Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 09:15:15 +1000
Subject: Hotel Decor Advice
From: bizballoons <balloons@magna.com.au>
To: Balloon Headquarters <balloondeco@balloonhq.com>

G'Day from Downunder,
For what it's worth ..... our view on this situation .....

Think about the strategy you should adopt  to remain both ethical and
professional.
1. Your image as a professional in the eyes of this potential client. You
are the owner of a business. So, approach this as a business opportunity.
NOT as an employeee at the hotel.

2. Professional ethics:- Could the banquets manager (and your piers)
construe that you applied for this job at the hotel with the ulterior motive
of becoming their decorator? Once you get the decor contracts on a regular
basis, you will leave their employ? ie: you were playing 2 hands of poker
..... getting paid by the hotel, whilst marketing your business on the side?

I'm not suggesting you have done anything untoward! But you need to be
careful that others don't see things as "sneaky".  I'd never criticise
someone for applying for a job. We all need to make ends meet. May we
suggest you tread very carefully here and play it this way:-

DO NOT approach the Banquets Manager with any proposal. By all means,
mention to fellow employees that you also manage a balloon decorating
company. Hope that THEY mention it to the boss. Then, when the boss
approaches you (and only then) are you in a position to talk with him/her
"business-to-business". Always suggest that you talk business after or
before your shift - NEVER during work hours for which they are paying you.
If they want you to decorate at the venue, make sure they know that it MUST
be on a contractual basis with the balloon business which you own and
manage.

It's very important for the image of your business that you are not
perceived to be there with the ulterior motive of undermining their current
preferred decorator. DO NOT criticise their work.  If they know you are a
balloon decorator make sure you never show any emotion or appear to be
impressed, disappointed, anything .... with the balloons installed by
others. Your lack of comment tells them that you could do better. If asked
..... simply say that it's your professional policy, "If we have nothing
nice to say, we say nothing!" Or .... if the work is of high standard say,
"Yes, their balloon work is (pause) quite good." ..... Leaving your
potential customer with the thought that your balloon work must be KNOCKOUT
rather than just "quite good". More importantly, they will be impressed by
your professional ethics in NOT criticizing your competitor's work.

Good Luck.
--
Don  and Dolly  Dixon CBAs
Sydney  -   AUSTRALIA