Our Spring Design Show was held last weekend with three great Maine Master Floral Designers providing designs for the season. Our commentator was Wilton Hardy AIFD AAF PFCI FSMF sponsored by Teleflora...
I had the distinct pleasure to pick Wilton up at the airport and drive the 40 minutes to our venue on the gorgeous coast of Maine in Bar Harbor.
A more charming, eloquent, soft spoken with a "big stick" gentleman, I don't think I'll ever meet. We had spoken on the phone prior, of course, and I had asked him if he was allergic or afraid of dogs as mine was coming with me to the show. He was enthusiastic about meeting Oscar and asked me if I had read "Marley & Me" a book about the world's worst Labrador Retriever soon to be made into a movie. As we have no bookstores close, I sadly said no, but would have to check the library to see if they had it, he highly recommended it. Upon picking him up at the plane, he greet Oscar and made the dog's day! He then presented me with a copy of the book he picked up in the airport on his way here to Maine.
On our ride, we spoke of shops changing roles over the years and the importance of change along with education. It was a most pleasant drive. That evening he had the great opportunity to dine with 9 of the show crew at a very loud, boisterous sports bar (it was loud and lots of alcohol, of course) but a very enjoyable time. We all laughed often even above the noise.
Wilton presented a hands on workshop on Saturday (I was in the registration booth the whole day or prepping for designers or rearranging the trade fair for the umpteenth time LOL ).
On Sunday, Wilton presented the following poem and gave anyone who wanted one a copy. He did this at the end of the program. It was my pleasure to have met him and so glad to have his expertise. I hope he had as good a time with us as we did with him......
Good Business by Edgar A Guest
If I possessed a shop or store,
I'd drive the grouches off my floor.
I'd never let some gloomy guy,
Offend the folks who came to buy;
I'd never keep a boy or clerk,
With mental toothache at his work,
Nor let a man who draws my pay
Drive customers of mine away.
I'd treat the man who takes my time,
And spends a nickel or a dime
With courtesy and make him feel
That I was pleased to close the deal,
Because tomorrow, who can tell?
He may want stuff I have to sell,
And in that case, then glad he'll be
To spend his dollars all with me.
The reason people pass one door
To patronize another store
Is not because the busier place
has better silks, or gloves, or lace,
Or special prices, but it lies
In pleasant words and smiling eyes;
The only difference, I believe,
Is in the treatment folks receive.
I had the distinct pleasure to pick Wilton up at the airport and drive the 40 minutes to our venue on the gorgeous coast of Maine in Bar Harbor.
A more charming, eloquent, soft spoken with a "big stick" gentleman, I don't think I'll ever meet. We had spoken on the phone prior, of course, and I had asked him if he was allergic or afraid of dogs as mine was coming with me to the show. He was enthusiastic about meeting Oscar and asked me if I had read "Marley & Me" a book about the world's worst Labrador Retriever soon to be made into a movie. As we have no bookstores close, I sadly said no, but would have to check the library to see if they had it, he highly recommended it. Upon picking him up at the plane, he greet Oscar and made the dog's day! He then presented me with a copy of the book he picked up in the airport on his way here to Maine.
On our ride, we spoke of shops changing roles over the years and the importance of change along with education. It was a most pleasant drive. That evening he had the great opportunity to dine with 9 of the show crew at a very loud, boisterous sports bar (it was loud and lots of alcohol, of course) but a very enjoyable time. We all laughed often even above the noise.
Wilton presented a hands on workshop on Saturday (I was in the registration booth the whole day or prepping for designers or rearranging the trade fair for the umpteenth time LOL ).
On Sunday, Wilton presented the following poem and gave anyone who wanted one a copy. He did this at the end of the program. It was my pleasure to have met him and so glad to have his expertise. I hope he had as good a time with us as we did with him......
Good Business by Edgar A Guest
If I possessed a shop or store,
I'd drive the grouches off my floor.
I'd never let some gloomy guy,
Offend the folks who came to buy;
I'd never keep a boy or clerk,
With mental toothache at his work,
Nor let a man who draws my pay
Drive customers of mine away.
I'd treat the man who takes my time,
And spends a nickel or a dime
With courtesy and make him feel
That I was pleased to close the deal,
Because tomorrow, who can tell?
He may want stuff I have to sell,
And in that case, then glad he'll be
To spend his dollars all with me.
The reason people pass one door
To patronize another store
Is not because the busier place
has better silks, or gloves, or lace,
Or special prices, but it lies
In pleasant words and smiling eyes;
The only difference, I believe,
Is in the treatment folks receive.
