Is it me or are the words  quality and custom the most overworked words in the home improvement industry?  Take for example, and I am sorry if you are using this in your marketing material, “custom paint.”  OK, I think I understand where it is derived from, but still — every time I hear that phrase, it is tough for me to hold back a cringe.

“Made specifically for individual customers” — that’s how the dictionary reads in this regard.  And yes, I get it; custom built-ins — built-ins made for an individual circumstance.  Custom builder –  made to order, and that phrase specifically has come to hold meaning when the practice itself is viewed in relation to other segments of that industry.

Sometimes if you commission a custom something, you will also receive quality craftsmanship.  Here’s how the dictionary reads for this, ” . . . Character with respect to fineness, or grade of excellence.”  Now, I don’t know about you, but I would hope that if I were already paying for something custom, the end product too would be, well – quality – that is = “finely made.”  And it is really the pairing of these words that bugs me just so much.

a graphic containing the words Quality and Custom image by bOK — I don’t have much more than that for this post.  (I needed something short and sweet to fill the void this here Monday — the day after Mother’s Day.)  Not necessarily of the finest quality (you might say), but I hope at least somewhat custom — semi-custom?  And while I admit “custom paint” sounds delicious sometimes, I have to ask — isn’t it all quality, custom paint?

While I get that you are applying paint in both the colors selected and to (possibly) my specifications, you are also saying ”I really do great work, but my marketing sucks.  There is a chance that you might not perceive me exactly like the next guy. . . . Oh, and by the way . . . I will be charging a little bit more for my services.”

Finally, one final one – What do you do if you are comparing Company A, a company offering quality to Company B, a company that does custom work?  Are you like me – you pick Company C?  A company offering “value.”  And at least they haven’t taken “value” for granted yet.  (Yet, I said.)

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Thanks for reading, and happy day after Mother’s Day to everyone out there.  BMoxie BMore!