Comfort food... and thoughtful people

The headline was sweet: “Tootsie Rolls Soothe Souls.”

I was entertained by this recent New York Times story that cited a spike in sales for candy makers and candy stores. Apparently, people have used this small indulgence—and their sweet tooth—to cheer themselves up from a spate of economic bad news.

Implications: Okay, if you’re already a candy manufacturer or retailer, this is obviously good news. But how can you use this if you sell appliances? Or if you work at the teller window of a drive-through bank? Or if you just have co-workers who walk by, from time to time?

I don’t often make predictions. But I’m banking on the return of an old classic: The desktop candy dish.

On a recent shopping trip, an appliance salesman caught me glancing at the dish of mints sitting on the counter. Intuitively, he offered, “They’re for customers, go ahead and take one.” I grinned.

On my last visit to the auto bank, a teller noticed the beagle sitting in my passenger seat; when she sent the canister holding my receipt, it also held a dog biscuit. I grinned again.

Both experiences struck me as thoughtful. As a consumer, who has treated you “thoughtfully,” lately? As a company, whom have you treated in kind?

Food for thought.

Mike Anderson