Trade Show TalesBlog

Archive for December, 2012

Shopping with Social Misfits at the Supermarket

December 5th, 2012 7 COMMENTS

Supermarkets and Social (In)Civility

Supermarket Bumper Carts

No matter where you live, you’ll find yourself in a supermarket several times a week. Supermarkets reflect society, particularly regional differences — the food, the brands, the people. Thirty years ago, the distinctions were glaring, now they’re subtle. But how people behave in a supermarket is . . . well . . . “revealing.”

I’m not going to point out regional differences, that would get me in trouble, but I will say that supermarkets are a mirror of how we treat others and how we view our social responsibilities.

Which of these have you seen recently?

1. Crap in a Cart: Not literally (except twice, both times with a bonus diaper), but all the debris left in a shopping cart by the previous shopper: flyers, plastic bags, drink containers, food wrappers, banana peels. When did it become the next shopper’s responsibility to dispose of the previous shopper’s garbage?

2. Dogs in a Cart, on a Leash, in a Purse, in a Baby Sling. I love dogs. I really do, but other than assist animals, when did it become acceptable for dogs to shop at a supermarket? I see it all the time. Most employees won’t approach the dog shopper because they’ve learned that people lie about their dogs. They’ll claim that their animal assists them in some physical, emotional, or spiritual way. Meanwhile, I have a frisky dachshund licking my leg in the produce section.

3. Lanes? I Don’t Need No Stinking Lanes. In America, we drive on the right — not the left, not in the center. The right! Now, I realize you’re comparing the Spanish EVOO to the Italian, the Moroccan, and the Chilean, but move your cart and your butt because the biker dude behind me is clipping my ankles with his cart. And he’s beginning to enjoy it.

4. Tongs? I Don’t Need No Stinking Tongs. Germs . . . bring them on. You won’t see me carrying around disinfectant wipes. That said, the tongs for the rolls, donuts, and bagels are there for a reason. Same with the scoop for the bulk items and candy. I don’t want your nicotine-stained fingers touching my buns or your nose-picking kids fingering my Gummi bears. Here’s how it works:

• Grab tongs (by the handles you idiot).

• Squeeze them around product.

• Place product in bag (not in your mouth).

• Replace tongs in slot (yes, the slot you idiot )

5. Lines? Who Me? My wife claims this is gender specific. Bet you can guess which gender. She’s standing at the deli counter waiting her turn. A guy wanders up to the counter, waives his hand (or snaps his fingers or says “Hey, can I get some help here”) and proceeds to place an order. Then, when the clerk politely asks him to wait his turn, he gets pissy. Makes sense to me. When God wants two pounds of sliced bologna and American cheese, he wants it now. Not in five minutes. In case you believe this is income specific — it’s not. Substitute “Smoked Turkey and Gouda” and it’s still a man snapping his fingers at the deli clerk.

6. Sure Glad No One Else is Shopping Today. I fear the day when supermarkets put motors on La-Z-Boy recliners and attach a basket to it. Those folks will never leave the grocery store. As it is, they meander down the aisles, oblivious to anyone else, parking their cart at one end of the aisle while they look for Pork and Beans two aisles over. They view grocery shopping as part vacation, part adventure, and part entitlement.

7. What the Heck. I’ll Leave My Cart Right HERE. Seriously, How DAMN hard can it be to roll the cart to the cart return? I’ll admit it’s a pet peeve of mine, mostly because some regions of the country are courteous and polite about it, and others are inconsiderate, slack-jawed buffoons. They jack the front wheels on a curb or push it into an open parking space, when the buggy return area is ONLY TWO CARS AWAY. Carts in return corrals don’t roll into cars. Carts in corrals are easy to grab while headed into the store. Carts in corrals don’t block parking spaces. Returning the cart shows that you passed Civics in high school. Returning the cart shows you give a rat’s ass about someone other than yourself. Oddly, this is also not income specific.

8. Pajamas, Robes, and Slippers. I’d complain to your mother, but she’s probably in the store wearing even less.

9. Please, Thank You, You’re Welcome. Again, I’d complain to your mother (and father), but they just said “Whatever” (three times). First when I politely asked them to move, next when I thanked them for moving, and last, when I said “You’re Welcome.” I’d suspect sarcasm, but the tone was pleasant. Almost cheerful. Enlighten me. When did “Whatever,” “Yea,” and “Sure” become substitutes for P, TY, and YW?

10. Reality Show Checkout. My wife and I take bets on whether the cashier will share a disturbing personal story with us. We’ve heard about broken marriages, cheating boyfriends, infectious diseases, shootouts, drug busts, and a sexual escapade that still makes me blush.

I feel for supermarket cashiers. I really do. I worked in retail for seven years and occasionally someone would reveal a tale of personal anguish. But there was always a line that you didn’t cross. However, reality shows have clearly lowered the barrier on what strangers will share with other strangers. Frankly, there’s money to be made on cable television showing conversations between cashiers and a customers. In my opinion, cashiers should be earning on-the-job college credit for therapy and counseling.

On a Positive Note

That said, I’d like to end my bitching on a positive note. It’s small but meaningful. A few years ago, a very large supermarket with stores primarily in the West clearly made a decision about how its employees would interact with customers. I’m guessing they required them to take training classes and told them that secret shoppers would score them. I have no idea if that’s true, but I can tell you that something changed.

