Bangles & Beads

As much as I love this store I can not see myself continuing to patronize this business and I have began seeking out an alternative. I have been shopping there for several years now as I am a local designer and small business owner . However recently I have noticed that the manager or owner (whoever she is) relentlessly following me around the store. One day in particular I expressed to her how I felt about the treatment (because I noticed)! I was annoyed because I spend a LOT of money in that store. Her response was that they have an issue with people stealing out of the store and pretty much I should leave my bag in my car next time. (understood) ... I brushed it off and from that moment on I never took another bag inside.
I never once mentioned race during the conversation but SHE did. She said many people feel like it has to do with race but she assured me that wasn't the case (but to that I say "only the guilty"). Why even mention it? ..... I didn't .
Against my better judgement I went to the store several times after that but today I took a friend of mine to look around (bringing even MORE business to their establishment) . Every time we moved , the manager moved . I would move to another area to look around, bend down to look at something , look up and she would literally be standing right over me! ) she did the same thing to my friend who was in there with me . She physically followed our every move like a shadow! It was ridiculous!
I took a few things out of my basket to put back and she was watching me soooooo hard ,that the minute I took the items from my basket she asked me if I needed her to put them back ..... before I even had a chance to process my OWN thoughts. I purchased my items and left. I noticed my friend had put back the beads she had her heart set on. When we got outside I asked her why and she explained that she would NOT patronize a business that would not let her shop in peace ...and treating her like a thief. Mind you , neither of us spoke of it while in the store YET she felt the same way I did! So it was not my imagination. There were a lot of other people in the store but she focused on us ! And YES we were the only black people in the store. So while I initially didn't associate the treatment with race..... now I DO! Neither of us had a bag or anything of the sort, or had given her a reason to treat us as she did!
I was even more annoyed because this lady knows I come in there all the time and I ALWAYS buy things every time! So why the treatment ?! It's sad, it's annoying, it's disrespectful , it's hurtful and WILL cost you business .
My friend can't be the only person who has put something back because of this! Get it together! It's a HORRIBLE representation of your business. [redacted]

As much as I love this store I can not see myself continuing to patronize this business and I have began seeking out an alternative. I have been shopping there for several years now as I am a local designer and small business owner . However recently I have noticed that the manager or owner (whoever she is) relentlessly following me around the store. One day in particular I expressed to her how I felt about the treatment (because I noticed)! I was annoyed because I spend a LOT of money in that store. Her response was that they have an issue with people stealing out of the store and pretty much I should leave my bag in my car next time. (understood) ... I brushed it off and from that moment on I never took another bag inside.

I never once mentioned race during the conversation but SHE did. She said many people feel like it has to do with race but she assured me that wasn't the case (but to that I say "only the guilty"). Why even mention it? ..... I didn't .

Against my better judgement I went to the store several times after that but today I took a friend of mine to look around (bringing even MORE business to their establishment) . Every time we moved , the manager moved . I would move to another area to look around, bend down to look at something , look up and she would literally be standing right over me! ) she did the same thing to my friend who was in there with me . She physically followed our every move like a shadow! It was ridiculous!

I took a few things out of my basket to put back and she was watching me soooooo hard ,that the minute I took the items from my basket she asked me if I needed her to put them back ..... before I even had a chance to process my OWN thoughts. I purchased my items and left. I noticed my friend had put back the beads she had her heart set on. When we got outside I asked her why and she explained that she would NOT patronize a business that would not let her shop in peace ...and treating her like a thief. Mind you , neither of us spoke of it while in the store YET she felt the same way I did! So it was not my imagination. There were a lot of other people in the store but she focused on us ! And YES we were the only black people in the store. So while I initially didn't associate the treatment with race..... now I DO! Neither of us had a bag or anything of the sort, or had given her a reason to treat us as she did!

I was even more annoyed because this lady knows I come in there all the time and I ALWAYS buy things every time! So why the treatment ?! It's sad, it's annoying, it's disrespectful , it's hurtful and WILL cost you business .

My friend can't be the only person who has put something back because of this! Get it together! It's a HORRIBLE representation of your business. [redacted]