I’ve been sitting at Tim Hortons at Sheppard between McCowan and Markham for the last hour. I’m waiting for my mom’s car to get fitted with snow tires, so I have about 2 hours to kill.
Tim Hortons blows me away – it is a brand that resonates with all races and income levels (except for the 1%ers who frequent Starbucks in Lulu Lemon pants). The rest of us 99%ers really do enjoy a good double double. This location has been pretty entertaining thus far. I’m watching an old lady wrap up her last bite of a massive (and likely her only) meal – she had a coffee, a yogurt parfait, a bagel, a donut, and a soup. She is now chilling out finishing the last of her coffee and taking the hustle and bustle all in. This has got to be better than Golden Girls re-runs on the Life Network.
Next to me sits an older Indian gentleman, about 45-50 years in age…he is filling out an employment form for Tim Hortons. He sits straight as he fills it, making sure that all his I’s are dotted, and t’s crossed – the look of hope in his eyes. I wonder what his story is … I feel bad that circumstances brought him to apply to work at Timmies…but then I realize…Timmies is truly a great company – they make it possible for folks like him to be employed in an environment that isn’t very demeaning. At his age where else can he get work? He presses down on his pen to make sure the ink is spread evenly – I bet that shit can be read by a blind person once he is done – you know when you can feel the imprints of the writing on the back of the page? Almost like braille – haha. He gets up, folds the page neatly and quietly slips it to one of the Chinese ladies behind the counter. Our friend then straightens his jacket and walks out the door like he had a winning lottery ticket in his hand…I wish him luck.
The rest of the restaurant is filled with a motley crew of different races sharing a moment with their Timmie beverages and baked goods. There are a few singles, like me, sitting and watching – watching the Saturday afternoon play that unfolds before us. My eyes dart between a Somali daughter/father combo sharing a cookie and drinking coffees. He is on the phone discussing something heatedly about his relatives; switching between English and Somali with ease. The daughter swings her legs, shifts her Minnie Mouse toque and enjoys the cookie. She enjoys any time that she gets to spend with her father – even when he is yapping away on the phone. You can tell – she takes a bite, looks around, and then stares up at her father with big brown eyes. Yes, he is still there – at least she has him for now, stuck to his seat by the power of a coffee.
The counter staff is a well-oiled machine of Chinese and Sri Lankan workers…they find a common ground between the donuts and sandwich center. I’ve figured it out – the Chinese ladies make the beverages and the Sri Lankan women run the food counters – they’ve harmonized a balance that seems to be working this morning. Mandarin is discussed beside the coffee pots and Tamil behind the stacks of bagels – it’s funny but awesome.
The warm sun filters through the windows and casts a glow into the place – I feel a tear in my eye…haha kidding. But it really is cool to see what Timmies has managed to create around a cup of coffee.
…A kid walked in about 20 minutes ago, wearing grey track pants, some old school Nikes and a Roots hoodie. He walked from table to table selling chocolate almonds – no takers thus far. He didn’t seem fazed by the rejections…some patrons were saying a “No” with a smile, others shot him accusatory glances for invading their private moments with their double doubles. I smiled. I smiled because this kid reminded me of me. I spent many cold and hot days walking around selling stuff to strangers. I was pretty fearless as a pre-teen – knocking on doors to canvass for the Toronto Sun, selling poppies with Air Cadets, selling telephone long distance, insurance on gas, anything and everything. It taught me to connect with anyone on any level, it also allowed me to grow a pair…get over the fear of rejection and get on with it. I like that initiative in people – especially in kids…and when I see it I reward it. I knew I would buy a box from this kid – I wanted to reward him for spending his Saturday morning selling chocolates for a school charity versus watching Saturday cartoons – like I said…he reminded me of me!
He walks up and asks me if I want to buy a box – I engage him to make him earn the money and see if he would upsell me.
“What are you selling this for”?
“Sir, this is for a charity that helps buy gifts for kids who don’t have the means to buy necessary items like clothing, shoes, etc” (check, he knew what his objective was)
“Hmm okay, I’ll buy one – do you have change for a $20?”
“I do Sir, but I can give you a deal if you buy three…its one for $4 and 3 for $10. If I sell all my chocolates today, I get a chance to win a bike” (wow, this motherfucka was upselling me…good for him)
“Alright let’s do three then my friend”
I hand him the $20, he has $10 in his hand already…as he passes me the change he comments “wow you have a iphone and a blackberry” – staring at the two phones on the table, his eyes wide with excitement.
“Yup, one is for work and one is for play” I take the $10 and the chocolate boxes and tuck them in my bag.
“Thank you sir” the kid mumbles as he walks away…he takes 3 steps stops and turns around. “Who do you work for sir?”
This kid was impressive, not only did he complete the sale he was actually showing genuine interest in something outside his immediate objective – getting to know his customer!
“GE, General Electric”
“GE? Oh okay…thanks sir” he waves and runs out the door. He has pep in his walk now – selling three boxes in one location – pimp! I watch the guy walk down the street – he’ll do well, I think to myself. That little seed of curiosity, the character of determination and hard work will take him far. Good for him.
I smile – that little fucker took me for $10 bucks. Oh well, I’ll present the chocolates to my mechanic and my mom. They’ll both be happy.
I just got the call – the car is ready – signing out at Tim Hortons.
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