I am always interested in learning about and sharing ways that businesses can incorporate a little childlike spirit into their operations that positively affects their customers AND their bottom lines. If I asked you to consider a business that is the most anti-childlike, many of you would probably say banks. Talk about stuffy. The only thing childlike about most banks are the cheap little suckers they hand out to parents at the drive-up window. Do they even do that any more?
It may seem like there’s little a bank could do to lighten things up without losing its credibility. But the Acland Brierty…explained blog points us to Curious Lucre and offers up some suggestions on how a financial institution might do so. The Curious Lucre site has some hilarious descriptions and reviews of bank notes from around the world. Here’s an example:
Bolivia seems to have discovered a new way to stimulate the economy: make your money so ugly people can’t wait to spend it. This bill comes complete with a picture of a fellow who, no doubt, was once a dashing fellow of power and reknown, but now just looks like a greasy cabdriver who does the midnight-to-dawn shift because it lets him really pay attention to what the voices are saying.
Seems like a bank could’ve thought of something like this — if they really wanted to. Maybe as posters to read while waiting in line. Or a little something extra included in your bank statement.
What do you think — what industries could use a little childlike pick-me-up?
[tags]money, business, marketing, banks, banking[/tags]