JASPER, HIS MOUSTACHE, GLASSES &
THE LAS VEGAS SHOW GIRLS
(AFTER GIVING THEM HIS FAMOUS BUSINESS CARD)
About twenty-five years ago, my childhood friend Jasper Tramonte stopped in to see me one day. He had been working in computer programming and as a corporate efficiency expert for a long time by then. But that had taken him into northern climates, and we Galvestonians just can't seem to get past having the Gulf of Mexico to look at, and the smell of sand, sea and Coppertone-oiled girls in bikinis. And a drop in temperature to 60 degrees isn't our idea of a good day.
So Jasper said he and his wife Carol and their son who is now Dr. Jeff wanted to move back to the gulf coast. He was going to try his hand at commercial real estate brokerage. "What advice do you have for your old friend?" he asked.
The answer was not new and was totally academic. "Real estate is a business of numbers. Talk to enough people and talk to them often enough, and you'll do well. That's rule number one. And rule number two is to market yourself so that you stand apart from your competition and people remember you and think of you first," I offered.
So Jasper did two things in the marketing department. First, he had a logo developed that was the cartoon character Casper the Ghost, but with a bushy moustache and big black-rimmed glasses like Jasper wears, And he put Jasper the Ghost on everything. Even had cuff links made with it. And don't forget the Jasper the Ghost tie tack. And he even tried to get his nurse wife Carol to wear a gold one as a pin. ("No soap," she said.)
And his Casper the Ghost business cards got passed out to nearby tables in every restaurant he ate in, and to people standing in line at the movie with him, all waiting to buy tickets, and once every two weeks to his barber for more than twenty-five years. And the barber is still getting them.
And second, Jasper developed a Christmas card. Now this Christmas card is a big fold our affair and in cartoon caricature style, he has a Christmas scene where every one of his clients is shown at the party. And just in case you don't know or recognize them, their names are by their pictures. I've often thought some people use Jasper's services just so they can be on the Christmas card. And let me add that once you're on the card, you're on every one after that for life. There are hundreds of faces on these things. Tires me out to look at them, but nevertheless I do every Christmas season as soon as the mailman delivers it. Guarantee you everyone else does, too. And I'll bet he mails out thousands of them. He won't tell me. Big secret for some reason.
You can use Jasper's broad marketing ideas in your business. They're winners. And if you're looking for a great commercial broker in the Houston-Galveston area, I'd recommend Jasper E. Tramonte, 17300 El Camino Real, Suite 110, Houston 77058. 281 488-8474. We've been great friends for sixty years. Once even worked as magicians -- the Twin Foondinis -- but that's another story.
BILL CHERRY, DALLAS BROKER-REALTOR. MY 43RD YEAR SELLING TEXAS 972 380-7347
MEET ME ON THE NET AT WWW.BILLCHERRYBROKER.COM
Thnaks Bill.....very good idea
john
we want more picture
Sorry, Ashley, that's all there is!