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P UTTING THE POWER IN THE C ONSUMER ’ S H ANDS S USTAINABLE P RODUCTS & S ERVICES NOW …..
T HAT ’ S N ATURAL ! J ANUARY /F EBRUARY 2008 V OLUME 5, I SSUE 1
A T ALE OF A S MALL B USINESS VERSUS T HE B OX S TORE On a recent trip to another box store, hoping for divine guidance about some plumbing issues my significant other and I were experiencing, we once again encountered the “nobody-really-knowsanything-about-anything” phenomenon that many of us have experienced upon going into a mega-store. Granted – these stores have everything one could hope to purchase. Granted – these stores may have smaller prices. Granted – these stores can serve as a one-stop shopping experience. However, that is only under the assumption that you can find what you are looking for and have the guided assistance from some giving soul that is willing to take five minutes out of their day (which, of course, I assume they are getting paid for). On this trip we were looking for hook-ups for a washer/dryer project, as well as some last-minute Christmas lights and extensions. At this box store, dedicated to home projects with bright orange displays and the lovely motto, “You Can Do It. We Can Help”, we wandered almost aimlessly – searching for that soul who may be kind, willing, and able to possibly help us. Now, after we found this poor guy (I believe in my heart that it is not his fault), he led us up and down aisles, supposedly as unknowledgeable as ourselves. We did not find what we were looking for, but we ended up purchasing what we didn’t need, to somehow fill that void which needed filling. Two days later we walked into ABC Plumbing, located right down from where we live. No sooner than half-a-second into the store we were warmly greeted by a man named “Clark.” “Hi! How are you doin’? What can I help you with?” My significant other and I stood there confused and bewildered at the idea of interacting kindly with another human being in a plumbing store. We told him what we needed, he found it, he explained
some of the intricacies, and then he asked us if we needed any more help. After being lead to the check-out, we were in and out of there in about four minutes. With what we actually needed. And with some odd sense of satisfaction about our shopping experience. To this, I again laugh and appreciate the fact that small business is the best business because small businesses can nurture the consumer in ways that the big box stores can only plaster in their logos and marketing. It was the employees at ABC Plumbing that made the difference for us – in finding what we needed, helping us with information, and interacting with us as human beings who are frequenting their store, and allowing them to feed their families. For this – I thank you and urge you to experience this yourselves.
ABC Plumbing & Electrical Supplies 101 Spring St. Pueblo - 81003 719-542-5631 or 1-800-540-5631
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