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“So. Let’s hear it.” Sam spoke again. No, not Sam. This was the headstrong business-focused Samuel Webb. I’d recognize that edgy, intimidating tone any day. Heard it a million times before. Well, I won’t be buckled by Mr Webb.
“How would you like to expand your company, Mr Webb?”
Sam’s eyebrow quirked. “Intrigued already. Go on.”
I pulled out my laptop along with the precious presentation file. I slid the latter across the desk towards Sam. Then I plugged the cable on the desk to my laptop and the enormous screen behind me lit up with my new ‘L. Monroe’ logo.
“For the past few weeks, I’ve decided to go freelance as a marketing advisor. I got myself an office, designed a logo, been working on a plan to market myself and well, I’ve been planning everything else to launch my business. Except when I was painting my office, I realized I could do something more… hands-on. And that idea is what I’m going to present to you today. For me, it’s something new, yet something familiar and something that I almost had forgotten how much I loved to do.” I hit the button on the presenter remote and a picture of the mural at Ben’s bar showed up on screen. “I painted this when I was eighteen, when my dream was to decorate walls like my dad did. I saw this mural again a few days ago and it made me realise how much I loved working it. I had given a lot of thought into it to ensure that my design captured the bar’s essence and its character and everything else that was Ben’s Bar. If someone was scrolling through his phone gallery and this mural is a background in one of their photos, it’s an instant recognition of Ben’s.” I hit the remote again. A rendered image of an office is displayed on the screen. “I’ve applied that same theory when I designed my office. Imagine yourself being in this office and seeing the mural design and the colours. Would you recognize where you are?”
“I’d recognize I’m seeing an extended version of your ‘L. Monroe’ logo. Same colours, same solid lines.”
“Exactly. The plan I am proposing is to extend a company’s branding into their offices. Not just on stationery and water bottles and diaries. I mean, literally in their offices – on their walls, their carpets, their desk. Because why would someone hire an interior designer when they could hire one company that does it all? Branding, marketing and office livery. That one company could be yours, only if you accept my proposal for the addition of a new department.”
Sam rubbed a finger on the stubble covering his chin. “Office livery. You even came up with a word for it.”
“Marketing trick. Got to be unique to stand out.”
Sam reached for the presentation file and flipped the first page. I knew what that meant. Samuel Webb would only accept to open a proposal document if he was sold on the introduction.
That was also my cue to go on with the slideshow presentation. I took my time to explain the whole plan – detailed but not too boring. Then I went on to the requirements, the budgets and the projections. Through it all, Sam and Joe remained silent, arms crossed or with their chin on their fisted hand attentively and only nodding briefly here and there.
By the time the screen displayed the end of the slideshow, I was almost sweating. There I stood with an awkward hopeful smile pasted on my lips. By then, all my power had been depleted. I gave my best shot. All that was left was their reaction. Their final answer. Specifically, Sam’s.
For a minute, Sam browsed through the pages of the presentation file. He wasn’t searching for any particular page. Just randomly flipping. If I didn’t know him, I’d think he was consulting himself. But I knew that if Samuel Webb had allowed the presentation to go on to the end, he was definitely interested. Therefore, he was simply stretching time.
Sam closed the file, pushed it aside and looked at me. Not just looking. Staring. This time, I didn’t know what that meant. I couldn’t read him.
“Expanding my company comes with big risks. Even with your impressive projections, it’s still a risk. I would require the addition of more resources, mainly more employees and more offices.”
Joe interjected quickly. “Some of my former employees that are now your employees would be very interested in something like this. Three persons come to mind already. Four if you count me too.”
“And as for offices, I could give you mine.” I continued. “If the plan is a go, I won’t have time for freelancing and I won’t need an office. But if your real worry isn’t about expanding, if it’s whether or not it’s worth the risk to trust me, then you must know that’s not a risk at all. Because you know I’ll always do my absolute best to not let you down. So, what’s your answer. Do you trust me?”
Sam didn’t answer me. I guess I had really got all the gears in his head to work at full speed with my proposal.
“So would you want to be the head of this hypothetical new department or would you be the painter?” He finally said.
“How about both?”
“Did you really paint that mural yourself? The one at the bar?”
The question took me by surprise. Then again, his genuine interest didn’t.
I nodded back. “Mhm.”
“And your office, is the mural done already?”
“It is.”
Joe swivelled his chair towards Sam. “I saw it already. Want to see? I took photos.” He couldn’t hold back his proud grin as he eagerly pulled out his phone, tapped at it and showed Sam. “Brace yourself. It’s much more awesome than that rendered image she showed you. It’s even more epic in person, trust me.”
Despite Sam’s sudden muteness, he appeared impressed.
“She’s amazing, isn’t she?” Joe continued. “If you’re not sold to say yes by now, I’m going to hand in my resignation effective immediately.”
Oh, Joe, how could I not love you? Still got my back even when sitting on opposing territory.
“And if you’re not convinced yet,” I continued. “How about I remodel your office to match your brand?”
