Staging is Like a Cement Truck - Vancouver Home Staging
I was sitting in downtown traffic yesterday. It was a miserable day. The rain was pouring continual buckets, and I was stuck in 5 o'clock traffic and a construction site. I looked over, and there was the cheeriest cement truck (sorry, ready-mix truck) I'd ever seen. Several thoughts crossed my mind, as I sat there, waiting for the officious flag person to switch their hand sign from Stop to Slow...
First, I thought, wow, design is really all around us. We come across it when we least expect it. Someone had the creative idea of painting a giant strawberry on that ready-mix truck. I love the whimsical sense of humour and the fact that the designer really thought outside the box.
Second, I thought, gosh, this is just like home staging. We take a run-of-the-mill or ordinary house, dress it up, and make it look extraordinary, just like someone did to this truck. You have to admit, this concrete truck sure stands out among the competition. And, just like staging, this truck is memorable, just like the homes we stage.
Third, I thought, interesting. This is the only working concrete plant on Granville Island, a public market that grew from industrial land. Therefore, to fit into the neighbourhood, the concrete truck embraced the whole fresh market environment. That's what we do in home staging. If we're staging a downtown condo, we make sure it fits into the neighbourhood, with the look and feel of a downtown, young, urban condo.
Fourth, Pat Benatar's song came into my head, but instead of humming "Love is a battle field", I was humming "Staging is like a cement truck" (sorry, ready-mix truck takes too many beats).
Exit Stage Right - Home Staging and Redesign Sally Weatherley 604-838-9431
Sally Weatherley is a full time home stager and owner of exit stage right - home staging, Vancouver, B.C.
We help home owners and real estate agents sell their homes quickly and for maximum profit. When selling your home you want to "set the stage for a lasting first impression".
Home Staging Website: www.exitstageright.ca
Before & After Photos: Exit Stage Right Portfolio
Email: sally@exitstageright.ca
Blog: Exit Stage Right Blog
Who would have thought that preparing a home for sale and staging would have anything in common with a cement truck.. That one will definitely linger in peoples minds. Love the analogy and suggested.
Take it to the next level Sally...........next month an artichoke, a pineapple..............the possibilities are endless! Love your blog!
Creative indeed, and I like the pineapple idea (reminds me of Rock Lobster by the B52's). I'm with Lora on the analogy and your mention of the company "adapting" to it's environment. Clever.
Leah - I actually got a little hungry, looking at that cement truck. All I could think about was strawberry shortcake!
Roger - Oh, trust you to keep the creativity flowing. How about if it were painted a lemon?!!! Oh, that truck's an old lemon - ha ha ha!
David - Rock Lob-sta! Actually, the shape of the cement truck was the same shape as the B52's beehive hair-do.
I love it! If I'm going to be stuck staring at a construction vehicle, this is the one for me!
Now I'm thinking eggplant, a bunch of grapes or bananas.................
Sally- I love it... I remember being stuck behind a big truck in traffic once and I just wished that there had been something painted on it... anything but the boring metal doors of the truck! Good post!
Sally, I love your post and analogy, really this truck does make a STATEMENT! Makes it memorable, same as staging. Even I've already had my glass of wine tonight, comments #2 and #3 and #6 sound way too sarcastic to me. Great post. Suggested.
Hi Sally...pretty Cool Cement Truck, did a Girl Drive it...haa. Just add shortbread cake and whip cream!.
Sure keep the Beat going when you're being creative, like the Cement Truck you make a statement with your staging, lets call it the Sally Signature series staging ...this could be Big!!
Sally, what a fun take on staging.
Can't say that I've seen a strawberry cement truck before.
Sally, I love the way you think! If only everyone thought outside the box what a colourful world it would be!
Sally sells cement truck staging by the seashore! :D
Hi Sally, Peg sent me over here. (Hi Peg.) So Sally, you got a little art when you least expected it. That's a pleasant change of pace that can bring a smile. Perhaps it's an untapped market; staging trucks.
Sally: What a wonderful and memorable way to stage a cement truck. I love it. Strawberry fields forever.
