Owning a consignment boutique means every day is a bit unpredictable. I love the people I meet and the variety of clothes and stories that come through the door. But looking back, the pandemic brought a level of chaos I never anticipated. Enforcing mask mandates turned my little shop into a battleground, and let’s just say, I’m very grateful those days are behind us.
One encounter, in particular, still stands out in my memory. During one of those days when masks were required, two women came in within minutes of each other. One had no intention of wearing a mask, insisting it was a "free country" and that she could "do as she pleased." She brushed right past my polite request to put one on. Then, things escalated when she crossed paths with another customer who explained she was immunocompromised and asked her to wear a mask out of courtesy. What happened next was like a scene from a reality show.
The mask-less customer responded with, “Then maybe you shouldn’t be out in public.” That comment set off a heated back-and-forth between the two. It got so intense that I had no choice but to ask both of them to leave. But it didn’t end there—the aftermath of this encounter landed in my Google reviews, where both of them left not-so-friendly feedback.
As crazy as that time was, it gave me a new level of patience and a thicker skin. Running a small business during a pandemic was anything but easy, but I’m happy to say that we made it through. Today, my boutique is back to being a place where people can relax, browse, and chat—minus the mask drama. Here’s to keeping the peace in a post-pandemic world and to never having to referee another mask debate!
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