Harry Selfridge is famous for two things, but he should be more famous for three.
The most obvious claim to fame is his eponymous departments stores in London, Selfridges. Their success led to his second claim; his tremendous wealth. Known as the Lord of Oxford Street, at the peak of his powers he was worth £60 million; a lot now, an unfathomable amount in 1910.
The third claim is the least well known, and probably the most interesting.
We have all heard the expression “the customer is always right”. What you most likely haven’t heard is that this is just the first half of the quote, the rest is “in matters of taste”.
It completely flips the script. Yes, in matters of taste, the customer is always right. Want to paint your kitchen a lilac and lime green tartan? Sure, you’ll find everything you need in aisle 13. But that doesn’t mean the customer is always right in all matters, and it certainly doesn’t give customers the right to mistreat or browbeat staff.
If anyone pulls out “the customer is always right” card, you’re now readily armed to correct them.
Do so.