The
other day I went shopping. It is something I don't do very often for two
obvious reasons...time and money. However, since I am in the Bay Area I
decided to take a break from writing and walk down to our local shopping
center.
The
first store I stopped at was T.J Max. I generally don't enjoy clothes
shopping and I kept stalling before I finally decided to try some things
on. As it turned out, I tried a lot on (I am hard to fit and harder to
please). The lady who was working the fitting room smiled as I approached
with my HUGE pile of potentials. She then asked me if I found everything
ok, took some of my now tangled mess and helped me separate and count
them. Once counted, she handed me my number and wished me luck. I
ended up needing two trips into the fitting room to try everything on.
She helped me with a smile, some kind words and when I said thank you she said
"You're very welcome".
In my
pile of things I tried on, I found a skirt I liked, but needed a top to go with
it. So, off to another store I went. While looking I found an
employee and told her I wanted to try their tops on with a skirt I just bought
at their competitors. "Can I bring this bag in the fitting room?" I
asked. In broken English and no smile she simply said "Go
ahead." That was it. No, "Sure, thanks for asking."
or "Can I help you find anything." Just "Go ahead."
My
next experience with this employee was in the fitting room. I found that
some hangers had been switched and the sizes on the hangers were much different
than the actual garments. So, I found the proper sizes, came back into the
fitting room and explained what I found. She basically shrugged and
ignored me. I went ahead and made the switch myself. (I also refold
the clothes I look at and put them neatly back on the rack. I am weird
that way.)
Off to
the next store I went. Rummaging through the racks I found a few things I
thought might match my skirt (and a lot more). Walking up to the fitting
room I noticed a lady who worked there on the wall phone talking and
laughing. I also noticed a line of about 5 people. She motioned for
one of us to put our clothes up on the bar to have them counted and then gave
out the appropriate number. She then motioned (almost like shooing) the person
towards the fitting rooms. All this time she was on the phone. Once
I was done with my first set of 8 I asked her if she could keep the two I
wanted to purchase while I tried on the rest. "I don't have room to
keep them. Look at all these clothes. Sorry."
I
couldn't help but notice the VAST difference in my experience from one store to
another. And it was all because of the attitude of the employee’s that I
had dealt with.
Maybe
it is just me, but I think smiling, acknowledging and making a little small
talk is good business.
What a
difference a good attitude and a little bit of kindness can make.
:)
#positive #attitude #tjmax
#ross #kohls
