This is Day 17 of my 28-Day Creative Challenge. I’m keeping this 2001 manual as a reminder to never miss an opportunity to build a relationship with a customer, in this case — the often overlooked groom.

When a man is about to spend 2 to 3 months salary on a diamond engagement ring he deserves to be catered to, don’t you think? Helzberg Diamond’s 28-page “Guy’s Engagement Manual, A Guide For The Man About To Propose” does just that. It’s full of helpful proposal ideas, check lists, encouragement and most importantly of all, educational information about diamond engagement rings.

One of their proposal ideas is for the groom to put the ring on his pinkie. He then pretends he hurt his hand and wraps it sloppily in a bandage. When he asks her for help re-wrapping it, she’ll notice the ring and he then proposes marriage. Do you have any other unique ideas for marriage proposals that you can share with us?

As the cashier was ringing up the last of my groceries she informed me that she couldn’t sell me the six boxes of frozen fish sticks that were moving slowly towards us on the conveyor. In disbelief I asked her why, to which she replied that she was only allowed to use one bag.

I began to search my mind trying to remember hearing any news of a plastic bag shortage in the area, or maybe it was a “green thing” and they were cutting back on bags and no one told me… my mind continued to race as I looked to the long line of shoppers behind me for help.

The woman directly behind me tried to be helpful and suggested that the cashier ring me up twice. The cashier made some comment about loosing her job if she rang up the fish sticks. Now my confusion began to turn to embarrassment as I told the cashier the sign posted on the freezer door said $4.99 each and the only reason I was buying them was that I was saving $2.50 on each one. To which she responded, that yes, she was aware of that… Read the rest of this entry »