How the Hermés man changed my perception
This past Monday, I spent the major part of the morning walking the Upper East Side with my wife and newborn (he wasn't walking - free-loader!) while my older children attended school. We hadn't intended to stay out of our home, except that I got a call for a couple of voice-over bookings for that afternoon that made it easier for me to visit a different studio versus having to run back to my home studio then run back again to pick up my kids. Because of this unforeseen scheduling, neither I nor my wife were dressed to be out on the town - much less in the Upper East Side.
To make a long story short, we ended up having to go into Bloomingdale's (not such a bad thing) looking for a place to feed our baby. My expectations were that, as a result of our attire, we weren't exactly going to encounter much help or pleasantry there. I was wrong. This has got to be the most delightful bunch of sales people in the world! Yes, there were one or two who didn't exactly make eye-contact with us as we strolled the maze of fragrances in search of an elevator, but overall we were met with sincere enthusiasm about our visit. However, there was one individual who went above and beyond a "sales pitch." His name was Dave Chin.
Yes, Dave handed me a Hermés fragrance sample card, but he seemed to sense that we were on a different hunt, so he pleasantly asked, "How can I help you?" I replied, "We're looking for the elevators." He not only walked us over to the elevator, leaving his sales post unattended, but he pulled out a business card, handed it to me, and said, "The elevators are right there. If I can be of any further help with anything at all, please don't hesitate to contact me." That's Dave's card in the picture. Guess who I will be looking for next time I buy cologne or simply visit Bloomingdale's on Third Avenue again? Way to go, Dave!
What Dave accomplished was more than just a pre-sale. He changed my perception of Bloomingdale's. You see, I'm more of a discount chain cologne buyer. Not that I don't like the finer things, but with a family of five, I'm much more conscious of how much I spend on myself and focus more on what my family needs. So, beyond changing my pre-conceived notion about shopping in the "Beverly Hills" of Manhattan, he made me feel like I belong simply by validating my concerns. That goes a long way in any business - retail or service.
-Anthony
