“A warm smile is the universal language of Kindness.” William Arthur Ward
There are some areas of Europe where if you smile too much, they think you’re drunk.
But in America, if you want to make and keep customers, you have to smile. It’s that simple.
My sister just opened a store called Christine’s Consignments (“A trendy place to shop”) in Ocean View, Delaware. Without even trying, she has taken business from the other consignment shop in town that has been there for over ten years. And it’s easy to see why.
In only three days, I heard at least 6 customers in Christine’s Consignments mention “that other lady is so rude. I’m never taking my business to her again” or “the other store lady doesn’t say hello when I walk in” or “when I asked that other lady how business was, she told me ‘it’s none of your business‘.
When you walk into Christine’s consignments, she greets you with a smile. She thanks you for coming.
If she doesn’t have what you are looking for, she’ll tell you where to find it. She’ll even make a phone call to the other store to confirm that they have it. She genuinely wants to help you, even if she’s not making a sale that day. But you’ll come back, because she smiles and makes you glad you came.
Once I went shopping in Munich, Germany. I walked into a jewelry store, cash burning a hole in my pocket. My happy mood was quickly dimmed by the cold attitude of the shopkeeper. My mother always taught me that a smile could warm up a room, so I smiled. I received a cold stare in return. When I broused too long, the shopkeeper, in an irritated manner, pushed me to make up my mind. Instead, I left and spent my money in fun-loving Spain.
If there’s one good thing about America, we are friendly here. From the time we are little children, we are taught to be polite and smile. And we come to expect it in return.
No matter what culture you live in, be it America or someplace else, letting your customers know that you’re glad they are there will keep them coming back.
Maria xxoo
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