3 Things Brave Movie can Teach Us about Retailing

Brave is a 2012 American 3D computer-animated fantasy adventure film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures.

If you have not seen the movie, I would suggest that you read the plot of the story so that you can relate on what I will be talking about on this post.



Today let’s find what this movie can teach us about retailing.

1. Have a clear communication

Make sure that your customers fully understand the benefits your product can offer – including the limitations.

Merida asked the witch to create a spell that will “change her mother” and after some bargaining, the witch agrees to give Merida a spell, in the form of a cake, to change her mother.
It was not clear to both party what kind of change will supposed to happen Elinor, the mother of Merida.

Merida returned to the castle and gave Elinor the cake, transforming her into a bear. The transformation was shocking and placed both Merida and her mother in mortal danger.
Explain to the customers the important thigh which they need to know especially if there are risks involved to avoid troubles. Make it clear.

2. Don’t hide your store.

Visibility is one of the important elements of any type of business. Make sure that people know that your store exists.

Merida actually didn’t know that there is a cottage in that part of the forest when she was not led by a blue will-o’-the-wisp. She was surprise that the owner of that cottage is selling many types of bear carvings.

Don’t surprise you customers about the existence of your store or business.
If your store is placed in a not so visible location, make sure to advertise. Be sure to be reached by you customers easily, provide the contact details of your business for you customers.

3. Be wise on dealing with bargain.

Bargain can either gain you more profit or lose more of it. Bargain is an agreement between two or more parties as to what each party will do for the other.

There many scenes on the Brave which you can observe bargaining but the scenes that are memorable for me are the bargain between the Merida and the witch and between Merida and her three younger brothers.

To get the witch fascinated, Merida offered to all the carving plus one spell with her precious necklace. The more important to Merida is the spell to change her mother from forcing her to get married and not the carvings, but she has to buy all the carvings so that the witch will make a something to change her mother.

Another part is when Merida asked her little brothers for a help in exchange with her two to three weeks dessert but one of her brothers indicates with his hand that Merida needs to increase the offer, so instead of 2-3 weeks, Merida make it a year.

Know your product and services and you customers well so that you can bargain wisely.

4. Position your business properly.

Don’t insist that you are wood carver if you are actually a witch. Don’t act like a queen if you’re actually a bear.

 When Merida, led blue light of a will o’ the wisp, reach hidden witch’s cottage, the witch insisted that she is a wood carver even if the princess has noticed some witch crafts in the cottage. This has created confusion to Merida on what products or services she can get from that cottage.

When Elinor on the other hand was transformed into a bear, still acted like a queen despite of being an animal. This is a good example of having clear identity, but the situation causes Merida to have more difficulties on dealing with her (bear) mother. Thus, Merida taught the queen to act like a real bear.

These two situations can teach us to make sure to create an image or identity in the minds of our target market for our product, brand and business that is not confusing.

5. Deliver what you’ve promised.

Whatever you have promised to your customer, make sure to deliver it; much better if you can deliver more than you’ve promised.

After Merida have paid the witch for the spell and carving, the witch made spell and gave it to her and told her to expect delivery of her purchase within a fortnight. In a post-credits scene, the witch's crow asks a castle guard to sign for a delivery of bear carvings that Merida bought together with the spell.

The witch simply did what she has promised. Be this kind of witch with your promise. ^_^

Thank you for reading. Goodspeed!