Calling All Customers (Calling All... Book 3)

by Tara Ford

  Jenny shook her head and frowned. “No. It fluctuates from week to week. Just when things look like they’re beginning to pick up – it all comes crashing back down again.”

  “Ok, well don’t feel disheartened. That can happen. I did notice a couple of things. More to do with the layout of the shop, that might help, if they were changed.”

  “I’m open to any suggestions that you might have, Alex. I aspire to be like you.”

  “Oh, you’re making me blush now,” said Alex, wafting a hand across her face. “Another thing I have thought of too…” Alex peered out of the staffroom and up the first aisle, before turning back. “Have you used the local paper’s indie-store promotion yet?”

  “No, I haven’t. Do you mean their promotional frog thing, ‘Neville the News Newt’?”

  “Yes – that’s it. Sounds silly but it’s definitely worth a try. I can give you a contact number, if you’d like. Mention my name and I’m sure that they will get your promotion fast-tracked.”

  “Really?” Jenny passed a cup of tea to Alex. “That sounds great, thank you.”

  “Not only will Neville the newt spend an afternoon in the shop, promoting the local paper and giving away free chocolate bars, but the promotions team will also put an advisement in the paper, for a week, beforehand.”

  “I had noticed in the small print that they do these promotions for independent stores, as well as the big-wigs, but to be honest with you, I hadn’t thought about giving it a go before. For some reason, I had it in my head that I would have to be selling more papers before I could use it.”

  “They do have a threshold, yes,” said Alex, before taking a slurp of hot tea. “But as long as you’re not too far away from the figures, you shouldn’t have a problem. Like I said, mention my name. I don’t see it being an issue if you don’t meet the requirements.” Alex chuckled, “Catch 22 isn’t it? If they don’t help with the promotions, how can you sell more of their papers?”

  Jenny smiled, thankfully. “Your advice is priceless, Alex. It’s not for a want of trying. The girls here have been dropping leaflets for the last couple of months…”

  Alex shrugged. “I don’t mean to sound harsh but about 98 percent of those will get binned.”

  “Hmm… someone else told me something like that too.”

  Taking another slurp from her tea, Alex plonked the cup on the counter and stood up. “Shall we take your friends coffee up? I assume you have drinks behind the counter?”

  “Oh yes – It’s probably a health and safety issue, having hot drinks behind the counter but maybe, once we’re busy enough, we’ll have mini-breaks in the staffroom.” Jenny laughed. “For now – we just sit drinking tea and waiting to fight over who’s going to serve the next customer who walks in the door.”

  Alex laughed and beamed an Aaron-like smile. “First things first. Come on – let’s get this shop sorted out for you.”

  “What an amazing woman,” said Jenny, as both her and Dayna watched Alex climb into her TOYOTA RAV4 and pull away.

  “Hmm… nice car too.” Dayna sighed. “So – let’s have a look at the list then.”

  Jenny passed a sheet of paper over. “If this doesn’t help, then nothing will.”

  “Blimey,” said Dayna, eyeing the list in astonishment. “We’ve got a lot to do.”

  “I know – but I’m sure that it will be worth it.”

  “Wants to be. Where do we start?”

  “I’m going to start with a phone call. Get this promotion set up.” Jenny grinned. “We’ll be in the paper, Day. How cool is that?”

  “That is pretty cool. I’ll make a start on the moving of stock then, shall I?”

  “Thanks, Day. I’m sure that between us all, we’ll have everything moved around within a week.”

  “Does she…” Dayna pointed a thumb out of the window. “Does Alex think that this will make a big difference?”

  Jenny nodded. “Uh-huh. It’ll make people walk around the shop more. If you think about it, the likes of Dolly never go past the newspaper shelves.”

  “So they don’t have a clue about what else we might sell in here.”

  “Exactly.”

  Just as Alex had predicted, the local paper arranged to do a promotion in the shop, with their mascot, Neville the News Newt, within two weeks. Three large posters arrived with the papers on the following Monday.

  Support your local independent store with

  Neville the News Newt and the Daily News.

