Note:  Read Turf Wars first.

So, clearly we had a great conversation.  Comparing notes and laughing at the day-to-day retail moments.  It was like "Retail Uninterrupted" come to life!  My friend spoke of the dangers of owning a gun.  The times that he might use it to point at a deserving customer who had just irritated him beyond recognition.

For me, I always wanted one (fake, of course and really just to scare ‘em) for those who took the time to slow down the car, turn into the drive (while others honk behind them), get out, walk up and yes, cup their hands around their sweet little faces to look in the front door.  That would make ‘em think twice about making such an effort for nothing!  But I'm lucky, I'm not in the area where people are so inclined to do that.

We both, however, have had that freak little time in our retail career when everyone...yes, everyone...asks if we charge for "just looking".  Interesting how it comes in clusters.  Not months apart but hours.  Not one or two that makes you think "hmm...is that a coincidence?"  But pretty much all of them.

So what did you do?  Me?  Well, one day several years ago, it happened to me on a v-e-r-y bad day.  I had a gentleman ask, just after I welcomed him to the store, "I'm just looking.  Do you charge for just looking?"  I took a breath and with the biggest smile I could muster, said, "No, not yet.  We've heard of it as a marketing technique but were not sure it'll stick.  Have you had others charge you?"  With the most sheepish of looks, he toured the store and thanked me, graciously, before he departed.

As independent retailers, we are all members of a very special club.  We all, no matter the type of store or the demographic, are considered important to our clientele.  And for every appreciative client, there are three that don't quite get it...they don't realize that hiding their chewed gum wrapper in your perfect display or that assuming that anything without a tag is "free" is not original.

But gosh, for those that get it.  Wow!  How lucky are we to be able to touch lives and be appreciated for doing so?  To be able to make the customer look good when they walk into a dinner party with THE perfect gift?  To watch their children and their dogs grow?  To...?  How lucky are we?

P.S.  For those of us who really feel the temptation...I recommend the executive marshmallow shooter.  For $29 bucks it might be an inexpensive way to save your sanity, the unsuspecting customer on that particularly bad day and maybe a staff member who is itching to get beneath your skin.  Heck, I might get two for our Turf Wars this weekend!