Happy Lunar New Year

Finally, I get my paintings up on my living room. I was so afraid that my parents dislike them. I was wrong. Happy to get complimented by my mom about the colours of the paintings. They didn't realize the detail thought. 

The Fu Lu Sou Triptych is the only piece I brought all the way back from Turin. I want them to be the main decoration of my new home for the second Chinese New Year we celebrate in this house. Last year's CNY was a mess due to lack of time. We were expelled by our previous landlord and have to move less then a month. Which left us no option but to buy our own house. 

We met a really nice house owner. The owner, the lawyer and the buyer are from three different generation of Convent Teluk Intan Alumni. What a surprise. I also learn that, friendship can sometimes be a very weak link when the other side choose to let go. The landlord who choose to expel us, were actually my brother's nanny, and my parents had been calling them part of our "family relatives" before the incident. We know that because, previously, every Chinese New Year, they will brought us to visit the landlord's home. The most difficult emotional experience for my parents, is that their friendship of more than 30 years, suddenly became nothing. Until today, I never understand why they did this to us. People told us that the landlord want us to move out ASAP so that they may have enough time to renovate the house for their son to make Horse year babies. Superstition, for the superstitious benefits of their own family, one willing to sacrifice a friendship. My mom told me that she could never forgive the landlord. 

During the process of purchasing our new house, the owner told us that there is a tenant. Due to our bad experience with our previous landlord, we do not want to give troubles to the existing tenant since we had bought the house in urgent matters. We want to let the tenant to have enough time on finding his new place. Thus, we didn't do much renovation before we move in. 

Back to the Triptych, the only piece which I'm willing to give up all other pieces in order to bring them back to my home. Those pieces which I have left in Turin and Milan are the ones which I spend most time and effort, they have more details in them. 

Although the Triptych piece are a decorative piece, for me, it is an important piece in my life so far. They represent the superstition of Chinese people. The three main Chinese deities which brought Prosperity, Longevity, and Fertility. They are the values which our previous landlord heavily believes in and it is my attempt to mock their believes:

Fertility, needs only love as supplement, and lots of love making.
Longevity, needs a healthy lifestyle, and daily exercise.
Prosperity, needs the tools of trade, and full of hard work.

These three values, are my strong believes. I do not believe that getting a nice house with nice Feng Shui or giving birth to a baby in a year of a great Zodiac will brought them good fortune. 

In March, I will carry this piece to Kuala Lumpur and exhibit in a local art event. Everybody is invited to come! Entrance is free! I wish to spread my stories and ideas brought in this Triptych. I will update this post again once the event organizer had confirm everything.

Love,

Avichen Kei

  

Ang Pao Marketing

I personally believes that red packets can be a better marketing tool compare to calenders and diary. Based on my personal experience of getting too many calenders every year, and ended up thrown into the bin while it is still unused (because I only need one). While red packets, were carried and pass to many people, old and young, being used as decorations... etc... Sometimes, I need more than one! Thus, I recommend, forget about nice expensive calenders as corporate gifts! Use red packets, green packets, white packets, purple packets, gift wraps as corporate gifts!

Let me justify my logic behind:

Intimate touch to the targeted group: During the Christmas season, provide your customers some free gift wrapping paper or ribbons which are nicely designed and of course, full of your company's logo. Yes, the kids received the gifts but before they have it, the adults are the ones who bought it and carry it all over. Same goes to the red packets during Lunar New Year. Green packets during Hari Raya (in Malaysia only)... etc. 

I do understand that distributing calenders or diaries or planners are good since it is more general and everybody needs one. Well, that's also the problem since everybody just need one! The competitiveness of the "Market" is so high, that only the best gift will survive and serve it's purpose. 

If a physical calender is your thing, try to make it out of the traditional way! yes some people put some hunky fire fighters or sexy super models. It's not going to work since it only targeting a group of people who fancy those kind of stuffs. To do the calender in a better way, for example, put it on a mug, or mouse pad. Some crazier ideas include, T-shirts with calender, plate, letter opener, mouse, whatever which is not common to have a calender. Something which people will not just throw them into the bin. 

Red Packets Marketing: I must say, it is the most efficient marketing item among Chinese people. We need to use them (many of them) and we carry them along, passing them to people. It can be the most desirable free flowing "flyers" carrying your brands on it.

Thus, I wish everybody who celebrates Lunar New Year, a very happy holiday!

Disclaimer, Avichen is a professional Trademark and Branding consultant. Do contact her on: asvoria@live.com for free consultation (for Small businesses only).