Lock, Stock & Barrel

I took this picture today. The colorful paintings caught my eye. More than a few tourists were snapping pictures too. I remember seeing a couple taking wedding pictures at this very spot last week.

When I got home, my friend noticed that the name of the store is "Por Kee Glass & Frames". I thought : that's a funny name for a shop that sells pictures.

Then I realized that this shop probably started off selling glass and frames. However, glass and frames by themselves is a rather utilitarian product. It's a product of necessity - it doesn't incite passion. So if I am the boss and I was wondering how I can expand my client base outside of people who has pictures and photos they treasure enough to have them framed, a good answer seem to be : sell paintings.

Paintings are attractive. Paintings incite passion. Prospects who do not have paintings to frame and are otherwise not clients will stop, look and might decide to buy one. If they buy nice paintings, they will want to have them framed. So the shop ends up selling them the paintings, the glass and the frames - lock, stock and barrel. This is a good business model.

Smart people.