First grocery store visit in about 2 months

Today's entry is about grocery store P.R., grocery store team spirit, and, I'm pretty sure, the economic downturn that some call the Mini Depression.

I went to the grocery store yesterday. First time in about 2 months because I have determined that the best budget control is simply to not go to stores. I am able to do this and still survive because Tom Bold has never made an impulse purchase in all the years that I've known him. Wait a minute...that's not so. He did make one in the Dallas Galleria Macy's in 1993. (Yes, it was that memorable.) So, he's doing the weekly shopping and saving us a lot of money.

So, yesterday did feel a little odd to me. And although the shelves were stocked in typical manner, I picked up on new behaviors. In 20 minutes' time, I was addressed by 6 employees asking me, "How are you doing?" or a variation of that. I am prepared to swear that I've never been individually welcomed by so many store employees before in my life. I would estimate that at least 2 of these welcomers were management. Note: some of these welcomes were called out to me from a distance.

Also during those 20 minutes I heard the loud speaker several times (couldn't make out the announcement) followed by cheers. I am prepared to swear that I've never ever heard cheering in the grocery store before.

When I reached the check out counter crowded with High School Musical 3 on sale, I had to smile. That particular DVD was a good match for the mood of the place. You know, the cheering.

I asked the checker what the announcements were about and she explained that whenever a customer adds a $1 donation to Kindness for Kids to the tab, it is announced and cheered. "Do you want to donate today?" Sure. It feels a little bit like being in HSM3.

Kindness for Kids: Help us care for kids with cancer is a donation program co-sponsored by Tom Thumb, Children's Medical Center, and CookChildren's in Texas.

© 2009 Mary Bold, PhD, CFLE. The content of this blog or related web sites created by Mary Bold (www.marybold.com, www.boldproductions.com, College Intern Blog) is not under any circumstances to be regarded as professional, legal, financial, or medical advice. Or education advice. Or marital advice. Or even a tip.