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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think this is a bit odd?

14 replies

BellaOfTheBalls · 21/09/2012 07:10

Or at least somewhat inappropriate?

Went to the local soft play with DS2 yesterday. It's small (compared to others I've been to) been open around 3 months, and run by a guy who seems perfectly pleasant but doesn't come across as particularly business minded.

I was the only one there yesterday aside from his DCs. His DD was so pleased to have someone to play with I ended up looking after both her & DS2 who is only 14 months & so needs a bit of help getting around it. Then later the owner came over and started telling me all sorts about the business; the landlord was coming today and he had to make a decision whether to reduce the size of the building, close down or carry on. It's not gone as well as he thought, he's had 9 children in all week, he's invested £60k of his own money which he stands to lose etc. It's a small town, aside from handing out flyers he's not advertised at all, has no website and its been open 3 months.

All in all it made me feel really uncomfortable and was not quite sure what he expected me to say or do with this information. AIBU to think this is not an appropriate conversation to be having with a customer?

OP posts:

LydiasMiletus · 21/09/2012 07:16

Yanbu. I have a restaurant in a row of restaurants. We share a carpark at the back. I can never get to my car without the owner of next door having this sort of conversation.
But I suppose its his business and he is probably stressed and wanted to unload.
Doesn't sound like a particularly well thought out business tbh. He probably thought it would be easy and he could keep the kids there so save on childcare.

altinkum · 21/09/2012 07:17

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LindyHemming · 21/09/2012 07:31

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usualsuspect3 · 21/09/2012 07:37

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MabelLucyAttwell · 21/09/2012 07:39

I agree. It sounds as if he just wanted to open out to someone. Is there anyting you could suggest to him? Ideas from the point of view of one of his clients?

wonkylegs · 21/09/2012 07:47

I don't see why it's inappropriate he was being friendly, having a chat. He's not telling you state secrets he's telling you about his business, which is his life, so basically it's up to him who he tells about it. If you feel uncomfortable you can mutter a noncommittal comment and find something to attend to with your DS (joy of kids - ready made distraction). I doubt he was looking for an actual solution just wanted someone to chat to. If you can make some suggestions (which I would) it might make him understand his target Market (ie you!) better.

SoleSource · 21/09/2012 08:13

Being friendly is never inappropriate. Strange of you to think so. That is unfriendly in itself. Maybe he needed to talk and on the off chance you may have some useful suggestions. If you do not want to talk to a person you need to learn to indicate that instead of blaming others and naming their behaviour as inappropriate.

JeezyOrangePips · 21/09/2012 08:18

I dont think it odd or inappropriate either.

I'd have tried to think of marketing ideas that he hadn't tried. A widely advertised open day, Facebook, targeting pre-school groups with group discounts etc.

valiumredhead · 21/09/2012 08:39

All in all it made me feel really uncomfortable and was not quite sure what he expected me to say or do with this information

You don't have to 'do' anything with the info - it's called chatting, he was chatting to you!

BigFatLegsInWoolyTIghts · 21/09/2012 08:44

He needed to talk about it....for all he knew you could be a business adviser or a genius with soft play ventures....sometimes, when people share problems they feel better.

geegee888 · 21/09/2012 08:51

I don't think its odd in the slightest. Sounds like normal social interaction to me? The alternative would surely be to only speak to a limited number of people about limited topics, which to me sounds far more odd.

Anniegetyourgun · 21/09/2012 08:57

Maybe he chats to all his customers a bit too intensely and frightens them off - hence why he's not doing much business.

gallifrey · 21/09/2012 09:11

Are you on the south coast op?

I have always wanted to own/run a soft play area, but when I looked up the price of all the equipment it is horrendously expensive (about £90k for an average sized one) and if you buy into a franchise it's about the same amount of money!
Poor bloke, I feel a bit sorry for him :(

Original poster

BellaOfTheBalls · 21/09/2012 11:06

Looks like IABU; I did wonder, thank you all.

For someone who sees themselves as quite sociable I'm a bit rubbish with this stuff sometimes. My Mum ran her own business for 10 years and always had the golden rule that you don't discuss how things are with customers, so perhaps I have been conditioned by that. I did try and excuse myself but he sort of followed me and continued to tell me the issues he was having which made me feel a little bit uncomfortable but perhaps that is my perception of the situation rather than the situation itself. I think if I had been less tired I might have been able to come up with some ideas. Perhaps I will have a think or a brainstorm and drop something round to him.

Gallifrey I'm in the south west. I've always wanted to do a soft play type place as well but with really decent food, meal deals that include the adults, homemade cakes, proper coffee and not a fruit shoot in sight. I'm not very business minded though so I think it will remain a pipe dream!

OP posts:

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