To my utmost surprise, she suggested I take the shoes and go see if they went with the dress I wanted; if not, there was no harm done. I could keep them for a day or two, to be sure they went well with the dress then return them for purchase or return.

I was so impressed with her brilliant idea, entrepreneurial spirit and ease in ‘thinking outside of the box’, I gladly agreed to her fantastic idea; gave her my ‘B’ permit, or green card and promptly left the shop with a brand new pair of sparkly, two inch, sling-backs, I’d NOT purchased for the sole reason; to see if they went with a dress I had my eye on, a few shops down the road.

This kind of shopping experience is not ‘normal’ practice.

But why not?

Why don’t more businesses allow customers to check and see if their product is a good fit before purchase? Fear perhaps? Lack of trust? Concentrating on instant gratification and not the lifetime value of the customer?

Since that amazing experience, not only did I buy those shoes but have since purchased further items for myself and my husband also.

My lifetime value for that shoe shop, is endless.

Simply because an astute shop assistant was wise enough to see beyond the cash register, to ensure a customer had a lovely evening out in her newly acquired sparkly, black, sling-back shoes.