Just received our own copy of the new 2012-13 catalog from Service Ideas and I can tell you…..it’s not your father’s Service Ideas anymore. Probably hasn’t been for a while. Very nicely done.
We continue to see Service Ideas as a company that is working hard to remain competitive – and relevent. Anyone who has known this company for any length of time would expect to see the types of products shown below: The wide range of thermal servers has been a signature product for Service Ideas for many years. In fact, the company has a timeline showing the copper-colored version shown on the left page above was introduce in 1956! That’s staying power. But, in recent years, Service Ideas has become much more than thermal serving carafes. For instance, the catalog pages shown below show how Service Ideas has adjusted with the times and offer tabletop products now that you might come to expect only from “traditional” tabletop companies. Staying relevent, indeed. Flipping through the Service Ideas catalog, one could even make the argument that this sometimes “below the radar screen” company is a bit cutting-edge as they have a large array of tea-related products. Recent studies have shown that while coffee is already huge, tea may be the next big boom. If so, Service Ideas will be more than ready. And, this is just the products. Collateral materials – especially the new catalog – are well designed and appropriately matched with the brand’s position, using colors popular today. New social media programs are being utilized that also support the Service Ideas efforts to keep current. Personalizing the company by introducing company employees via their website add to the notion of Service Ideas as a customer-friendly company. (how many company websites do you know where there’s not so much as a single person’s actual name on it?? we can think of a bunch)
We’re not trying to make Service Ideas out to be cutting-edge in the same way we see a Raynaud porcelain or Sambonet flatware. But, this IS a company that is working hard to make itself attractive to today’s hospitality tabletop decision-maker….without sacrificing its heritage of good value, friendly service, and quality for money spent.
We speak to lots of companies that worry about the economy, so they play it safe, take minimal risks, and hope that the market comes back around to their type of products or company. Typically, the only way these companies compete is to lower prices in one form or another until there’s no margin left.
Service Ideas doesn’t seem to be waiting. With an apparent vision of who they intend to be, this company continues to evolve, grow, and remain as relevent as they were back in 1946 when Art Murray began it all.
So, get your copy of Service Ideas’ new 2012-13 catalog. We think you will be impressed. P.S. Restaurateurs and tabletop dealers…..think this lesson on staying relevent only applies to suppliers? Wrong….as wildly successful as the original Spago was up on Sunset, it was closed and moved in down into Beverly Hills. The rest is history as today Wolfgang Puck is likely the most prolific chef in America…possibly the world. (ok, Bocuse, fans….you may have something to discuss, but who else?)
