Working in Tandem – What a Concept!

Published on February 2, 2012 :: One Comment

Sometimes, when you’re close to something for a long time, you stop really seeing it. Do you know what I mean?

14 years ago Steven and I named our business Tandem Antiques. The idea was all about us working together, using the strengths, talents and pedaling abilities of each of us to keep the thing moving forward. A charming and apt metaphor, then and now.

But familiarity breeds…if not contempt, invisibility. So as I created my Survey for Designers and other customers, and began to articulate my desire to become a more valuable resource for them, I failed to see what was right in front of me.

Tandem! I want to work IN TANDEM with my customers – the designers, retailers, antique dealers and homeowners I sell to. If we work together, join forces, collaborate, educate each other then we will all benefit!

(photograph from detnews.com via Content in a Cottage blog)

To give credit where it is absolutely due – it was not me who made this connection. Leslie Carothers, @tkpleslie on twitter and CEO of The Kaleidoscope Partnership, pointed it out to me as we brainstormed about an event at the High Point Market in April. She and Jennifer Mehditash, @decaporter on twitter, NYC designer and editor of Dec-a-Porter design blog are joining forces to present Pinterest + Olioboard: From Inspiration to Income on Saturday morning, April 21 as part of the Antique and Design Center’s VandM-sponsored lecture series. Steve and I are providing breakfast for the lecture attendees, and Leslie made the fabulous observation that our business name fit so well with the entire event – Leslie and Jennifer are working in tandem to bring valuable information to the designers at Market, and we desire to reach out to that audience and work in tandem with them to meet their needs for wonderful antiques and interesting accent pieces.

A total palm-to-forehead moment!

So, in the interests of working IN TANDEM, using our talents (and those of other dealers as well – I plan to share this info!) with a better understanding of your needs and desires, would you please take the survey?

While it is titled Designer Survey – don’t let that stop you! I am interested in your feedback whether you are a retailer, a fellow antique dealer, a home stager, or simply a lover of antiques.

And at the end of the survey period – March 15 – a lucky respondent will win a lovely, unique find from Tandem Antiques inventory. I haven’t decided what it’s going to be yet, but as soon as I do I’ll post it here. As long as you provide an email address with your survey you will be eligible to win! Now get over there and take that survey! It will only take a couple of minutes. And thank you!!