First off, this review is WAY overdue as an update. Secondly, the staff at Craftland really touched my heart with their efforts since my first review of the store.
In the following Fall after my Yelp review, my partner and I decided to take another chance on Craftland as we were walking through the city. While I felt like I was setting myself up for disaster again, I wanted in because they have such cool things and I liked giving them my money before my brain fritzed out. I mean, it's a small business, they support local designers, and it is quirky and interesting... basically everything I could ever want in a store. So with my noise canceling headphones on, in we went again and browsed around. Yup, the music was loud, but I did not want to bring attention to myself so I just gritted my teeth and started looking through their wares quickly because I didn't expect to be in the store very long due to the volume.
After a minute or so, the music dimmed considerably. While it was a breathe of relief for my brain, it seemed odd because we were the only ones in the store so someone else couldn't of complained about the volume. I looked up and there a staff member that kindly smiling at me. As no-one else was in the store, I knew the volume had to of been lowered for me. I was shocked, a little embarrassed and also touched. I walked over to her somewhat sheepishly, thanked her for lowering the volume and asked her how she knew to lower the noise. She told me that the Craftland staff had read my review and had just felt horrible about the interactions I had been having in their store. She apologized, said they talked about it and while none of them could remember what happened, they were really sorry.
This is why shopping in the small community shops matter. Where else would this happen- with the staff reading the Yelp reviews and enacting change to provide personal attention to their customers if they can? That sales woman really made me feel like the staff cared and that they were sorry. When a business reaches out and says; we see your difficulties and we'd like to help, it just makes life a little easier to move through. Since then, I've been back in the shop quite a few times and it has been lovely each visit. I really appreciated their honesty, their continued efforts, and their attention to their community. I continue to love the space they have created and the artists they support.
It is hard to make changes if you aren't aware someone has been hurt and this is where Yelp reviews really work. Everyone has bad days and we don't necessarily know how this can impact others, but I certainly don't want to hold their store to behavior they weren't aware of and have since rectified really kindly anymore. They read about the problem, they made changes and were kind about it. Isn't that what we all want and are working towards? Understanding, Growth, Collaboration? They did these things and I'm so thankful that I took another chance on them.
So, thanks Craftland staff, your compassion and attention to your customers is A+ in my book now. read more