Reading time: Less than 1 minute
A picture is worth a thousand words, as the expression has it. So is a sign in a window….
There’s a store not far from where I live. It used to be a corner grocery, but it was either sold or rebranded as a produce outlet about a year ago. I never shop there because it’s way too expensive for my tastes but I walk by it several times a week as I’m on my way to meetings or appointments. I almost always look in the window, shake my head at the prices and continue to wherever I’m going.
I was surprised this week, however, to discover the store was closed. A sign in the window (see photo, above), told me they were closing to renovate. But what a horrible sign! Here are my problems with it:
- If I’m “valued customer” why are you subjecting me such an ugly, handwritten sign? The gobs of scotch tape in the corner make it appear even worse. Surely it shouldn’t have been too complicated to find someone with a computer who could have typed up the sign for you.
- What sort of improvements and updates could you possibly need to make after being open less than a year? The store was gutted before it was rebranded/re-opened. I find your excuse for closing your doors rather hard to believe.
- When, specifically, do you plan to reopen? If you run a serious business — as I assume you do when you charge $2 per lemon — surely you must have a plan for reopening. If you really valued your customers, wouldn’t you share that date with them?
My guess? The store has run into financial problems. But with absolutely minimal effort they could have done a better job of masking them with a more professional sign.