> That could take a different approach....
> Though I still think it helps to try to make
> whatever it is you're selling "stand
> out from the crowd" and get noticed!

Hi Dien,

When I saw this post yesterday, I was thinking of a story to to enhance the perceived value of the ornament too. Jim says the ornament depicts the "old inn" so this indicates there is a "new inn." Considering the money problems often associated with living in the "boonies" there is every possibility that the "old inn" may be 100+ years old.

There is a story to be told about that inn someplace. Since I can't possibly know it's history, here is an example from the rural community I grew up in when I was a boy.

I grew up in Economy, Nova Scotia. Many of the families history there is very old. Most of this history starts around 1755 when the Acadians were expelled and the British were given "land grants" which consisted of parcels of land already claimed by the Acadians.

About 12 years ago a friend bought a box of books at an auction. The books had been buried in someone's attic for years. Hidden within the pages of an old bible were court documents stamped and notarized that depicted some illicit affairs involving the minister of the church.

I noted the date on the official documents and realized that my father would have been a young man at that time.

My father grew up in the community through the Great Depression. Families at that time were very community orientated and the church had a very strong presence in people's lives and activities. My wife and I had been invited to Mom and Dad's for dinner, and I thought I would take this opportunity to ask Dad if he knew anything about the affairs the hidden papers had spoke of.

Dad was normally a very calm and reserved gentleman but when I approached him with this topic he became angry very quickly. He screamed those documents were "damned lies."

What was it Shakespeare said? "I think thou protests too loudly." His uncharacteristic outbreak would indicate he knows something, but it is a secret he will "take to the grave" with him.

I KNOW the "old inn" has a story to tell. Just because my example paints a nasty scandal, doesn't mean the "old inn" has to. It could be a story of how the people who were involved with building the inn fared in those days, with a list of who worked on it. I'm sure if a story and a list of the men who built the inn, was made available, several residents would want to know if their ancestors names was included on the list. A great story included with the purchase of each ornament might make more people feel it was a worth while piece of memorabilia, and perhaps become a heirloom to be passed on to the next generation.

I think the story would have to be one of courage -- something about the "old inn" that that encourages feeling of patriotism or community pride. Then you will have people buying the story with an ornament to remind them of the time.

Best Regards,
Steve MacLellan




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