Have you ever seen something happen right in front of you and thought "my god - what a missed opportunity". It happened to me on the weekend.............and what a missed opportunity it was for a very small business that could have really helped them.
I went to a cupcake decorating class on Saturday (and that is so not me for those that know me) but I was to go with a group of girls which would have been fun, if the date that we had all selected I had a commitment come up that I could not change ( I was judging so they could not move a whole show for me). So on the 11th hour before my voucher expired, I decided to go to the cupcake class on my own and see what all the fuss was about.
The class was purchased through living social. Thats a web site where businesses offer specials in order to get people in the door. The logic you would think is once they are in the door, you would tell them about you, about up and coming classes and look at it as a way of marketing with 15 eager people there that have paid to listen and learn from you. Well yo would think ......wouldn't you?
I arrived exactly 2 mins late as I had gone through McDonald drive through for a coffee - which turned out to be hot milk and they had forgotten to add the coffee. But - I was only 2 min late. I walked in, and everyone was around a table with the teacher who was already 10 min into how to decorate the cupcakes. I guess that was strike one where you start early when you know you have more people coming.
The teacher sat at her desk, went through the spiel, handed out some Fodant and set everyone off on their merry way. People were struggling from the get go, but not once did the teacher come around the class and ask if anyone needed help. We did get a summons to go back to the table 40 min into it so she could show us the next "section". She sat down again, gave a demonstration ( very unenthusiastically BTW) then sent us again on our Merry way. This time, the teacher ( who I must also point out was the owner) then went out the back and had lunch. yep - she left 15 women struggling - to have lunch because she has a class in the morning and another in the afternoon.
By then I was struggling madly with an impression mat, a candle roller and some rather uncooperative fondant. I decided that hey - I had pad my $49 to be there ( like the other 14 ladies) and I needed help tackling the uncooperative substance. I called her over and asked for help. Well yo would have thought I had asked for her first born. She looked at me very strangely and told me I had rolled to hard. This was on the instruction for her earlier that you need to "roll quiet hard to make the imprint". No "here, let me show you what I mean or anything" - just "you rolled to hard" and then she walked off and stood at the back of the room staring at everyone.
What an absolutely wasted opportunity the whole exercise was. She never said her business name, she showed absolutely no interest in anyone there and offered no help and it was like you were very lucky to have her time - all 15 min of it. There was no " if you like this I run classes on blah blah blah", no "wow - thats really great for your first attempt" - just no customer relations what so ever. And to top it off, she never closed the class to thank everyone for coming - or even bothered to stand near the door to say bye. 4 people walked out without saying a word - I was just dumbstruck.
I have over heard her telling her assistant that she made over $700 for the 2 hours and she has 3 classes that day so had cleared $2100. But with the missed opportunity she could have doubled that and built up a customer base.
For me, I left , went to the new shopping center and had a brilliant time with a man who's name I never got ( more on that in a later Blog) shaking my head.
Funny ending to the story - I got home, told Camera Dude what had happened and there at the computer waiting for me was and email. It said " Hi Natalie - we are ABC cupcakes (real name not used) really enjoyed your company today and look forward to seeing you at some of our classes in the future. We would really love your feedback on how the class went and how we can improve it. I chose to delete the email because lets be honest, they had no interest what so ever in my business, so I was not going to help point the glaring error in theirs.
Today I learnt - never never let an opportunity pass you by or if you do - get out of business now. How was your weekend?
FYI - they were delicious :-)
Natalie
I was in the baking isle and this very old man was looking up and down the shelves and then asked me "excuse me, I cant seem to find the custard powder - do you happen to know where it is?". I told him not off hand I didnt but to let me have a look and see if we can find it.
