You say Goodbye, and I say Hello.....

I have been to two branded national institutions today - first the Church of England and second the Apple Store (yes, I know it's Sunday but this was an emergency as my Iphone is extremely unwell and needed emergency surgery).  Two very differerent places I think you'll agree, but it did get me wondering how come one place was mobbed with people of all ages and backgrounds drooling over the product that was being the sold and the other was, well, Church.

One thing that it is obvious to me that we should learn from the best in retail is how to welcome the customer properly.  It drives me mad when I visit Churches and am handed a service sheet by someone who doesn't make eye contact, doesn't say hello, is looking over my shoulder at the next punter (who they have probably known for years!). 

If we want to be enthusiastic in how we sell the Gospel to target customers we should start as we mean to carry on - at the front door. The role of welcomer, or sidesperson, or whatever you want to call it is incredibly important.  Just as they are in the Apple store, welcomers should be trained, and they should be senior, and they should have the people skills necessary to fulfil their job descriptions.  I actually think that Vicars should be at the door to welcome people at the start of the service - surely this is more important than shaking hands with the punters after they are leaving - by then it is too late to make the sale.