How important is profit to retailers? The question at first glance seems strange. After all, the meaning of any business is to make a profit. And for a person whose business is associated with retail sales, maximum profit is very important, because who knows when they will make the next purchase from him.
However, Canadian antiques proved the opposite with his deed. And his story deserves to set an example for many.
What happened and where?
Alexander Archbold is the owner of a small antique store Archbold, which is located in one of the cities of the province of Alberta in Canada. This is a family business, Alexander inherited the store. Of course, he works in it himself, resorting to the services of an assistant extremely rarely.
Once a local tramp came into the store, whom everyone knew and called Adam. Adam often brought to the antique dealer various trinkets that he found in the garbage. Alexander always bought them back, giving the homeless some money.
This time in the "catch" of Adam was an interesting photograph, inserted in a frame. He portrayed a scene from the famous Disney cartoon about Bambi. In the picture, the deer learned to walk after birth. The picture was taken in full accordance with Disney traditions and the antiquary was extremely interested.
But at that time, Alexander did not even imagine what kind of treasure fell into his hands. He gave the stroller $ 20, and Adam left the store very pleased.
How did the events develop?
Alexander, left alone, carefully examined the photo, trying to understand what was taken on it - someone's drawing or frame from the cartoon. He took out the picture from the frame and was stupefied.
The photograph was a certificate of authenticity. This is a special sign with which some works or things were noted at the beginning of the last century. The certificate testified that the picture was taken in 1937, and also reported information on the availability of copyright on the image.
But after all, Bambi was released only in 1942. Antiquarian knew about this, as he was passionate about this cartoon in childhood. Just in case, Alexander checked the information and made sure that he was right. But then what was he holding in his hands? And how much could this thing cost? Alexander immediately contacted experts at Disney Studios in the United States.
How did it end?
As it turned out, a rare shot was found in the hands of an antiquary, which is part of the original animation of the cartoon. Unfortunately, there was no negativity in the frame brought to the store by the tramp. If he were, then it is impossible to even imagine the amount that could have been gained from the sale. The photo was estimated by experts at $ 3,500.
Antiquarian did not feel joy when he heard about it. Alexander was ashamed. A man brought him something that could fundamentally change his life, help him acquire housing and stand on his feet, and he gave him a crumpled twenty.
However, peer review is one thing and selling is quite another. Alexander pulled himself together and began to look for buyers. He perfectly understood that leaving a picture in the store did not make sense, no one would ever buy it even for a hundred, not to mention three and a half thousand.
Antiquarian put a rarity at the eBay online auction. The picture was bought instantly, the deal amounted to $ 3,700. Alexander received the money and went to search for Adam. But the tramp, with whom the antique dealer usually came across daily, as if through the ground failed.
It took two weeks to search for Adam. During this time, Alexander had a very interesting plan.In his searches, he actively used social networks, trying to find out if he had not seen anyone he wanted. Of course, people began to ask questions, and when they found out the story, they showed sympathy.
Alexander created a page whose goal was to raise funds to help the homeless. Finding Adam at last, the antique dealer gave him the money and looked on the Internet to find out how much money had been raised. And, of course, in order to write that Adam was found.
The antiquary was counting on an amount of 10,000, but people were much more generous. For Adam, $ 18,000 was raised. Of course, now he has his own small house and work. And all this happened only thanks to the decency, honesty and resourcefulness of a simple Canadian antiquary. Without a doubt, if there were more such people, then this world would become much better.