  Come and see Neville and the news team

  on

  Wednesday 30th January

  Here!

  Free sweets with every paper

  “Ooh, it’s exciting, isn’t it” said Tasha, arriving on time, as always. “Are we moving all of the papers today?”

  Jenny nodded. “Yes – it’s all systems go. We’ve cleared enough shelves down the end – so let’s do it.”

  “It will look really different in here.”

  “Hmm… wonder who will be the first to moan about it.”

  Simultaneously, Jenny and Tasha blurted out, “Dolly.” Then they both laughed – except Tasha neighed, more than she laughed.

  They were all correct. Even Dayna and Jordan had joined in the stakes.

  “I’m really not sure why you have done such a thing. It’s terrible.”

  “Sorry, Dolly?”

  “Why on earth have you put your papers…?” Dolly pointed a shaky, gnarled finger down the first aisle, “…all the way down there? Good heavens, you can’t expect the elderly folk to walk all the way down there, dear.”

  “They manage to walk here in the first place, Dolly.”

  “Yes but…” Dolly moved towards the counter. “It’s too far. Why should they have to go all the way to the bottom of the shop to get their papers?”

  “Do you have a problem with it, Dolly?” Jenny asked, calmly.

  Dolly hesitated. “Well… hmm… yes I do, dear.”

  “Then I apologise to you, sincerely.”

  Dolly looked puzzled. “Why would you do that?”

  “It’s just that I know there isn’t a hope in hell of you ever buying anything else in this shop – apart from your paper – so I want to apologise to you for the inconvenience it may cause to you, personally. But, I need to look at the bigger picture here, Dolly. This is a sales strategy, you see.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “There is a small chance that other paper customers, may well look around the shop a little more and possibly discover that some of my prices are as cheap as the supermarkets in town. They may see things that they haven’t noticed before. They might even buy more than just a paper.” Jenny paused and peered at Dolly’s angry, twisted face. “Dare I say it… they could even stretch to supporting their local, independent store before it collapses. They would be the first to moan if it disappeared, due to a lack of support.”

  “And so would I,” Dolly huffed. “But if the staff can’t get here on time, practically every day, and they weren’t so darn rude to me – on several occasions, I would probably support them a little more. And moving the papers away is surely going to upset some folk. Don’t you see?”

  “Like I said, I apologise, Dolly.” Jenny shot a sarcastic smile at Dolly’s face of fury. “Did you want to get a paper today?”

  “I… I’m not sure… oh, yes, of course I will – I haven’t come all the way up here, with dear old Wilbur, for nothing.”

  Jenny nodded, nonchalantly, “That’s good.”

  Turning around, Dolly hobbled off down the aisle, with a forced limp.

  “Oh, Dolly,” called Jenny. “Have a look around on your way back – you might find something else you’d like to buy, as well.”

  “Huh,” she puffed, from the first aisle.

  Jenny listened and watched through the mirror, as the cantankerous, old woman tottered down the aisle, muttering and mumbling under her breath. All of a sudden, her false limp disappeared, as she was out of sight. Or so she th
ought…

  The parents from the nursery were just as excited as their children. It seemed that Neville the Newt was going to be a big hit. Jenny watched as the mums and, sometimes, dads, approached the shop window, with their toddlers in tow and pointed to the giant poster, while babbling on about Neville’s visit to J’s Convenience Store.

  “Look,” Jenny exclaimed, poking the paper lying on the counter. “There, in the kids section. Look – we’re there.”

  Surprised by Jenny’s child-like outburst, the moment she arrived at work, Dayna walked across the front of the shop and scanned the Neville the Newt’s News section, enthusiastically.

  Next week, Neville will be appearing at:

  Beasley’s News, Hayford – Monday 28th January

  The News Store, Rowlands – Tuesday 29th January

  J’s Convenience Store, Farehelm – Wednesday 30th January

  Dittons, Ribchester – Thursday 31st January

  Harwood News, Hillington – Friday 1st February

  Don’t miss out on Neville’s goody-bags

  and free, Newt News, stickers

  “Cool,” said Dayna, casually. “I’ll buy one. Take it home and show Xaylan – he’ll think you’re famous.”

