So, Mothers Day is usually the shop's biggest holiday. If we make it into the black then, we're good the rest of the year.

I can tell , a week ahead we're in for a fun week end.
I worked almost three hours over helping Floyd change molds to get up orders, since the other help has started slacking off in an attempt to make Floyd hire back one of his friends, who had originally been fired for laying out without calling in.

Floyd usually makes me take a lunch break since i pour mud with him, so he can leave at a decent time each day. The later we start pouring, the later he goes home.

Today I went with Dwayne to set up a 3 tier fountain at a ladies home.
When we got back not even a hour later, Pat was bragging on Barry, about how good he handled all the customers by himself.

She was going on about how fast he worked, not even talking, just going from customer to customer loading them.

I know Barry. He wasn't working fast cause he wanted to. He was mad.
Mad cause I went with Dwayne and he didn't, since He usually goes with Dwayne like that on deliveries.
He was mad cause he had to handle the customers alone :P
But this part sets up the next part I'm going to write about.

You know how you can look at some customers without meeting them and you can tell they're going to be a headache or two?
These three ladies came up in a red truck, and they were there for an hour looking around when Floyd told me to go to lunch.

so, I clocked out, went to eat, and when I got back, Barry was loading the truck for the three ladies.

He was mad and fussing cause they couldn't decide what they wanted. They would talk about how bad everything looked, how ugly it was, then decide to buy it anyway.
I had always told Barry i usually let the customers pick what they want before i start packing, so it makes it easier for me to pack the stuff.
Barry learned today why I say that.
But before I clocked back in, i talked to Pat for a minute or two, and noticed a truck with a utility trailer pull up.

" That's probably that lady back after the statue of Jesus kneeling at the rocks " Pat commented.
We make two sizes of that one. a huge 2000 pound one and a smaller, 300 pound one. it was the latter they wanted. Already bought and paid for.


I knew Barry would need help, so i cut lunch short and walked to the office to clock in.
I spoke to the lady from the new truck " How are you ma'am?"

" I'd be better if I could get some help around here!" She was tired and hot herself.
" No problem. i can help you"
I reached past her and clocked in.

I walk back to Pat, by that time Barry xomes up grumbling.

" This lady has already paid for her stuff and is ready to go, and those people can't make up their minds!"

i could tell he was unhappy.

I look at him, and say. " well, while they're still looking, let's go ahead and help this lady, since she knows what she wants."
The lady looks relieved.

Barry goes to get the lift, and i walk out to the truck with the lady. Her husband gets out of the truck and tries to lift one end of a bench they also bought.
Key word is ' tries'
I call across the parking lot to him " That's only 300 pounds, for the seat top alone!"

" 300? The girl said the whole thing was 300 pounds!"
'The girl' was Christie, from the office.
" She doesn't have to lift it, so she has no idea. The top alone is 300 if not more" I grin at the guy and his wife.

so We get the seat and statue loaded. The lady looks at me gratefully, and says " Thank you sooo much !!"
I just smile at her and nod. "You guys have a great week!"
and i go to help Barry take care of the other people.

within a few minutes every one is happy, and all is well at the shop again. for now


Its all in the way you handle the situation