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The workplace fable of the Wise Biscuit Wholesaler and the New Shopkeeper

'You can take some boxes now and pay for them when you have sold them. I know what it’s like to start out'
'You can take some boxes now and pay for them when you have sold them. I know what it’s like to start out'

The Biscuit Wholesaler was out in his van when he noticed a new small shop being opened on the corner of a side street. He pulled up his van outside and walked in. A young man surrounded by boxes was putting up shelves.

‘Good morning,’ said wise Biscuit Wholesaler, “Are you opening a grocery shop?’

‘I am, how can I help you?’ asked the young Shopkeeper.

‘I supply biscuits and I’d like to supply you,’ said the Wholesaler.

The young man explained that he didn’t have much money to start his business, and would need to wait until he could afford to add biscuits to his order.

How to make the perfect iced biscuits: The Biscuiteers' guide to decorating
How to make the perfect iced biscuits: The Biscuiteers' guide to decorating

‘Don’t worry,’ said the wise Wholesaler, ‘You can take some boxes now and pay for them when you have sold them. I know what it’s like to start out.

‘That’s kind of you, but I don’t want to take a risk on buying lots, and them going out of date and needing to be thrown away, until I know I can afford to take the loss,’ said the young Shopkeeper.

‘I understand. How about if I give you some half boxes to try. Again you don’t need to pay me until they sell.’

The young Shopkeeper thought it a generous offer and agreed. 

The wise Wholesaler wished the young man well, and said he would pop back in a few weeks time.

However when the wise Wholesaler got home and began to unload his van he realised that he had inadvertently short-changed his customer by one packet. Instead of thinking he had made a bit more for himself, as his error hadn’t been noticed, he drove back to see the young man, who was impressed by the Wholesaler’s support. As the young man grew his business from one to many shops he continued to buy from the wise Wholesaler, even though he could have got better prices elsewhere.

Moral of the tale: Small acts of kindness can make a big difference.

Women Mean Business | Read about our campaign
Women Mean Business | Read about our campaign

Mark Price is author of (£10.99, Stour Publishing). To order your copy for £8.99 plus p&p, call 0844 871 1514 or visit books.telegraph.co.uk

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