Michael Greene (Grandpa Mike-e-e at 90)
It usually happens about eight o'clock in the evening when my Bubbila and I have finished dinner and plop! the TV screen goes black: No number three on the upper corner, no anxious performers raring to show-off their dancing/singing and no judges raring to judge them. Shucks!
But that's wireless, technical progress these days and I'm ready for it with a technical telephone number at hand to tap a technical sounding voice on the other end who never went to a technical school. I know the technical ropes- having been blacked out before- and I ask for a live, technical agent.
"Did you ask for a technical agent?" a technical voice inquires. I answer: "Yes, please, a technical agent." "Thank you" it says and warns that all the technical agents are busy and you'll be helped as soon as the call in lines slowdown.
You wait, and sure as shootin' a fresh, polite voice named "Carlton" from Texas answers and listens carefully to your blackout problem and tackles it. Twenty minutes or so later, Carlton, with my aid, has tried every angle he could think of, without any luck. He's really concerned but stays polite.
"It's a tough one, Mister Greene. I've tried everything I can think of. I guess we'll have to send a technician to your home for which there might be a charge if the fault is in your set"
"That's OK Carlton. You tried."
"Wait a minute, Mister Greene! I think I have one more angle. Do you know where your set is plugged into the system?"
"No! But hold on and I'll take a peek. Oh! I see two wall plugs. One black, one white."
"That's it! Try them. Pull one out at a time and count to ten before you reset it."
"Black tried, Carlton. Nope. It's not that one. I'll try the white one. And I'm counting. Wow! Carlton! It worked! There's dancing on my screen!"
"Great, Mister Greene! Try it once again".
"I did, Carlton. It works. Wow! Thank you a bunch."
"Thank you, Mister Greene. I'm sorry it took so long. Goodbye, sir."
"Wait a minute, Carlton. Do you have a manager?"
"I do."
"Please put one on."
He did and I took my time to tell his chief how this customer was handled by his staff member and how I appreciate the patience of his representative. The bubbling manager thanked me profusely. I think I made his day.. .and Carlton's too!
What's this shtick I'm all about, you ask?
Our furnishings, you claim, don't have technical problems of the sort consumers experience with their cable TV and internet service. I know. But we do have specialists. We have hardworking employees who are experts at creating new room designs. Others know their way around furniture repair, delivery, the science of getting a good night's sleep and much more! A-n-d they're knowledgeable, responsible and concerned even after we collect customer payments.
You probably have loads of trained "Carltons" anxious to keep your creations "enjoyable" for ages. Super trained not only for 'product use tasks' but ready to advise in product beauty maintenance. Yes! Valuable knowledge for years of proper care so the original buyers can continue to buy antiques of the future that their kids and their kid's kids can enjoy. Unbelievable? Then tune in on the famous TV "Road Show" and hear the furniture value bucks that seasoned auction dealers research and point out to surprised customers. We're an art!
That's who we are and why we don't need only SALES! a-n-d S-A-L-E-S! a-n-d S-A-L-E-S! in advertisements. Instead we need to brag about the quality, the value, the service and the endless beauty we sell our customers.
Try it. It works and it's a pleasure. Grandpa Mike-e-e! at 90 says so.
Thanks, again, for listening.
Got a question? Got a comment? Great!! E-mail: grandpamike-e-e!@furninfo.com
About Michael Greene (Grandpa Mike-e-e!)
Retailer, author, columnist, lecturer, composer and lyricist.
Came to US with immigrant parents in 1924 at the age of three.
Graduated high school at 16.
Managed a small bedding retail and manufacturing company at 18 in 1939.
Hired as Assistant to the VP of Purchasing (Sweets Corp. of America... approximately 500 employees) in 1940 at 19.
Drafted into US Army Signal Corp - Communications Personnel Div., Fort Monmouth.Tested and selected for Army Specialized Training Program, Rutgers University. Qualified for O.C.S. - Officer Candidate School and graduated as Second Lieutenant, Inventory/ Personnel Division in 1944 at 23.
Married his sweetheart, Anita, and he gives thanks to the Almighty that they are still sweethearts... after 73 years.
Rejoined Sweets Corp as Director of Personnel in 1945 at 24.
Joined his suddenly widowed sister as President of a small retail/ manufacturing company in 1946. Stayed on for 46 years managing the custom designing of over 20,000 childrens rooms and master bedroom beds.
Attended Hofstra University (evening program), and graduated in 1968 at age 47. Two of his kids followed right along at two other college campuses.
Applied for 30 day temporary columnist opening offered by the Reed Business Newspapers in NC and stayed on for 27 years. His retail columns were distributed everywhere from Brooklyn to Bangladesh, to Belgium to Beijing.
Traveled the US and visited with 3rd/ 4th generation retail owners.
He was admitted to the Writers Hall of Fame for, "Conspicuous Excellence In reports and appraisals of the furniture industry."
Retired from retail management at age 70.
BOOKS: (1) At age 72: published first book "Where's The Green Pea?" vegetable character stories including his original music and CD.
Designed programs for primary and pre-K schools and presented them with his Anita. (2) At age 76: Gee! I Wish I Had A Bedroom All My Own," lectured in middle schools (teenage), with tech info for parents, teachers and students in Home
Science. (3) At age 80: Tzedakah - Caring And Sharing classic book with original music CD and illustrations for high school chorales and drama groups.
At 89 -- published Retail Life: How To Get In, Stay Alive a-n-d Love It! in online and printed version for business schools, industry, and entrepreneurs. Includes how-to educational section for "Wise Women Who Love A Challenge" and "Oldtimer Retailers Who've Missed Some Basic Goodies In Business Promotion. Also provides business professors and career students seeking everyday practical trade experiences and business thinking.
Invited to address Levitz Furniture retail salespersons, Furniture Designer Associate members,
IHFRA sales associations, High Point University students and F.I.T. retailer evening sessions. Also accepted as an ASID associate member.
At 90 plus... is a musical playwright, composer and lyricist with original music and thinking for very young and very old America.