Test Me
The other day a customer had a pile of items at checkout and I was totalling them up. She had spent some time looking around choosing her purchases.
She said she always felt like she was buying more than the items themselves when she came to our store. She stumbled a little with her explanation, but I think I realized what she meant. So, as I gently patted each of the items, I told her a benefit beyond money. “Gives employment outside the poppy trade” I said as I patted the Arghand soap. “Goes to an education fund in Mexico,” I offered as I patted a woven purse; “Supports families in Ecuador,” I said patting the glittens; and finally, “supports a local author,” I said as I patted the copy of the book she had picked up.
We marveled for a quiet moment, not saying anything. I was perhaps more impressed than she was for having rattled it off so efficiently.
So come in and test me. If I can’t give describe a benefit to someone aside from passing them a few bucks for their work, then I haven’t earned that purchase and I’ll give you that item for free.