Whole Foods and the Art of Practiced Hospitality
We tend to do a fair amount of our grocery shopping at Whole Foods. (Yes, I know the jokes about “whole paycheck,” but we’re loyal.) One of things I’ve noticed about shopping there is that whenever I can’t find something and ask for help, the employee I ask stops whatever he or she is doing to take me to the item I’m looking for. And this happens even when I say that I can find it on my own if they just tell me the isle. But they insist. Actually, they don’t insist or make a big deal of it. They just take me there.
It’s clear this isn’t by accident, as this happens every single time. (And, yes, I seem to have a hard time finding things; one more reason not to take up golfing!). Just like when I am checking out the cashier asks me if I was able to find what I was looking for. Every single time.
This is what I would call “practiced hospitality.” And it works. I feel good about my shopping experience and actually look forward to coming back.
I’ve wondered at times what the Sunday morning experience would be like for visitors to worship if the folks in our congregations were trained to go out of their way to be welcoming and helpful. To ask if they need help, to greet them and invite them to sit with them, to ask if they have any questions.
Yes, there is the fear of asking a long-time member if he or she is a first-time visitor, I get that. But I think if I were that long term member, I’d still be grateful for the hospitable gesture and – guess what? – we’d know each other better after that.
Practiced hospitality. I don’t know if Whole Foods calls it that. But I like the sound of it. And I’d like it even better if I saw it practiced in our congregations as well.
Hi, David, I wrote a post on our church website on this topic last year. Used your uncle’s evangelism skills as an example.
Here’s a link: http://2x2virtualchurch.com/2013/07/18/teaching-hospitality-in-the-modern-church/
Congrats on your new position. Keep up the good work.
Good to hear from you, Judy. And thank you for the post and for sharing your experiences on your blog.
Imagine what the pastor could learn if we asked, “Did you find what you came for today?”
Rule 53 of Benedict’s Rule, says that every guest shall be treated as Christ. Hospitality is one of the pillars of Benedictine Spirituality & is ever appearent if you visit a Benedictine community for prayer or a retreat or anything else.
Wouldn’t the world be a better place IF everyone treated everyone else with respect & hospitality.
Namaste, I greet and acknowledge the spirit with you.
At REI (my ‘job’ while I was at seminary) we were trained in the 30 rule. Within the first 30 seconds of a person walking in our store they must be greeted and asked if we could help, even if we were with someone else. Research was cited that people are happier when greeted and asked for help. Happy people buy more and return more often. The marketing of hospitality!