When you’ve driven 30 miles to take your shoes into a specialist repair shop, it’s a little annoying to discover that the outlet closed five minutes before your arrival. Thank God for people like Matthew, a sterling example of the ultimate networker!
Matthew is the owner of Cafe Cake on Briggate Street, Silsden which is a small town in West Yorkshire (BD20 OEA if you want the post/ zip code!). Somewhat disillusioned that I had missed the cobbler by minutes (that’s a shoe repair man for those not UK domiciled!) I thought I would take solace in a cake and a cup of tea……..(don’t forget, tea is where it all starts!). Order taken, Matthew strolled over and casually introduced himself.
“You a stranger in these parts?” he quizzed. “Yes, I’ve just driven across from Leeds to drop my shoes off because someone told me that the guy who runs the repair shop is one of the best in the county.” “Oh he is,” chimed Matthew, “people come from miles around.”
I told him my story and how I’d missed the shop by a matter of minutes.
“No worries,” he said. “Give me your shoes and write your name and phone number on a piece of paper. I’ll drop them into the shop for you on Monday. That way you won’t have wasted your journey, we’ve got a new customer and you’ll probably call in for another cuppa when you pick your shoes up. I’m Matthew, nice to meet you.”
What a networker! Fantastic. Matthew runs a small cafe but his staff were cheery and at no point did I feel under pressure to leave, even when I’d finished my food and drink. “Take you’re time and leave when you’re ready,” he said, “no hurry.” By contrast I took tea in another cafe earlier in the day and, despite the fact that the place was 80% empty, the brash owner kept saying, “can I get you anything else?” Clearly I didn’t want anything else but felt under pressure to leave because I had finished drinking.
Matthew is a ‘tea drinker’. He is a relationship man, someone who realises that business is done between people who go the extra mile. Think it through, it really is that simple.