Real-Life Decision Making
You are enjoying running a profitable taxidermy business in your hometown.
It took about three years for it to really become a lucrative business for
you, and you have been pleased with your success. You have a number of different
clients, many of them one-time clients, and a few that have come back more
than once.
By maintaining a good rapport with your customers, you have had a lot of
business come your way by word of mouth. Many of your customers have been
pleased with your work and above all your honesty.
Bob Davis says taxidermy "can be a very lucrative profession for some who
will take the time to learn and work with the different stages of taxidermy."
You have studied many of the animals, and had experience working with most
of them.
Animals of many sizes and descriptions come into your taxidermy business
-- often with the owners' hearts set on having their pet
preserved. You have done numerous animals -- cats, dogs, and even horses.
Not all pets can be mounted successfully, and so it is your responsibility
to be honest with the client and let them know what is and what isn't
possible.
Besides pets, there are occasions where clients bring in wild animals --
like racoons and skunks -- in beautiful shape. They would look wonderful if
you were to stuff them. Although sometimes the cost may seem expensive, you
are always pleased with the work, and know that your clients will appreciate
it as an art form.
Today, a client has brought in a mouse. It wasn't a pet -- it is literally
one that the cat dragged in. The client wants to have this mouse stuffed because
it "looked so sweet" and she feels that it would make a beautiful piece of
art.
You find that this is perhaps a large waste of your time and your client's
money. It will cost far more to preserve this mouse than it ever could be
worth. Since there is no sentimental attraction to this mouse, you aren't
sure if you should go ahead. Maybe you should discuss it in detail with the
client, and most likely lose a sale.
Mice only live for just over a year, and you can buy them at any local
pet store for $2. You can't believe that the client is really attached
to this particular mouse. But you need to remember it is the client's
money.
What do you do?