunch…
And wow! I was just looking through the posts…it’s been a while since I’ve done an update specific to my business…not since my ‘rantiathan’ over in ‘The Money or the Box – Part 2′ (http://mybrc.myobnet.com/2009/10/29/the-money-or-the-box-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-3424).
Since then I’ve done a couple of posts over on my blog including a ‘rantiathan’ MkII and another rant about having my business name registration declined in NSW. You can see more on that here – http://edits.nosh-it-wood-fired-pizza.com.au/2009/11/04/office-of-fair-ly-stupid-trading/.
That last link will provide background for this update, which I haven’t put up on my blog yet…mainly ’cause I’m sick of giving folks bad news. Though if it wasn’t so unfortunately insane, it would be funny…
Anyway, since having a big fat whinge about having my business name registration declined by the NSW Office, last week I got a letter from the ACT Office of Regulatory Services informing me that 14 months ago their office “inadvertently” registered my business name in the ACT and that they too, now suddenly and retrospectively consider that my business name “may be considered offensive by the general public”.
I had no idea registering business names endowed these organisations with power to dictate a business’s branding and marketing strategies as well?
Obviously these guys don’t get out much…perhaps someone should connect them to the internet!
Anyway, I’ve already written to the NSW Minister for Small Business & the Federal Minister for my constituency. I haven’t heard anything back yet. And I’m just drafting another letter to them about this latest development. Geez! If I could only get paid for dealing with the establishment…I wouldn’t need a business that can no longer afford to trade…go figure! ;-P
Anyway, it would appear that unless I can get permission directly from “the Minister” (exactly which one is yet unclear), 18 months of building my Government approved business from my Government approved business plan (including branding concept and marketing plan), is for naught. My website, Twitter page, all of my efforts at growing my brand, which was going exceedingly well I might add, and my business being on the verge of some decent wholesaling opportunities, is also for naught.
Small Business Support ey? I just want to know how much this kind of ‘Small Business Support’ on the part of our benevolent institutions is benefiting our country? Since my business has been built-up, launched and then completely smashed to pieces at the tax payers expense, now guess who gets to pick up the pieces? You guessed it…the tax payer!
Well it’s Business Acumen Captain, but not as we know it!
You know we’re soaking in it?
Cheers
Stephen G
Having spent a fair bit on my own branding, I’m regularly gobsmacked by just how horrible the look and feel of so many businesses can be.
Then again, you can have fancy “branding” but still have a crap “brand” … since whatever brand you might have ultimately comes down to the goodwill (or otherwise) that glues it all together.
So, I guess thriving businesses with no apparent design / marketing prowess (and no appreciation of the skills others might have in those areas) prove that a bit of goodwill can cover a multitude of unsavvyness
Thank you, Stephen. I’m glad for the update, though ever more horrified by ‘developments’.
I can certainly bear witness to the strong, popular brand you’ve created online.
The only parallel I can think of for your travails is that of a legitimate vendor forced to deal via the black market in wartime.
Perhaps you can lead us all to the barter economy that surely awaits us if we ever take the monetary system off life support and start saving the planet instead.
I believe you have hit on a few really good things that impact the value of a business Luke – the look and feel of a business, the level of “thriving” in a business (I wonder if that should be a new business KPI?) and goodwill.
If customers feel comfortable or, even better, satisfied with a business they will return, and they will spread the word. This should show up in the sales figures with high levels of repeat business or referral generated business (which sometimes means the business doesn’t need a real snazzy “shop window”).
If a business is thriving then it will be patently obvious to the owners and potential buyers why that is the case. If it is not obvious then you need better reporting and documentation to show why.
And both of these things contribute to the goodwill – not of the business itself (often used to boost up the price of a business and in many cases is never seen of again….another blog entry I suspect), but the goodwill of the customer.
When it is clear the business is thriving based on customer goodwill then you have something of value and something worthy of being called a business.
Welcome back, Luke. Geez I never get sick of looking at your piccies. I was rather hoping you might say one or two of mine had merit…
You make a really interesting point. There used to be a hugely successful sign shop round my corner and guess what? Their sign hung askew, by one screw.
Perhaps goodwill is indeed a form of spray-on concrete that covers all and prevents falls.
I’m glad you’re here to say that, Mike. Many thanks.