Or is there something wrong when the ice cream delivery guy is wearing a T-shirt from a strip bar?
Just one of the things I saw as I was making my rounds today.
Posted by Rich at May 17, 2003 10:19 PM | TrackBackRich, I'm going to be in Knoxville a week from today. It would be great to hook up with you (I'm also trying to arrange something with Glenn).
Drop me a line (I can't find your e-mail address) and I'll tell you how to get a hold of me.
Posted by: Howard Owens on May 18, 2003 1:32 AMRich, I don't think you're being too picky. I think wearing a strip club t-shirt while selling ice cream to mostly kids is inappropriate. But then again I'm one of those liberal Democrats who wants to control everybody's life and so forth. :)
This reminds me of when I actually drove an ice cream truck for a while one summer (we had to wear uniforms back then).
Instead of the standard ice cream truck music, I tried playing Suzy Q by Creedence Clearwater Revival. After a few remarks from customers like "what kind of music is THAT?" and "I didn't know you were coming because I didn't recognize the music" and "you're weird" I decided to switch back to the traditional ice cream truck music (which drove me almost insane).
Being successful in business is all about marketing program feedback and listening to your customers.
Although I wasn't really very successful in the ice cream business. One of my big territories was the Montgomery Village Projects in Vestal.
These kids didn't have money for ice cream. They would try to give me food stamps, pennies, buttons, whatver. I ended up giving away half my ice cream. Then I'd go over to Concord Park (which was not in my assigned territory) to try to make it up off the rich West Knox kids.
Not only did I waste a lot of time driving over there, the guy assigned to that choice territory frequently complained to management.
Posted by: SK Bubba on May 18, 2003 7:41 AMThere you have it folks, direct from the donkey's mouth. Liberalism is insanity caused by overexposure to ice cream truck music!*grin*
I have this picture in my head of Bubba driving the ice cream truck.
It fits.
By the way, I know how you felt about the kids from Vestal. Way back in my past, I was the night manager in a mini mart in Maryville. Parents would send their kids in with a $1 food stamp to buy a piece of candy. The same kid would come in three or four times, pocketing the change, then Mommy or Daddy would stroll in and buy a pack of cigarettes or a six pack of PBR with the change.
I knew what they were doing, knew it was illegal, but also knew this was the only treat that kid was liable to get, so I didn't have the heart to shut 'em down.