Here’s a way to keep yourself and your staff attuned to the happy reasons you run a consignment, resale, or thrift shop.
And a way, too, to put the not-so-happy aspects of running the shop in the proper perspective.
Keep a jar on your sale counter. Every time something NICE happens, write a “happy memory” note and tuck it inside.
- Compliments, friendly customer, the perfect display everyone adores.
- The little boy who HUGGED the toy car his father bought him.
- The home-baked cookies Mrs. Jones dropped by.
- The sun shining.
- The customers who clapped when shy little Lucie came out of the dressing room in her first-ever prom dress.
Every time something NOT SO NICE happens, and you’re irked or upset or downright mad, open the jar and throw away a happy memory note. If you can. Is the NOT SO NICE happening…
- the short-tempered consignor,
- the customer who always wants you to sell her something for less than it’s priced,
- the neighbor who smokes right near your open shop door
… really worth tossing a happy memory for? If it is, fine, throw one random happy memory away.
But I think you’ll find you’d rather hold on to the happy memory, and toss the bad incident where it belongs: in the trash.
Here’s to a packed-full jar of happy memories, and to your very seldom feeling that something unhappy requires you to fish a happy out and throw it away. Hey, here’s an idea… at your staff year-end holiday party, how about opening that jar and reminiscing about
Auntie Kate The Resale Expert 