Quality Is Everything

I love, love, LOVE scented things!  Candles, sachets, room sprays, air fresheners, car fresheners, lotions, body washes, etc……you name it!  Hence, the title of my website and blog.  I have known for a long time that scents can provoke many memories and can start a story telling pow-wow in a heartbeat.  This is also true with food.  I was watching a show on the Food Network the other day and the host, Sandra Lee, said, “we eat with our eyes first, our nose second, and then with our mouths.”  Apparently, this is a well-known saying in the food industry.  So, this got me thinking.  When I choose something….anything, really….that is scented, what is the first thing that draws me to that particular item?  I suppose the reasoning is going to depend on what the item is.  Such as, with a candle.  First, I choose the candle by it appearance (i.e. color, texture, shape, and size).  Second thing I do, is smell it.  If it doesn’t come in a scent that I’m fond of, then it’s a quick no-go, unless it matches with the decor of a room in my home.  Then, I still may get it, but I know that I won’t be burning it.  Lastly, I review the price.  The quality of a candle is going to come into play here.  I will choose a candle with high quality and a little expensive, than one with not so great quality that is inexpensive.  My Mama taught me that quantity is nothing (except with money…hahaha) and quality is everything.  This applies to numerous things in life.  So, as far as I can tell, choosing food and choosing candles are a lot alike.  At least for me, anyway.  First, I use my eyes, then my nose.  The last deciding factor is different….or are they?  When I go out to eat, I want quality food.  If the meal is expensive, I expect a great quality meal.  Same with candles!  So, yes, the last issue that will influence me, is quality.  This revelation has helped me to better understand the way a customer might think, which will, in turn, help me to provide better customer care.  And, in my business, great customer service is what it is all about!  Don’t you agree? 

To do a little research, I made a casserole that is not my family’s favorite.  It is a tuna casserole, and tuna is not a huge celebrity around my home.  Usually, I just throw the casserole ingredients together and don’t take much time to “dress it up.”  This time, I took my time and made sure that the peas were showing, to give it a little eye appeal.  I folded, instead of stirring, all the ingredients together, which made the casserole less “mushy” looking.  I applied cheese on the top and made sure that it was even.  When I served it, I placed the entire casserole dish in the center of a platter that was covered with lettuce leaves.  Oh, and instead of canned tuna, I actually seared a tuna steak I had bought at the grocery store.  Remember…..quality makes a HUGE difference!  My family is still long keen on tuna casserole, but this time, the first words out of my family’s mouths were, “ooooh…this sure looks good!”  They also know, however, that I am always using them as my guinea pigs, so their next question was, “what is it?” and “what’s in it?”  That’s what I get for raising them to always ask questions! LOL  My point, though, is that because of the casserole’s appearance, and the quality ingredients that I put in it, my family ate it with a lot more enthusiasm than I’ve ever seen!  I didn’t even have to fuss at the kids about giving their food to the dog!  hee hee

I am not a gourmet cook.  Nor, do I aspire to be.  I will choose any dish that is quick and easy, anytime!  But, I do know that I will continue to present my family meals with a little more pinache, care, and quality.  It lets them know that I care without saying a word.  Provide everyone with the greatest qualities of yourself, and they will reciprocate.  So, what do you think?  Is quality everything or do you disagree?  I would love to read your comments!  I hope you have a glorious and high-quality day!  Always remember to love, laugh, and celebrate life as much as you can!

Warmest wishes to all,

Helen T. Askins

http://www.scenterofattention.com

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