Beyond the sale: Lessons from a childhood grocery store:

There's a quote that's stuck with me for years. Back in the late 90s and early 2000s, I had my favorite places for everything: clothes, food, even snacks. It wasn't until I was sent to a different grocery store for soap, a common item anywhere, that it clicked.

Why did I always go to XYZ for groceries? That's when I asked my dad, a businessman himself.

His answer was an eye-opener. At XYZ, the salesperson (we call them 'Maligai kadai Anna' in Tamil) always greeted me warmly, building a connection. He also prioritized my mom's needs. Once, when a better deal came up on cooking oil, he suggested the switch. Plus, there were flexible payment options, making things easier on us.

The small touches mattered too. On my birthday, buying chocolates for school, I'd get a birthday wish and an extra chocolate bar – a simple gesture that showed he cared.

This experience has stayed with me. It's shaped my desire to become a salesperson with similar values. In every interaction, I try to implement these lessons, big or small. Because even the smallest things can make a big difference.

Highlights the key sales principles you learned from the "Maligai kadai Anna":

• Building Trust and Relationships: The greeting fostered a welcoming environment, demonstrating the importance of personal connection in sales.
• Customer Focus: By prioritizing your mom's needs with the cooking oil suggestion, the salesperson showcased that effective sales go beyond just making a sale.
• Improved Customer Satisfaction: Flexible payment options addressed your mom's situation, highlighting the value of catering to customer needs for satisfaction.
• Empathy: The birthday gesture displayed genuine care, emphasizing the power of small acts in creating positive memories.