When I started Giorgio Armani in the mid-'70s, I realized that women needed a way to dress that was equivalent to that of men - something that would give them dignity, an attitude that would help them handle their work life.
Giorgio ArmaniRead
Remember that, in the end, the customer doesn't know, or care, if you are small or large as an organization - she or he only focuses on the garment hanging on the rail in the store.
Interpretation
Customers care about the quality of products, not the size of the company.
This quote emphasizes that for customers, the perceived value of a product is paramount, overshadowing the size or reputation of the company behind it. Armani suggests that businesses should prioritize product quality and customer experience over concerns about their organizational scale, since ultimately, what matters most to consumers is how the product meets their needs and desires.
In practice
In a presentation about customer satisfaction, I could use this quote to highlight the importance of product quality.
When I started Giorgio Armani in the mid-'70s, I realized that women needed a way to dress that was equivalent to that of men - something that would give them dignity, an attitude that would help them handle their work life.
I believe that my clothes can give people a better image of themselves - that it can increase their feelings of confidence and happiness.
The goal I seek is to have people refine their style through my clothing without having them become victims of fashion.
These designers have no reserve. They've chosen a path and thrown themselves onto it head first, regardless of everything. Whether or not their designs are sellable or vulgar. As long as it's new and people talk about it. That is the truth.
Elegance is not catching somebody's eyes, it's staying in somebody's memory
Remain true to yourself and your philosophy. Changing in the face of adversity will in fact diminish your credibility with your customers.
No idea for a new growth business ever comes fully shaped. When it emerges, it's half-baked, and it then goes through a process of becoming fully shaped.
The lesson for businesses is you are dealing with real people. Those are your customers, those are your employees, those are your bosses, and the better you understand how real people tick, the more successfully you will be able to accomplish your goals.
We believe that business is good because it creates value. It is ethical because it is based on voluntary exchange; it is noble because it can elevate our existence, and it is heroic because it lifts people out of poverty and creates prosperity.
Business isn't some disembodied bloodless enterprise. Profit is fine - a sign that the customer honors the value of what we do. But "enterprise" ( a lovely word ) is about heart. About beauty. It's about art. About people throwing themselves on the line. It's about passion and the selfless pursuit of an ideal.
Obvious prospects for physical growth in a business do not translate into obvious profits for investors.
The market and the consumer and idea trump the system.
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