Mistakes happen. You’re 100% lying to yourself if you say they don’t or think they won’t…but it’s not all bad, by any means…
I had a new client reach out to me recently as they wanted to order some charcuterie boards. We chatted briefly on designs and I got started on making up a few boards. Unfortunately the wood species we chatted about and the basic designs didn’t appeal to her once the boards were finalized.
Hey…it happens…and it’s not ideal but absolutely not a big issue. That was my perspective, seemed to be hers and can be great if it’s yours too if a situation like this happens to you in the future.
The boards look great, she even said so. However, her vision was slightly different. It was a simple miscommunication…that’s it. Moving forward I’ll be looking for a specific wood species for her boards and focusing on a more rustic edge style.
I think what I am stressing the importance of in this post is to be flexible and fluid at times. I could have been rigid and said “no, you owe me for these boards…this is what we discussed…this is what you’re stuck with”. Where would that have gotten me though?
I’d have a frustrated (soon-to-be ex) customer that won’t promote my name or brand, doesn’t like what she purchased and is more likely to speak negatively towards me and my company. A lose-lose-lose.
Instead, I took the approach of a simple mistake/miscommunication happening. I left her with one board that she liked the most, didn’t charge her for it and have a plan to reconnect when reclaimed wood that might be more to her liking crosses my path in the future.
Which approach do you think is better? What have you done in situations like this in the past?
