Some people make shopping a joyful experience

Being out and about and shopping is an experience I haven’t participated in for quite some time. I’ve had the occasional trip to the grocery store and the gas station, but those trips didn’t involve a lot of decision-making or searching.

Last weekend, I found myself wandering the aisles of a chain store with a wedding registry in hand, trying to find a gift for my first cousin once removed. I could have written my cousin’s daughter, but that’s not nearly as much fun. I’m also the goofy relative who likes to address them that way when wishing them a happy birthday. I have a fair amount of cousins with children, so I get to bandy about that phrase quite a bit.

I love the registry programs because they manage disappointment so well. Every item listed is an item wanted, needed or longed for; whatever you pick off the list is going to be appreciated. I’m not much of a gift giver and anyone who has received a gift from me that I selected while left to my own devices knows I take the words “interesting” and “unique” as complements, instead of code for, “She really doesn’t know what she’s doing.”

Shopping has never been a relaxing or pleasant experience for me, and it’s not getting better as I age. Bifocals, although a great invention, are not really all that helpful when you have to turn your neck up to see a product that is out of reach because you’re also too short to read the tag and find you’re still too far away to see the fine print.

Angels come when you least expect them, and you never know what they’re going to look like. Mine was a tall, willowy gal with energy and youth on her side. She could easily reach the desired items, matching the numbers closely to the registry and handing them to me so that I could pretend I did all the work as I placed them in my shopping cart. She also just “popped down” a few aisles over to retrieve another item that was on the list but not in the same area.

It had been a long day at work for me, and it was hot, muggy and miserable outside. So even though the shopping trip needed to get done, I had not looked forward to the actual task. She made my day by just doing her job with a smile on her face. I made sure to let her know how much I appreciated her help and her positive attitude.

Having worked for years at the Mall of America, I know all too well the fatigue of stocking the shelves, answering questions and providing great customer service. For me, it was like being on stage for eight hours and going home a very tired employee. I always loved the customers who appreciated my help, so I make it a point to let people know when they are doing an exceptional job.

While at the register, admiring the items pulled together with the help of my new best friend, I asked to speak with the manager on duty. When she came, I told her the employee’s name and what she did and how much it meant to me to have such a pleasant shopping experience.

You never know what managers will do with that information, so I was quite pleased to hear it acknowledged over the intercom for the helpful employee to hear! That’s how you build customer loyalty, and that’s how you make it easy for people to love their jobs.

Miriam Nelson is the news editor of the Wittenberg Enterprise & Birnamwood News. Readers can contact her at mnelson@newmedia-wi.com