Scene One: A couple of road-warrior marketing types sitting in a food court at the Houston International Airport. The aromas of Sbarro and Peking Express wafting through the air. A two-hour delayed plane after a great sales call on a potential client.
Steve: That was a great meeting wasn't it?
Marc: You bet. I think they liked everything.
Steve: We need to stay in front of them and close this deal. I think I'll email them right now.
Marc: Yeah, they really spent a lot of time with us. We should thank them.
Steve: Hey, I'd rather send a card that an email. I think that would be more personal - and you don't see that much anymore....and we are in the direct mail marketing industry after all....Have you got a stamp?
Marc: Not unless they come shooting out of my Blackberry. Let's go find one...maybe find a good card too.
Scene Two: A half mile walk to the other end of the terminal, one info booth later..
Steve: This is ridiculous. All this to find a stamp machine.
Marc: I'm feeling like Frodo Baggins already. And look at the prices on that stamp machine - it takes dollar bills only and no change.
Steve: Okay, were up to a buck so far. Let's go find a card. But don't call me Sam.
Marc: Fine, I guess Sam would have had a stamp already. He had all those pots on his back.
Scene Three: Back to the F-Concourse. Another half mile and the cards are squeezed in a corner of the gift shop....
Steve: I found them but the aren't quite my style. A little sappy. Not very professional.
Marc: I have a whole box back at the office but they're never where I need them. A lot of good they're doing me now. And these are over $4 bucks each.
Steve: I'm going with this one. The one with the guy in the Cowboy hat.
Marc: And you don't want me to call you Sam.
Scene Four: Back at the Food Court with a Latte to fuel the creativity. The message on the card is finally complete.
Steve: That was fun. Now we need a mailbox.
Marc: I saw one back near the gate for Mordor. I think it was the Z-Concourse.
Steve: Man, I'm up to over $5 bucks now. There has to be a better way. I wish I could pick just one card from my laptop, something really classy, and have somebody put in the mail for me.
Marc: Too bad you can't attach anything to it like an email.
OR CAN YOU??!!
Marc and Steve (almost in unison): You know....there just might be a real business here.
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