Celebrating our twentieth year of business has meant taking more than one trip down memory lane and having giggles about all the funny things that have happened - like the time the power went out just as we were debuting a very highly touted art show and clients were waiting outside the gallery. What did we do? We ran across the street to Publix, bought up all the flashlights we could find and handed them out to the clients as they entered. We also started pouring the bubbles - and it ended up being one of our most successful shows ever.
We've always thought that running a business should be fun. Of course, there are plenty of opportunities to be serious (these times usually involve our CFO, countless spreadsheets, P & Ls and balance sheets), but if there's an opportunity to inject a light-hearted moment, we're going to take it.
Case in point: in 2011, as fledging retailers, we wanted a print ad campaign that would stand out in the beautiful pages of Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles, where gorgeous products were already in plentiful supply. One of us (whose initials are AH!) came up with a brilliant idea to showcase our products - but do it in a playful, tongue-in-cheek way that would slightly poke fun at ourselves.
It turns out this was the most fun campaign to work on. We titled it "Have-to-Have's" and we had a ball scheming up ideas and backdrops for the ads - the actual day of photography was always a big production with patient photographers, amused Huffingtons and usually Ann and Meg balancing on something or dressed in slightly incredulous outfits.
We just have to share some of these with you - and brownie points to you if you remember actually seeing them in print in Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles. (PS: the evolution of our hairstyles is also pretty funny to see!)
High On Ladders
This was the first ad we ran, featuring a slew of antique ladders, shutters and planters that had just arrived on one of our first containers. The ladder was ridiculously wobbly and it's a miracle neither one of us took a tumble. Also, you can tell we love alliteration: leggy ladders, shabby shutters, perfect planters. And we debuted the tagline we still use to this day: ".....and all the things we love."
Happily Hosting
Thanksgiving was our first big holiday, so we set an antique table up with a slew of tabletop, got ourselves dressed up (yes, updos and aprons!) and pretended we were getting ready to host for Thanksgiving.
Having a Ball
Next up was Christmas and we were bursting at the seams with shiny, shimmery, glittery things. We donned our best evening gowns and proceeded to "have a ball"!
Holiday Happies
Rolling into the holidays with Huff Harrington Home and there we are again, perched on ladders. This time we're hanging ornaments and wearing jewelry and wraps that we were selling that year.
Hey, Need a Lift?
This one was for Valentine's Day and we had just debuted a couple cute items at Huff Harrington: one was this old-fashioned phone receiver that you plugged into your (very, very new!) iPhone - it was all the rage with the under-18s! We also had just unloaded that funny wooden bicycle from a container from France.
Happy Travels
We ran this ad in conjunction with all the spring breaks and trips that happen during the first half of the year - and there we are with our alliterations again: "trendy totes, tags, tour books and trinkets".
Hot to Trot!
We embraced the equine theme here, from horse statuary, to art and yes, even a cowboy-inspired hat that Ann's got on.
Haute Housekeeping
Okay, this one takes the cake. Yes, we're really dressed like French maids to promote a really wonderful line of furniture polish and oils.
And a few others to make you laugh...
So, twenty years later, should we bring this campaign back? With Ann managing our interior design business in Paris and Meg in Atlanta, we could come up with some real doozies!
Which ad was your favorite? We'd love you to weigh in.
Still having the very best time,
Meg + Ann
