Advertising in 2 AD

Posted by Deborah Chaddock Brown on June 29, 2009 under Customer Moments, marketing | Be the First to Comment

I just returned back from a once in a life time trip to Italy with my Mom and daughter, Emily.  We began our adventure in Rome where we hooked up with 38 other Americans experiencing Italy with cross-generational family members.  Tauck tour groups has a series of tours called Bridges in which Grandparents and their Granchildren can experience a new country together.

My 12 year old daugher has wanted to go to Rome since Hillary Duff filmed the Lizzie Mcguire movie and so away we went.

During our first day we experienced the Vatican museums and the Sistene Chapel. In the grand hall leading up to the chapel we encountered this painted tablet. Our tour guide, Richardo, informed us that it was advertising in its earliest form.

This tablet is about 4 feet sqaure and was painted outside of the restaurant – informing passers-by what type of food they could expect to enjoy should they venture indoors.  Advertising as early as 2 AD.

While I was traveling, I took notes of some of the sales, marketing and cutomer service experience we encountered.  Over the next few blog posts I’ll be sharing some of my insights.  Suffice it to say – my Earning Customer Loyalty speech is going to be revised based on the lessons I learned from the Italians I encountered. 

I invite you to share the experiences you’ve had while traveling abroad of if you live in another country – please share your culture as it relates to customer service. 

I sometimes think that Americans believe they have it all figured out when it comes to sales and service and yet I found an entirely different truth while in Italy.  It was eye opening!