Brooks moved to the area about a year ago with his wife from Daytona Beach. He stopped and asked what I was doing. I explained about the paper and he bought one, adding a nice tip! He returned a short time later and ended up buying a book for his wife Ashley who loves history! Together they’ll get to know more about the area they now call home!
Chris and Marcy have become regulars at my spot in Hermitage. They now have ALL the “extras” I have to offer — ie both bumper stickers and Ridley’s book. Even so, they still stop by to see me on the weekends while they’re out doing errands or taking their dog to the park.
A father (Evan) and son (Spencer) took a paper and a book and even gave a nice tip! I enjoyed getting to spend some time getting to know them.
Sharon from Old Hickory came by #1 Chinese as I was getting started selling and asked what I was doing. When I told her, she said she’d been in Nashville for 10 years. She said she LOVES what The Contributor does in helping individuals get back on their feet. She went on to say the paper was an important part of Nashville’s history. I agreed and took the opportunity to offer Ridley’s History Corner book and she eagerly accepted it!
Hayden, another newcomer to my corner, came up the same time as one of my regulars who ALWAYS gives me a little something EXTRA. The timing was SO close I thought they arrived together!
Unfortunately, I wasn’t published in that particular issue so my regular customer asked for a paper that I had an article in.
After showing her the articles I had on hand, she found one she didn’t have, and she even encouraged Hayden to get a paper I had somethingwritten in saying, “She’s a GREAT writer!” She also looked at the articles I had written and she took one based on the other lady’s recommendation! How cool is that?
Ms. Stephanie, my granddaughter’s former bus driver from her elementary school days, stopped by for a visit. I’d wondered what happened to her. Now I know — she retired.
I’m sure her “children” miss her! She’s ALWAYS given EXTRA. One time I actually prayed for money to do my laundry and when she came through that morning, she said, “I’m sorry, all I have is this roll of quarters.”
I said DON’T APOLOGIZE! Grinning from ear to ear I said, “I bet you didn’t know you’d be an answer to a prayer today! I needed money to do some laundry, and you even gave it to me in quarters!”
She just smiled and said happy to be of service!
One of my biggest supporters in Antioch is not just a customer, but a fellow vendor. Loum stopped at my spot near McDonalds and gave me the most generous tip of the day.
J.P. Evans, a former volunteer with The Contributor, took a paper and gave a nice tip in Antioch.
A couple headed home to New York gave a nice tip but refused to take the paper because they weren’t from here.
Mark was one of the first to give me a nice tip in Antioch but sadly, like the previous example, he refused to take ANYTHING.
I know many of you do that to be generous and kind, but PLEASE KNOW it is difficult to take pride in what I do if people DON’T take the paper!
Also, if no one takes the paper, why print it?
Would you prefer to see more people on the streets holding cardboard signs with nothing more to offer than their gratitude?
It’s DEFINITELY something to think about.
So the next time you stop for a vendor, why not take the paper? Give it a try. There really is SOMETHING that will appeal to just about EVERYONE. Then hopefully the paper will become like Lays potato chips — you can’t have just one!
And to those mentioned here who eagerly await each new issue, thank you for ALL you do to support Contributor vendors. We truly appreciate you!