A tale of connections
Traveling through Michigan last month, after driving for 10 hours, I was road weary and ended up stopping in Paw Paw, Michigan. And although not really hungry, I wanted different scenery to clear my head, so asked at the hotel front desk for their recommendation on where to get a beer and a burger.
And that's how I met Sarah.
The guy at the front desk was animated and enthusiastic as he described Gallagher's, a family owned restaurant just up the street. He must have spent five minutes telling me about how friendly they were, how good the food was on a varied menu while trying to name all their gazillion brands of beer.
It was marketing at its best and its most effective. He met every objection I may have had with third party passion and enthusiasm. I'd just encountered a loyal advocate, a top of the ladder customer.
I had no choice. Gallagher's was about to get a new transaction.
Comfortable? Yes. Homey? Yes. Friendly? Yes. Good food? Uh huh. A gazillion different beers? Not quite, but close.
It was Sarah the bartender though, that sealed the deal for Gallagher's. I listened, nursing a beer, as she repeatedly sought out people at the bar and the restaurant to ask how they were, then actively listened to their various tales of success or woe and nodded understanding and empathy as they reviewed recent decisions they were making or had made.
When she checked on me for the third time and again asked if I'd decided on what to eat, and I hadn't, she took matters in to her own hands and told me I'd like the such and such sandwich, grilled, with so and so sauce.
Again, I had no choice. I ordered. The sandwich was good. Sarah made sure of it. But it was still just a sandwich. Sarah made it taste great because she made that sandwich for me. And she came by lots to be sure that I really did like it, to reiterate its benefits and explain how others like to make it.
That was a great sandwich! Strange. I don't remember what it was really, but I do remember Gallagher's in Paw Paw Michigan. And I remember Sarah. I'll stop there again. And now, I bet if you're ever in Paw Paw, you will too.