  “I am,” said Jenny, beaming smugly. “Do you want my autograph?”

  “Only if it’s on a big cheque. Coffee and crumpets?”

  “Absolutely – let’s celebrate.”

  Celebrate what?”

  “The future success of J’s Convenience Store, of course.” Jenny placed her hands on her hips and sighed deeply. “Ahh… I can feel it in my bones. Good things are coming our way.”

  “God, I do hope you’re right.”

  “Come on, Day, get some positive vibes going. I have to force myself sometimes.”

  “Yeah… I will. Last time I’m going to see Will tonight though.” Dayna said, remorsefully. “He leaves next week.”

  Jenny peered at her friend in dismay. “Oh, Dayna… I’m so sorry. I’ve been so selfish and wrapped up in my own crap… I’d… I’d forgotten all about that.”

  “No worries. It’s ok, really. I don’t think it would have lasted much longer anyway. He’s just not my type. Think I’d prefer the English, stuck-up gentleman sort, to be honest.” Dayna gave a half smile and walked off to the staffroom. “I’m cool with it…” she called back, raising her hand in the air and pinching her thumb and index finger into an ‘Ok’ sign. “…before you ask.”

  Heaving. That was the only way to describe the shop, during Neville’s visit. The crowds of nursery parents and children, attracted passers-by and even the odd vehicle pulled over to see what was going on inside the shop.

  However, Neville the Newt was not quite what Jenny or Dayna had expected. Neville was a young, overweight and profusely perspiring woman, dressed in a warty, brown jumpsuit and a frog-like head piece. She smelt terrible. Her tail piece must have been at least four feet long and was trampled on by the young children, on several occasions. Georgia (aka Neville) was the most miserable looking, grumpy woman that Jenny and Dayna had ever seen. It was plainly obvious that she and her colleague, David Hughes, the sales rep from the Daily News, did not want to be there. With forced smiles and false pleasantries all round, David dished out the goody-bags and stickers while Georgia, thankfully, kept her frog head on and stood in the breeze from the opened door.

  “Bloody miserable pair, aren’t they?” whispered Dayna, half way through the afternoon. “Suppose it’s not a very exciting job, spending your time dressed as an overgrown tadpole.”

  Jenny agreed, “Hmm… and David has to hang out with a fat newt all day long.”

  Dayna suppressed a giggle. “Yeah, and give out sweets and stickers to screechy little brats too.”

  “Well, I don’t care whether they like it or not. Look what it’s doing to our sales today.”

  Dayna nodded, heartily. “Wouldn’t want them in here every day though.”

  “I would… if the till was full like this every day.” Jenny looked down at the wad of twenty pound notes, wrapped up in a plastic money wallet, in her hand. She bent down and discreetly hid it away, under the counter. “Better get that lot put into the safe soon.”

  “Do it now and make us a coffee while you’re down there.”

  “I will but I can’t bring it up here, Day. You’ll have to drink it down in the staffroom. There are too many people in here to be walking up the aisle with hot drinks.”

  “Take it in turns to go for a slurp, shall we?”

  Grabbing the money wallet back from underneath the counter, Jenny winked at her friend and headed off through the audience of shoppers and bystanders, all waiting to get a piece of Neville, the nauseous newt.

  Chapter 39

  How did it go today? A xx

  Hi Aaron – on top of the world! It was really good. Almost tripled sales! Couldn’t believe it. X

  Brilliant. Knew it would help. Let’s hope it continues. See you Saturday for my late shift, lol xx

  It hadn’t helped. As soon as smelly Neville had left the scene – so did everyone else. Back to normal. Back to the mundane mornings with Dolly and her band of merry men, forming a community centre for the moaners of the world. Back to the pitiful sales figures. Back to the rarest of moments when the shop looked busy. Back to the sleepless nights of worry and woe. Back to the turquoise toilet rolls. Yes, that’s right – turquoise.

  “How can you lose four birds in as many weeks, Marj?” puzzled Jenny.

  “I didn’t lose them, my love. They’ve changed colour.”

