Come on admit it – we all love a bit of people watching. Those times where we disappear into our own thoughts about people, how they dress, how they act etc. It’s one aspect of running a shop that I hadn’t anticipated. The opportunities to observe people every day are not to be underestimated.
Whether it’s watching how they move around the shop and what they’re drawn to, or whether it’s listening to the interchanges between partners and their spouses, as one details what they like and the other quickly dismisses it with the cry of ‘we have no room’. The eternal battle between ‘want’ and ‘need’ goes on all of the time!
Some people are time wasters, plain and simple. The vast majority however, I’m pleased to say, are genuinely interested in what I have in store and keen to understand the stories behind the various items.
I’m invested in every item that I stock – how it looks, it’s history and the story behind it. I buy because I love the item. Trying to buy to a formula is a road to disaster. (well, certainly for me it is). You can’t have everything that anyone might want. You’ve just got to make sure that you’re happy with what you have to offer.
People watching is extremely useful provided that you objectively assess what you’re seeing.
Watch and learn has always been a good motto to have!
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