When I shop there, I can count on an employee asking me if I need assistance — whether it’s the produce manager, a stocking clerk, or some random employee. If they see me, they ask. Nine times out of ten, I don’t need any help, but when I do, they don’t simply point to Aisle 8. They walk me to Aisle 8 and to the section. It seems silly, but I like it. The prices aren’t always the cheapest, but I go there more often than other supermarkets because they appear to care about my shopping experience and want my business (whether they do or not). They are civil and polite, and oddly enough, I experience fewer instances of the 10 behaviors listed above. Who would have thought that the “Golden Rule” really works?

Feel free to add #11 to 20 to this list. We all have pet peeves. Oh yes, did I mention how much I hate the person who stands in front of the freezer with the door open for 5 minutes trying to decide which ice cream or pizza to buy. Odd how it never happens in the frozen vegetables section.

Go figure.

–Mel White
http://www.linkedin.com/in/melmwhite
mel@classicexhibits.com

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Based in Portland, Oregon, Classic Exhibits Inc. designs and manufacturers portable, modular, and custom-hybrid exhibit solutions and engineered aluminum extrusions (ClassicMODUL). Classic Exhibits products are represented by an extensive distributor network in North America and in select International markets. For more information, contact us at 866-652-2100.

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CEIR Index: After Nine Quarters of Good News . . . Exhibitors are Cautious

December 4th, 2012 COMMENTS

In an article by Rachel Wimberly for the Trade Show News Network, she writes:

For the ninth quarter in a row, the trade show industry still is growing, according to the Center for Exhibition Industry Research’s latest CEIR Index, albeit at a slower rate in the third quarter of this year, with concerns over not only the looming fiscal cliff, but also the global economy.

“Concern about the fiscal cliff and the global economy has continued to take a toll in the exhibition industry,” said CEIR’s economist Allen Shaw, Ph.D., chief economist for Global Economic Consulting Associates.

He added, “The results show that the exhibition industry continues to grow, but attendees and exhibitors are being cautious due to the uncertainty about the global economy.”

See the full article.

–Mel White
http://www.linkedin.com/in/melmwhite
mel@classicexhibits.com

*********************************

Based in Portland, Oregon, Classic Exhibits Inc. designs and manufacturers portable, modular, and custom-hybrid exhibit solutions and engineered aluminum extrusions (ClassicMODUL). Classic Exhibits products are represented by an extensive distributor network in North America and in select International markets. For more information, contact us at 866-652-2100.

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Post EDPA ACCESS 2012 Report: Word on the Street — Nov. 26th thru Nov. 30th

December 2nd, 2012 1 COMMENT
It's about inspiration NOT disillusionment

Word on the Street by Kevin Carty

I LOVE this industry! And events like EDPA ACCESS only make me love it more!

Palm Springs provided an amazing setting this past week for Education, Advocacy, Networking and Strategy. To those who were there, it was great to see you and get caught up professionally and personally. And as a proud member of the EDPA Board of Directors, I want to express my deepest gratitude to everyone in attendance. Your participation is appreciated and will continue to shape this great industry of ours.

Some Highlights . . . .

Dr. Will and his “Refrigerator Rights” talk was our opening keynote. It was a much needed look at our need for real and claimed family, those people who have the right to opening our refrigerator. Essentially our support system. We all have that in our real family at home, but you must have that in your “professional family”as well. This really spoke to many of the “family and friends” I have in this industry. People who I rely on professionally and even personally.

The Golf Outing. I know. It was a highlight Kevin. You got to play golf on what would normally be a workday. Duh!! It was more than that. Great networking for all who were in the tournament. But for me, I was able to play with one of my many mentors from over the years, Dave Walens from Brumark. He made the golf outing even better! Thanks again Dave!

Financial State of Affairs Session. Kelli Glasser did a great job of sorting through and sharing the results of the recent economic survey. Both the highs and lows. By the end, it was clear that there is positive growth happening along all lines. And together we will continue to secure our industry’s future.

The NOT SO SILENT AUCTION. One of the events that is near and dear to many of our hearts. This tremendous event did not disappoint. Thanks to the hard work by David Mihalik and Lara Davie from ELITeXPO. Their tireless dedication to this event impresses us all, along with the great assistance of the EDPA staff in attendance . Early totals indicated that over $17,000 was raised for the EDPA Foundation. AWESOME! This is all money that goes directly to scholarships and worthy causes!

Those are just some highlights. I could write a ten page report and still not do the event justice. So, to those who attended please share your highlights as well.

To Red 7 Media, our HQ for EDPA. Since taking over the EDPA’s day-to-day management several years ago, you have never let us down. Jeff Provost has been and continues to be a great captain of the ship. Thanks! But I wanted to send a special thanks out to Melissa, Anna, Anu, and Tracy from Red 7. As a member and an exhibitor in the showcase you were a tremendous help to my company and me personally. Thanks for your help and dedication to our industry!

Finally, to those who haven’t attended EDPA ACCESS in the past, allow me to explain what it is and isn’t about.

  • It’s about people NOT about products and services
  • It’s about what’s happening in 2-4 years NOT about what’s happening in 2-4 months
  • It’s about opening opportunities NOT about closing deals
  • It’s about sharing accomplishments NOT about pointing fingers
  • It’s about inspiration NOT about disillusionment
  • It’s about listening, asking questions, and offering advice (in that order)
  • It’s about collaboration, cooperation, and competition (in that order)

Next year, ACCESS 2013 will be at Marco Island Resort and Spa in FL right after Thanksgiving. Hope to see you there.

Have a great week ahead and be well.

Kevin Carty
http://twitter.com/kevin_carty
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/kevin-carty/3/800/32a

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