Store Improvements - Customer Input

Brooke Plotnick · 12-21-2007, 02:42 PM

Hi,

During the Parlor Tour (which was wonderful, by the way) I happened to stop by the store at the corner of 5th and Elm to see the changes. I met the new owner, Mr. Patel, and he told me all about his plan to improve the store. Stop by and you'll see: a new name, new ceiling, and more. Lot's of safety cameras are being put in. He's even having a window installed so he can see folk who choose to stand on the street outside his store. He's gotten a good response from the police too.

He wants to attract us as customers and he asked me if there was anything he could carry that would interest me and others from our neighborhood. I mentioned a couple of random products (like soy milk) and he was happy to add them to his list.

If you have anything you'd like him to carry, he'd love to hear about it. I told him I'd ask around and let him know. Stop in (he's getting a suggestion box) or list a couple products you'd like to see here - I'll give him the list after I get a few responses.

So, what do you want to be able to walk to and get on a whim? He'll be open fairly late (and early). He wants to try and add some upscale products too, so ask for anything you'd like and we'll see what he can get.

renadena · 12-24-2007, 08:53 AM

I'd like to be able to get change from Sparky's.
The last few times I've been in there, they haven't had change for small bills and I didn't find it odd until it happened to my sister too.
Several times, I've gone in there with cash and he has no change. I then have to pull out my card because he can't make change for a $10 bill minus my purchases.
My sister said she went in there last weekend to purchase something that totaled around $5. The clerk asked her if she had anything smaller than a $20 b/c he didn't have change.
I've been driving down to the Getty Mart on Main St b/c I know Sparky's probably won't have change. I'm not asking him to be a bank, but at least have change when customers actually purchase something.
If he gets change back in the store, I might actually come back. I really like the idea of walking to his store for last minute coca-cola cravings. It's less than a block from my house.
Maybe I'll actually stop in and drop him this suggestion?

Tim Taylor · 12-26-2007, 09:23 AM

Brooke
Thanks for posting this one! Neal Patel has done an AMAZING job at transforming this store and deserves a lot of praise for doing so. I'd like to get the neighborhood to recocgnize him for all of his effort too- Perhaps after the gas pumps go in and it is completed. He really does want to establish a good neighborhood base of customers- Let him know your thoughts- Thanks

Brooke Plotnick · 02-06-2008, 07:59 AM

Hey Reba,

I would go in and leave a note for the owner - that is no way to encourage business and he's done so much, it's kind of shooting himself in the foot to not be prepared for the customers he wants to serve. Service is what it will come down to - no matter how many interesting products he carries or expanded hours he makes. Sorry for the delayed reply!

12-21-2007, 02:42 PM	#1
Brooke Plotnick Forum Member Location: Washington Ave SW Moved to OSW: July 2006 Posts: 36	Store Improvements - Customer Input Hi, During the Parlor Tour (which was wonderful, by the way) I happened to stop by the store at the corner of 5th and Elm to see the changes. I met the new owner, Mr. Patel, and he told me all about his plan to improve the store. Stop by and you'll see: a new name, new ceiling, and more. Lot's of safety cameras are being put in. He's even having a window installed so he can see folk who choose to stand on the street outside his store. He's gotten a good response from the police too. He wants to attract us as customers and he asked me if there was anything he could carry that would interest me and others from our neighborhood. I mentioned a couple of random products (like soy milk) and he was happy to add them to his list. If you have anything you'd like him to carry, he'd love to hear about it. I told him I'd ask around and let him know. Stop in (he's getting a suggestion box) or list a couple products you'd like to see here - I'll give him the list after I get a few responses. So, what do you want to be able to walk to and get on a whim? He'll be open fairly late (and early). He wants to try and add some upscale products too, so ask for anything you'd like and we'll see what he can get.

12-24-2007, 08:53 AM	#2
renadena Forum Member Location: Day Ave Moved to OSW: May 2007 Posts: 63	Re: Store Improvements - Customer Input I'd like to be able to get change from Sparky's. The last few times I've been in there, they haven't had change for small bills and I didn't find it odd until it happened to my sister too. Several times, I've gone in there with cash and he has no change. I then have to pull out my card because he can't make change for a $10 bill minus my purchases. My sister said she went in there last weekend to purchase something that totaled around $5. The clerk asked her if she had anything smaller than a $20 b/c he didn't have change. I've been driving down to the Getty Mart on Main St b/c I know Sparky's probably won't have change. I'm not asking him to be a bank, but at least have change when customers actually purchase something. If he gets change back in the store, I might actually come back. I really like the idea of walking to his store for last minute coca-cola cravings. It's less than a block from my house. Maybe I'll actually stop in and drop him this suggestion? __________________ "The only thing constant is change." - Jekyll & Hyde

12-26-2007, 09:23 AM	#3
Tim Taylor OSW Board Member Posts: 192	Re: Store Improvements - Customer Input Brooke Thanks for posting this one! Neal Patel has done an AMAZING job at transforming this store and deserves a lot of praise for doing so. I'd like to get the neighborhood to recocgnize him for all of his effort too- Perhaps after the gas pumps go in and it is completed. He really does want to establish a good neighborhood base of customers- Let him know your thoughts- Thanks

02-06-2008, 07:59 AM	#4
Brooke Plotnick Forum Member Location: Washington Ave SW Moved to OSW: July 2006 Posts: 36	Re: Store Improvements - Customer Input Hey Reba, I would go in and leave a note for the owner - that is no way to encourage business and he's done so much, it's kind of shooting himself in the foot to not be prepared for the customers he wants to serve. Service is what it will come down to - no matter how many interesting products he carries or expanded hours he makes. Sorry for the delayed reply!