Love this post and the photo Sally! I love how this company also embraced the area in which they must park their trucks, rather than being an eyesore they are a sight to behold - yes beauty is everywhere - thanks for reminding us!
Sharon - It was kind of like "visions of sugarplums dancing in my head", only they were strawberries, instead.
Roger - Oh yes, aubergine for sure!
Kathy - All it takes is a little imagination to turn something blah into something interesting.
Anna - Oh, no, Roger and David sarcastic?!! Never! This truck really is making a statement - I love it!
Fred - Ha ha! Yes, that strawberry does look like a nice shade of lipstick I own - perhaps it is a female driver! Love the alliteration: Sally's Signature Series Staging - very catchy!
Beverly - It was a first for me, too!
Peg - I'm beginning to realize you and I think a lot alike! Where would the world be without colour added to it? More alliteration! Bring it on!
Lloyd - Awww, Peg is such a sweetie! So glad you stopped by. Why, you just might be right - I will have to add "staging cement trucks" to my marketing plan... Could be a winner!
Valerie - Strawberry Fields Forever - sing it loud!
Karen - I believe this concrete company was speaking to its 'demographics'... don't you?
yes indeed they are!
Maybe I just lost my sense of humor...
Karen - Wink!
Anna - Oh, no, you have a wicked sense of humour - that's why I love you, my Russian/Texan friend!
Yum! Can we dip that in chocolate please? That is my latest indulgence...chocolate covered cement trucks.....yummy!
Clever marketing for sure!
Howdy.... down here it's pronounced Sea-mint (and throw in a couple of extra syllables while y'all are at it) <G>! Have a peachy day! - Tom
Hey Sally - we call them cement trucks here too! Althoug, for some reason the "Beverly Hillbillies" pronunciation sticks with me: "see-ment", as in the "cement pond" episodes...close to Tom's!
I've been thinking about how Staging is like RuPauls' Drag U...how to find your sexy...could be a blog post!
Sally--whoever came up with that idea deserves two medals--taking something very industrial and usually pretty dirty and dressing it up. Oh, you're right, that is what we do.
HI Sally, I love marketing ideas like this. Out of the box thinking grabs attention and creates whole new markets in which to take our work.
Valerie - Only you could turn this into a sinfully delicious chocolate experience!
Tom - Sea-mint - of course it would be pronounced that in "Texan"! Oh, yes, speaking of peachy, that cement barrel could be a peach, too!
Julie - Oh, I'm anxiously awaiting your post on how RuPaul's drag is like home staging - don't disappoint me, now...
Janet - I agree. Talk about brilliant marketing. And yes, that's what home stagers are all about as well.
Michelle - Me too. I also love all the creative comments received here by home stagers across North America who "get it"!
I love that truck Sally. Now my brain is not as creative as yours so I wouldn't have gotten the relationship to staging but it is so true! Perfect!
Shar - Say what? You're one of the most creative brains I know! I love that big, strawberry truck!
Hi Sally - the big strawberry truck sure is a winner! Those colours look like they came out of Florida too!
Cheers.
David - Well, considering we are the "Florida of the North", that all makes sense!
Sally thanks for capturing someone's creative side for us all to see. Very smart marketing!
Hi Sally,
This is the greatest post!!! I just love how creative you are... and how you think outside the box. This post got big smiles out of me... and a good chuckle too! This clever post should be featured... I'm suggesting it!!!
Al & Peggy - Wouldn't it be neat if instead of the Remax balloon, they decorated a ready-mix-truck with the Remax logo! I think you should suggest that at your next meeting... ;-)
Linda - Well, I have to say, I had a big chuckle when I first saw that cement truck! So glad I was able to cause a giggle or two! And thank you!
Hi Sally,
I have a shout out about you on my latest post! I hope you have a great day!
Linda - That's so sweet of you - ok, I'm sailing over there now...
love that truck... but now you got that darn song stuck in my head!!
Sheila - Hey, the song could have been "The Wheels on the Bus go Round and Round"... repeat ad nauseam.