Hey there,
Well today I must admit, I experienced something that is very rare for me to experience, I was nye-on speechless, as we had a Managing Director come to our house today to give us some information about a conservatory my mum is planning, well in fact has been dreaming about for years, and years.
On the surface, this guy, looked your typical MD, jag, dark suit and tie, looking well-fed and a little stressed to say the least. Yet, what I found so surprising, was that he was so incredible at making both mum and I feel at home, with his ‘world,’ if you like, he talked us both through it at different times as I was in the middle of a mamouth soup-making session, so I just kept popping in on them asking a question here and there. Not only, was he what I would call from my coaching background an excellent rapport-builder he actually was a wonderful conversationalist, and in an untypical way, in that he was not impatient to get his point across or try to be right, he listened attentively, and reflected back with enlightening insights.
I must admit, I never expected to be blogging about this man, but I told him at the end what I do, and how impressed I had been and he said I’d made his day- bless! But honestly, he just related to two women, in different yet complimentary ways, how we really, really like to be listened to. Speechless I was, no wonder my mum handed over a serious down payment on her conservatory with him! Living in an all female house-hold we’ve experienced so many shoddy, cowboyeque salesmen and workmen, that we now 99.9% of the time go through recommendation, and we are soooo glad we did this time as he was as Tina Turner sings: ” Simply the Best! ” Miles, ahead of the competition! It was his manner, gents if you are listening, his attention to detail, his patience, his knowledge he imparted yet not in an arrogance-all-knowing way, just matter-of-factly, his humour, his grace, his openness! 
Well done that man! Charge more do you hear me, you deserve it and then go on to male spa for a bit of pampering as we suggested to you, and take your dear wife away for some special time as you said you’d like, she’d love it !!
After he had gone, off I went to blend my lettuce and potatoe soup in my beloved blender, and it blended a little and then burnt itself out!!! Thankfully, it has smoothed out most of the soup, so I’m off to get another one shortly as they are so vital to my culinary activities:)
I went with my mum today looking for bargains in some charity shops which was fun, as especially when you are losing inches like we both are, I don’t feel it’s worth it spending lots on clothes when they might only be in use for less than a season, it’s just silly. And honestly, there was such a difference, in Harbourne high street between the lay outs and feel of the stores. One stood out head and shoulders above the rest, being colour-co-ordinated, and having it’s clothing hung on lovely hangers with pretty-coloured labels with ample room for people to manoevre around the shop in, with a lovely, loving energy to it, like people really loved being there, giving it such a welcoming feel. I really believe Mary Portas would really love it!
Another, in comparision you could hardly have ’swung a furry animal toy cat,’ in the aisle, yep there was only one and the clothes were so unlovingly hung on the hangers I felt sorry for them, and I am sure Mary Portas would have had a few stern words to the manager and staff and worked her magic on it, in a matter of weeks, as she does, so it would actually improve the former charity shop even more too through extra healthy competition which would be fabulous! = more wonderful clothing!! Hee, hee! Needless to say, we bought several items from the former and only one from the later because it was a real bargain from and then practically ran out of the shop never to return!
It’s funny as often we don’t realise in business or in our lives when people really really like us or really, really hate us as often are too cocky, shy, or lazy to ask for feedback from our customers, but I think that’s the best possible way forward to improve your business. Just by asking your current clientele for feedback good or bad and offering them something nice in return be it a voucher, or some kind of freebie or even entry into a competition where they can win something that would exciting to them! That’s what I will be doing with my forthing coming book, more on that shortly!
Speak soon,
Carriex
Tags: Charity shops, Managing Director, marketing to women, Mary Portas
