To work towards this you start about 13 years ago and start buying plants. The years move on and you have spent a couple of thousand there - a quarter of that in bamboo.
Then you become a regular most Mornings when your wife is out at work, at the Garden Centre cafe.
It`s essential for the whole thirteen years to smile and say `good morning` to all the staff as you encounter them.
The joy is that towards the end of the period you get a grudging `grunt and grimace` from about 30% of the staff. 50% ignore you totally - a further 18% avoid eye contact and the remainder look the other way as customers walk past.
You then go into town and look at watches or mobile phones and staff come on to you with broad smiles and loving looks as though they are your girlfriend.
I mean, what`s the next step - hugging?
Freaky or what? Give me the Garden Centre model of customer engagement - please.
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Well a lorry driver friend of ours who is notoriously careful witth his money found a way!
You know the type, he sends a text to ask a question which needs a long and convoluted answer so you will ring him back.
We have a new Gareden Centre opened at Peterborough where he visited last weekend.
In true lorry driver style he treated his wife to a late breakfast. Two bacon roll and a pot of tea for two and when the bill came it was for £17.92.
He went to pay with the teapot in his hand and no-one said anything but as he walked out of the restaurant a member of staff said 'Excuse me sir, where are you going with that teapot'?
He showed them the bill and said he thought he had bought it!
Thankfully Jill, his poor wife, is used to him by now:)
Pat
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what garden centre is that pat?
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I don't know the name, but it's in the new shopping complex opened behind the KFC on the way to Eye, behind the tip!
Pat
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Ah! that'l be the Van Hage garden centre
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Two bacon rolls and a pot of tea for two and bill came to £17.92!! I would have walked out with the crockery as well as the tea pot!
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Please leave the crocks and take the table and chairs.
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That's the one Zero, I knew it was a Dutch name!
Is it worth us taking a trip East then if we pack up sarnies and a flask?
Pat
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How to get a grunt and grimace - Garden Centres - Pat
