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Another year has flown by. For many of us it's probably safe to say you're thinking - adios, auf wiedersehn, ta-ta, goodbye and good riddance. With a sour economy, conflicts around the globe, terrorism, world hunger, and wars in waiting, our planet hasn't been a fun place to reside in 2003.
Oh sure, just a short year ago there was plenty of hope for a better tomorrow. What with September 11th behind us, couldn't we wish for and expect brighter days ahead? Well, so much for those optimistic dreams. For now, at least, the pessimists have won out. Our world is not a much better place than it was a year ago.
Now there's still hope, expectation and confidence for better things to come. Last year I wrote about putting the humanity back in the human race. We're still trying.
So where does this put us in terms of special events, parties and family celebrations? Well folks still like to have a good time, don't they? As long as they (we) all do, there will be a need for what we provide.
What may be most important to remember is what we are selling. We may be providing balloons, favors, costumes, flowers, decor and related materials, but we're not selling these items. We are selling what these things mean to customers. In our newfound homey, creature comfort, family friendly world, what everyone is looking for is a way to extend those "warm and fuzzy feelings" throughout their lives. So what you should really be selling is fun and excitement and happiness.
So out with the old way and in with a new way of selling. Let the benefits of our industry convince the buying public we still deserve to be an important part of their lives every day.
Here's to the happiest, healthiest and most peaceful of new and better tomorrows for us all.
Mark
