I felt a mix of joy and nervousness as I walked into the fancy bridal salon. But I had no idea that two rude saleswomen would soon use my search for my dream dress to teach me about bias and humility.
Even though they wore designer clothes and smiled nicely, they made snap assumptions about my age (55), my Latinx background, and my age. They thought I didn’t belong with all the fancy dresses and crystal lights.
“Can I help you?” the redhead asked, but she wasn’t being honest.
“I’d love to try on some dresses,” I said, admiring the pretty lace dresses.
She raised an eyebrow and said, “Be careful, these dresses are delicate.” “Be careful.” In other words, my hands weren’t good enough.
The brunette spoke up and said, “Check out our clearance section.” Additionally, it costs less. You could feel their disgust.
As I clenched my teeth, John, the boss, walked in and grabbed everyone’s attention.
He looked straight at the saleswomen and asked, “What’s going on here?”
John told the blonde, “Ms. Morales, soon to be Mrs. Shepherd, is the new owner of our salon.” The blonde paused for a moment.
Their faces turned pale.
John told them, “You treat people this way? No matter how they look or where they come from?”
“Don’t fire them, John,” I said. “Not yet.” I thought of a plan.
“Sheila, for the next month you’ll be my personal assistant.” Find out what this business is really about. She looked scared with wide eyes.
Madam Matilda, learn about our fabrics, wedding veils, and fashion trends. Know this: We’re not just selling dresses; we’re making ladies’ dreams come true.
The strong nods they gave sealed their fate.
“Listen, Ashley. Get me some champagne.” “Ask me what kind of dress I want.” The once-haughty saleswoman ran off quickly.
As Matilda helped me put on the lace dress, it was clear that she had changed.
I asked, “Do you think it will work for me?”
“You’ll look beautiful in anything, ma’am,” she said, “but a sweetheart neckline will enhance your shoulders.”
I smiled because I knew these two would be hard to deal with. But it was time for them to learn what real customer service is all about.
This story of strength teaches us:
Do not judge a book by its cover.
Being humble is a good thing to learn.
No matter how they look or where they come from, everyone deserves respect.
Spread this moving story so that it can remember other people that real beauty comes from within and that kindness can overcome even the strongest prejudices.
