We had a local grocery chain that had red carpeting in all it’s stores because the effort was to give every customer Red Carpet Service. His courtesy clerks took your purchases to your vehicle and packed them into the car for you. No matter the weather you could count on your groceries being packed into your car for you...with a smile and a Thank You.
We also had a general store that sold everything except groceries.
You needed hardware? He had it and knew everything about it.
You needed towels, wash cloths, curtains, fabric? He had it and knew all about each brand.
A girl or lady needed everyday dresses? He had everything a lady needed from inside to outside.
A man or boy needed work clothes, boots, belts or lomgjohns? He had it. Knew each brand and measured every customer to make sure they bought the correct size.
Can’t get service like that these days without paying much extra for it. Back then it was an everyday part of business.
Something else to consider:
We often see people today who work at a Burger King, and they say they can't support their family or buy a house on the wages at Burger King. And, of course, they want $15 an hour to work at Burger King. And we, of course, say that it's an entry level job, and you shouldn't work their your whole life, and of course you can't buy a house while working at Burger King.
But how different is it being a clerk at a Hardware Store? Or a Radio Shack? People in those jobs used to know everything about all the things they sold. People could work at those jobs for decades and really learn everything there was to know. You could build a life while working down at the hardware store.
But today? How much do you make at the hardware store today? Can you buy a house with such wages? I doubt it.
We took a wrong turn somewhere. Simple jobs can deliver tremendous value to the local community. But there's no good reason for an employee to stick around to the point where they can really deliver such value. It's not worth it to the worker -- they have better places to be. And the local community loses out.
My dear old Dad, who was born in 1920, expected SERVICE when he entered a place of business He earned his money through sweat and labor, and when he spent it at a store or restaurant, he had certain standards.
He wasn’t overbearing - but if a store’s staff didn’t greet customers, if they didn’t dress neatly, if staff mumbled when they spoke, if they didn’t know answers to basic questions, etc... that store was crossed off his list.
Suffice it to say, in his later years, when blue hair, nose rings, and tattoos became common in retail, and “Hey guys!” was the greeting, he enjoyed shopping less and less.