This one had me on my back with laughter and utter disbelief last weekend as I supported a client at the Professional Beauty Show in Manchester.My client’s stand was next to the main lecture theatre and as the show began to unfold, I started to take a casual interest in some of the presentations. Over the last 25 years in this business, I reckon I have seen every type of corporate presentation, training course lecture etc.You name it and I have seen it. I’ve even written a few. But even for me, yes, Mr Marmite, couldn’t pull this one off (excuse the pun). There, as large as life on the running order was this:
‘Recession Proof your Business with Intimate Waxing’
Over the years I have written many articles for the media for my clients and as a freelancer on: How to Survive the Downturn, Credit Crunch PR, Recession Busting Marketing Tips, Market Your Business on a Shoestring, M&As in a Down Market, etc, etc, etc, but this was a new one on me.
When the speaker finished what was an excellent presentation, I went over to congratulate them on a job well done, but also to say that their seminar title was by far the most bizarre I had ever encountered.
I explained as a PR consultant, a commentator to the business media, someone who works with other entrepreneurs and as a businessman who has always pushed the envelope to make the sale and get the deal, I had never considered gaining a competitive business edge by being ‘waxed intimately’. Having a foolproof business and marketing plan for a ‘down market’ was possibly a better option, I suggested and certainly Gordon Brown had never intimated to me that this may be a good idea to get an ‘intimate waxing’ to see me through these tough times. Or did I miss the news that day…!!
The speaker of course did not blush (well, they wouldn’t, would they) but stood their ground and told me I was being obtuse. I may well have been a little devilish, but consider this. If they were right, when you next watch Dragons’ Den, that wonderful collection of rich, survive the recession, raise the bar, entrepreneurial types, try and work out which one has got a Brazilian. Theo Paphitis, Peter Jones, James Caan, Duncan Bannatyne or Deborah Meaden? Yes, I know – not a pretty thought, though it does make you wonder what the ‘bottom line’ is…!
Disclaimer: This is Barry Walker's view of the information as presented at the Professional Beauty Show. At the show the information was completely in context and totally valid; this is purely an ‘out of context’ view.
