August 1, 2005
two bars
There are these two bars where I live. Tom and I drink at both now and then.
One is owned by Ed. One is owned by Mark.
At Ed’s bar, they’re always happy to see you, whether you’re just stopping in for a half pint, or whether you’re ordering champagne for all your friends. Ed doesn’t care, he’s just happy you chose his bar over all the other ones. The bar has a warm, happy, friendly, feel.
Mark, however, is just interested in the chapagne crowd, and is very good at making sure his customers know this. That explains all the abstract art and fancy modernist furniture everywhere.
Of course, no prizes for guessing which bar actually sells the most champagne [Hint: it isn't Mark].
Tom put it very well the other day: “Ed treats his customers like allies. Mark treats his customers like udders.”
Exactly.
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In a world where Trump is a network star, complete with product placement deals, and where superficial commercialism is pounded down everyones throats via media streams, I can’t help but shake my head when snobs like Mark make fortunes.
I wish you and Tom were right, that a business that appreciates its consumers/customers would do better in the end but from where I sit, it’s not so.
If you talk about Tom in a Void entry does that veer traffic to his blog, or am I now completely cynical?
Somehow I don’t think Mark is making a fortune. I know he spent one
Whiskey over champagne any day.
“Udders” — love it!
PS. I like the thick lines in the drawing!
Hugh,
Sounds like the bar in the old TV show, “Cheers”… where everyone knows your name!
So, between you and Tom, who is Coach and who is Woodie?
Dave
i just wanted to echo the sentiment
Hooray for Pussy!!
This is great. Check out Godin’s post today…http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/2929673….
Add you two up and it goes like this:
Milk the product not the customer.
rock on
brad