I bought a new suit today because my old suit is MIA after the move to our new home (it was out of date anyway). I paid a lot for my old suit even seven years ago, the place where I bought it rhymes with “Ordstroms” - this time I was determined to buy a nice new suit today for half the price of my old one - I feel I’m a better shopper, and can find a bargain without resorting to “cheap.”

So my initial research led me to a popular suit retailer - rhymes with “En’s Hairhouse” - I was greeted by a salesman with a smile (not fake, and I can spot fake in a nanosecond - tip: look in the eyes, they smile too) and he was attentive throughout the sale. After trying on three different suits at three different prices I said, “I like them all but I believe I’ll take this one (pointing at the least expensive and in my ‘half-the-cost-of-my-old-suit-criteria’) if that’s okay with you?” - I earnestly said that, ‘If that’s okay with you.’ - he looked at me for a moment to figure out if I was being a wiseguy (I wasn’t), “Of course, Sir,” he replied with a smile and went off to get the tailor.

And then I thought, My God, years of bad customer service and high-pressure sales has taken its toll on me. I simply don’t trust people on the other side of the register so I try to preempt their approval so they’ll forget the add-ons and extended warranties. I’ve become a retail sap - a target - we all have to some extent.

I don’t sell, I don’t know how. I have spoken with, and have been counseled by, experts in the retail field who tell me that I have a great idea here, with great products - but I’m missing half of the main ingredients to stay afloat: Salesmanship. I’ll be taking the crash course come October 15th I think.

On a related note, here is one of my favorite anecdotes on what it takes to reach the kind of success I’m after.