  “Really? You’re telling me that your white birds have changed to turquoise?”

  Marj grinned over her brown teeth and nodded. “Yes, dear. It happens you know.”

  “I’m sure it does in your world.”

  Tottering out of the shop with her toilet rolls tucked under her arm, Marj stopped right outside the door and peered back, through the window. Grinning widely, she suddenly threw her head back and cackled. Pointing a little, crooked finger at Jenny, Marj mouthed, what Jenny could only make out as, ‘Tricked you, tricked you, hee hee’. Then she disappeared.

  The frost set in hard for February. Icy temperatures kept a lot of the familiar faces away, for days on end. The shop was a cold place. Freezing, in fact. Jenny had now purchased three heaters in total. One behind the counter, one in the staffroom and one in her office. Her concerns were growing. The additional costs of keeping the shop at a workable temperature and the lack of custom was beginning to show in such devastating ways. Having paid her bills, the wages and the stock invoices for January, Jenny had been short of money for her own rent. Aaron had offered to lend her enough to cover the shortfall and some extra for her living expenses but Jenny declined. There was no way she would get into debt with a part-time boyfriend and he’d done enough to help her already. Dad was the only one who Jenny could turn to.

  “I don’t know what else to do.” Sitting at the end of her dad’s breakfast bar, hands propping up her chin, Jenny sulked.

  Once again, Aaron was off, somewhere in Europe, building business and meeting with clients. Sundays were supposed to be their time for seeing each other, even if it was only for a few hours in the evening, but today Aaron had left in the afternoon, to catch his flight at four o’clock.

  “You’ve done everything you can do, Jen. I don’t know what else to suggest. I would have thought it should have picked up by now.”

  “I know,” said Jenny, resignedly. “I can’t think where I’ve gone wrong.”

  “You haven’t gone wrong – it’s the area that’s wrong. They’ll all regret it if you pack up and leave.”

  “Huh – not to mention poor Dayna and Tasha. What do I do about them? I can’t fail, Dad. I just can’t.”

  Dad dished up his famous roast potatoes, on to two warm plates. “You haven’t failed, Jenny. The area has failed you. The residents of Farehelm have not appreciated the gift of their very own, independent shop.”

  “I can
’t see me lasting until the summer, Dad. It’s that bad.” Jenny’s eyes watered and she quickly blinked away the wetness.

  “If it becomes that bad, Jen, pull out of it. Between you, me and Jacob, we’ll get through it somehow.”

  “Yeah… thanks, Dad. There’s got to be a light at the end of this long tunnel though – there’s got to be.” Helping to load the plates with colourful vegetables and thick slices of succulent chicken, Jenny tried to forget about the shop and enjoy this rare moment, this exceptional twinkle of time, sharing a meal with her dearest dad.

  “They’ve forecast snow,” said Dolly, the second she was through the door. “Tomorrow.”

  Wrapped in an over-sized, purple padded jacket, a pale blue bobble hat covered in green dog print, a bright red, thick knitted scarf and yellow wellington boots, Dolly looked like she had recently returned from an outrageous-costume-designs competition in Antarctica.

  Jenny peeped out of the window to see Wilbur suffocating in a designer dog-wear, luminous green puffer coat. “Yes, I’ve heard. Mind you, these weather people get it wrong sometimes, don’t they?”

  “Not on the BBC weather report, dear. We’ll have snow tomorrow. I must get some salt and grit today.”

  “From here?” Jenny asked, sarcastically.

  “No, dear, I’m going into town later.”

  “Thought as much.”

  Dolly trotted off down the aisle, to fetch her paper, oblivious to the hundreds of products she had to walk past. It was guaranteed that she would never buy anything else from her local independent store. And neither would the other early morning dog walkers. A paper and a gossip were their only requirements each day.

  The ideas had been evident when Alex paid a visit to the shop but the lack of shoppers and a stubborn streak, which ran through most of them, meant that Jenny’s efforts had been fruitless. Alongside Dayna and Tasha’s laborious leaflet drops, there had been no results whatsoever.

  “Might get a dusting if we’re lucky,” said Jenny, deliberately.