Woodward Avenue is one of the most popular roads we have back in Michigan. Especially when you are in downtown Detroit sightseeing all of the development the city has built over the last couple of years (yes, it’s still a bit of a crappy city but bear with us). When my dad I lived right off of Woodward on Adams West, we could be right in the heart of it all. All of the games for the lions and the pistons caused the worst traffic, just trying to get into our own parking lot was a pain. The worst possible time to down there be when Taylor swift was in town for 3 DAYS. Too much glitter and cowboy boots that blinded me for those unfortunate summer nights.
When Wooward was quiet and the only sound you’d hear was the fountain right outside of my apartment and the occasional car siren going off, you’d know everyone who got up every morning to go to work and open shop. Every other weekend, I would take a walk downtown to grab a drink from Starbucks in the late morning. You may think this story is going nowhere but stay with me.
Every time I would take my walk; I would run into the same guy who I believe is still there in the same spot right outside of the Nike store. He sets up his woodwork and places a game of chess on the sidewalk. I guess his way of grabbing people’s attention to hopefully get a sale is to invite them to a game of chess. He has never asked me to play and I’m happy he hasn’t because I don’t know how and don’t want to embarrass myself. Occasionally when it’s really nice outside, you will see him hunched over, locked in on his game with his opponent being some guy from the suburbs for the baseball game.
I haven’t seen him since we moved back out to the suburbs. I hope he is doing okay and living his best life selling woodwork art on the infamous Woodward Ave.
SchrieberBE23 
FrenchJA21 
andersonsa22
That is an interesting sales tactic from that guy. I kind of like it and I think it is cool that he first tried to engage his potential buyers in a game.
Every person, whether they know it or not, has a sales mindset. Even without an official background in sales, anyone has the capability to be a sales person in any circumstance or environment, no matter how untraditional.
This is really interesting! I like that he is using a non-traditional sales technique. Typically, you would see people wanting to play chess in the park, but he changed the environment he was in and now is able to better connect with potential players/buyers.
An interesting sales tactic it would definitely be fun to do as he makes business by doing that.