Taking Care of Business, Nicely

Way before I started Majamas, I worked for a large watch company.  I was one of only three women on a sales force of 150 men and I learned very quickly that my female customers weren't always happy to have a woman sales rep calling on them.  These customers were used to flirting with their sales MAN and whenever I walked in with my male boss, they were warm, friendly and gracious.  When I worked with them one on one, they'd turn cold and almost abusive.  

Why some business women work so poorly with others, especially other women, baffles me.  I used to think their attitude came from their predecessors.  You know, the women of the 70s who valiantly worked their way to the top, sacrificing family, friends and more just to break into male dominated businesses.  I completely understand how back in the 70s, a woman had to be tougher and more resilient than the working woman of today.  She had no "Boys Club" to welcome her and no girl friends to lean on.  Thanks to them, we working women feel a lot more comfortable in business.  Unless, of course, our boss, customer or even our coworker is a woman.  I realize I am making a big generalization here and being female myself, I am put in this category but everyone in business has, at sometime or another, had to deal with a mean woman at work.

I had the "honor" of dealing with one just the other day.  This woman isn't a customer but a fellow shop owner.  She has a store on the other side of town that carries similar products to Majamas Boutique and one line in particular we both have carried for years.  Actually, I was the one who recommend she carry this line and stock it for older kids since Majamas Boutique only carries baby clothes up to 4T.  Unfortunately, in typical mean-girl style, she went to the vendor and requested they stop letting us sell their baby line so she could be the only retailer in the area carrying it.  What's worse, is the company listened to her and now, Majamas Boutique won't be able to carry it in our store.  The thing is, we both sold this line equally well and our tiny store did nothing to impact her business.

When I approached this woman about what she'd done, she was defensive and cold.  Here we are, both standing in the basement of her store and all I could think was, "what would two men be doing about this?"  I think they'd go golfing and discuss it over 18 holes, stopping at the 9th to have a beer and agree no harm is done with both of them carrying the same thing.  But women don't handle things that way and part of me regrets not asking her out for a glass of wine to discuss it.  My point is, women don't need to be mean when conducting business just to look strong and capable.  We need to stand up and help each other.  Perhaps if women took care of business nicely, looking out for each other, we'd all reap the rewards and become so happy, we'd lose the need to be mean at all.