We usually close the shop at 5 p.m., but stayed open last night a bit later. Shortly after 4, a woman came in with her three kids, all under the age of 8. Very sweet kids, well behaved and all interested in what was in the showcases. The oldest was the child that popped in with his dad last Sunday.
He spent a long time looking things over carefully and asking questions before selecting his first purchase. His brother and sister also asked questions and made purchases, but they don't have the intense interest of the oldest boy. Before leaving, the older one asked Poohbare if we could set something aside for him to buy later. He watched carefully as Pooh put it in a paper bag, stapled it shut, wrote the boy's name on it and placed it in the safe.
THIS is what the shop is really about - the future collectors. Yes, of course it's also about turning a profit, but seeing a kid's eyes light up ... yeah, that somehow holds more value.
HP