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November 09, 2005
New Gap
We like the new look that Gap is installing in its stores.
And in the women's, or was it the kid's section, they had a small set of activity tables and chairs, some children's books and crayons. Just so happened that we were there the first day they had the change, so everything was new. It's still not there in terms of providing personal service, but what can you expect from a store like Gap? A lot less, that's for sure. Small, family-owned stores survive partly because of that personal touch. By tending to Azmina, this big chain had tended to our personal needs.
I've been to many family-owned stores outside the city, and outside New York, and I find the hospitality endearing and more than makes up for many shortcomings. In a number of places in South America, many small stores serve drinks to their customers. Some places in China will serve you tea. And so do some other places in Asia. Where canned Cokes are considered near-luxuries, store-owners may offer you drinks in small, clear plastic bags with a straw, bought from a reliable hawker he/she knows just a 3-minute run away. Of course, you can't expect all those from buying a few AA batteries, but spending an equivalent of two weeks' worth of manhattan grocery shopping will get you personal, barely-divided, and unpressured attention.
Posted by quickness at November 9, 2005 04:48 PM