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Members Of The Juvenille Product Industry
March 10, 2008
Members of the juvenille products industry, specialty retailers in particular, seem to be some of the most laid back, easy going "professionals" that I have met. That, I believe, is part of what makes their companies successful. I don't think that customers want a stuffy, uptight environment when they are shopping for baby products. A casual but commited atmosphere can be a huge attribute for a small store. It just feels real.
When I go into a big box retailer everything feels "cookie-cutter" and impersonal. The employees all seem ready to leave for the day and inconvenienced by any requests for service. I heard a girl at the grocery store last night say that if she got fired she was going to scream, cuss, and tear stuff up... hardly appropriate conversation in front of customers. Where was management? Where was the owner? Where was the love of the job?
In our industry, we have a chance to add value to the products in our store by providing simple services that go above and beyond what any big store can do. We can smile, laugh with our customers, offer to help because we care... not because we are told to help.
During the NINFRA Business Building Conference and the Kids Today Conference in Savannah, Georgia, I met some of the greatest people in the world. I met business owners who love their customers! These are people who love what they do and really try to get the most out of life. These are business-minded, hard-working, passionate professionals who really put their hearts into this industry. These people are the reason that specialty stores can compete in a big box market. Kudos to them!
Posted by Kelly Nelson on March 10, 2008 | Comments (0)
