Playgroup | Helping brands build genuine brand equity

My Grandfather was a brilliant person full of character and positivity. He was always doing things, helping others, creating, fixing this and that. Didn’t really matter what as long as it represented value.
 
Once –after he was retired- he thought he would repair bikes over the summer that he had spent with my grandmother by the lake. He set up the business at the rear garden in a tiny shed. That’s when I came into the picture. I was 10 years old and enthusiastic enough to offer him my help on making a sign. I took a large board (it seemed large enough to me), cans of glossy red and white paint and threw myself into the job. By the time I got to the last few letters the board was already filled completely. It didn’t really put me off despite the lack of the ‘apple Z’. I started the whole process all over again on another board with even more enthusiasm. I put all the effort on earth to it. When it was done, I fixed it against the fence of the first property on the road so everyone could see it. I assume that whatever I would’ve done my Grandfather would have used it since he saw honesty in it. Mainly that’s what had driven his business. Genuineness.
 
There were other businesses with fancy signs that used up to date technology but people seemed to be going to my Grandfather. I think they loved the fact that they could see the individual behind the business. He was a big storyteller and so enthusiastic about everything he did, often people stayed longer just to watch how he was working and listened his stories. People called him Master. They were like ‘Is the Master home?’ or ‘I’m looking for the Master’. The key to his success was not only that he provided a great service but he also took care of his customers.

 Last week I went home and unfixed the sign. It had been there for 20 years.

Posted by Linda on 02 Jul 08, at 9:14 am

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