You get up at 4 a.m. (assuming you wait until Black Friday) and head to that big box store that enticed you by dangling the carrot (really cool widget with all the bells & whistles for less than ½ price) in front of your nose… with the really, small print at the bottom: “limited quantity available.” Only about 263 other people drove to the big store along with you, and as you get pushed and shoved and make your way through the store, you discover that the “limited quantity” (as in 3) items you wanted were snatched up 20 seconds after the doors opened. The guy behind you curses a blue streak to the store manager (apparently he, too, wanted the really cool widget), who shrugs rather nonchalantly and mutters, “It was posted ‘limited quantity.’ Sorry, nothing I can do.” So, you settle on a different, not as cool widget, pay way more than you expected, and leave the store feeling a little cheated, dejected, and wondering why you even bothered.
Sound familiar? Ever happened to you? Does it kind of make you forget why you loved this time of year – the “reason for the season?” If so, I invite you to try a different approach to your holiday shopping. If you don’t want to feel so rushed, if you don’t want to feel like you’ve been “had,” just to get you into the store, if you want the kind of personal attention that makes you feel like someone cares about you and the person for whom you’re shopping, then try shopping at a local store in Brookside, Southtown or Waldo. Chances are, especially if you’ve been there before, they may already know you. Chances are, they’ll go out of their way to help you find what you’re looking for (or if you don’t know, they’ll find something FOR you, and maybe even gift wrap it).Chances are, you’ll have a friendly conversation and learn
something about their store, product or staff, and they’ll learn something about you. Chances are, you’ll walk away feeling really good about the whole experience. Why? Did you pay less than half price? Probably not. Did you get up before dawn to get there? Doubt it. It feels good because of the human interaction – not the shoving and pushing and cursing kind, but the kind when you have a decent connection with another person who wants to understand a little more about you and be helpful. Isn’t that more of what life should be about? Isn’t that kind of what we all want?
There are many great shops in the Southtown/Brookside/Waldo area, and MANY fantastic places to eat and drink. Chances are, the owner may even be your neighbor, may go to the same local church as you…. So take some time, visit your neighborhood stores and restaurants. Chances are, you’ll be really glad that you did.
Article compliments of Becky Beck, American Family Insurance