When Your Ex Re-Appears.

This is going to come off sounding so childish…but, I can’t help gloating.

I used to work in the department for a certain luxury company, whose 3-star emblem should be enough to give you a clue as to who they are.

Anyway, one of my responsibilities was to create, implement and manage their consumer catalogue for accessories. What we were selling were not so much key chains and shirts, but a whole lifestyle.

The reason a car company would hire a “non-person” would be for her expertise in direct marketing. However, that was not the reality…often I was not really appreciated for having a background, which led to difficulties with my team, who were all “car guys.”

Well, recently…I received a note from the company introducing it’s brand new “lifestyle catalogue”: new products, new, new everything.

It was horrible…actually ugly is the word and took advantage of none of the company’s famously recognizable brand cues. But worse, it did not want to make me buy anything…which is a mortal sin in direct.

Part of me wanted to send a note to the company to let them know how bad this execution was…but part of me felt great…as in “see, they can’t get this done properly without me.” I know, real mature.

But seriously, at the end of the day, I am a person at heart and feel badly when a company does not coordinate its products and brand identity with its dialogue with consumers.

What this company did by sending me this totally ill-thought through communication is damaging to its brand…I just wish there could be a way for them to realize what a mistake it was to break up with me.

Isn’t that what we all secretly wish?