Kissed by a Store Guest!

The other day, I found myself in one of our stores. I was there brieflyto meet up with some co-workers for a meeting. I intended to be in and out. Of course, we should all know better than that. The lights, the products, the music, and the smell of the playing field known as the sales floor.... Alright, getting a little carried away I know.

So, I do what I usually like to do, I started to help guests.

As I began helping a guest find a few items, another employee came up who was looking, along with 4 other employees for a book for a guest. In the back of my head, I thought... "5 people?"

So, I did what I usually do, I asked to switch guests with her/them.

When I walked up to the guest, she was a short elderly lady who seemed like she would be the sweetest grandma. She saw a book in our store recently on a big display that she just needed to have. She wanted to paperback copies. One for her, and one for her friend she was about to meet. She had a sense of urgency about this book knowing for sure it would provide help and clarity for friend.

But, still... no one could find this book. The reason was because we had never carried the book. We never even worked with the publisher that sells the book.

So, on one ear, I had our buyer on the phone telling me just that and on the other ear and directly in front of me, I have the sweet lady telling me that for sure she saw this book on a display in our stores... right over there even as she pointed.

What would you do?

The lightbulbs began to flash in my head...

"Mam, you said you were headed to a meeting. What part of town is that meeting?" I asked her. "Gresham." she replied. "Well, i'll tell you what. We actually don't have this book in stock. However, we are looking to get some into our stock. But, I understand you need it today. So, if I could get your name, I am going to call Borders to see if they have it. Would that be ok?"

With a confused look on her face, she said that would be fine.

It turns out that Borders had two paperback copies of the book. Yes! I had them place them on hold for the guest

When I went back to the guest to inform her that I had two copies waiting for her, you would have thought I save her life. With tears welling up in her eyes, she stretched upward to place her arm around my neck and said... "Come here and let grandma give you a kiss." And that she did, right on the cheek.

I have never been kissed by a store guest before and probably never will again, but...

When she left, I asked her to come see us again. She smiled and walked out of the store. Something tells me we WILL see her again.