I want to recommend these No hide chew sticks made from pineapple of all things for small dogs who love to chew but get gristly and possessive over raw hide chews and then constipation follows.

It’s a problem for a dog I know.

This tale could be about any small business across the UK. The Planet Earth chews I stumbled across by accident turned out to be a hit. Very happy with those in the end. I haven’t detailed exactly who sold them to me, the shop this is or where they are located. I don’t want to do harm, the sad part is if they’d been a bit nicer I’d have been singing their praises and helping them with a great review.

It’s more to remind us all in business how an experience can make people feel and how, with so many more affordable options from giant businesses, these chews cost £11 which is a lot, for small independents, offering more in other ways can make a big difference to the customer experience and how people feel when choosing to shop local.

I am sharing this story not to come down on a small independent business which is actually offering a specialist service in a cute shop environment (selling products difficult to source or find out about otherwise) but just to express myself, my frustration and show how every customer matters in the most difficult of economic climates for small business to thrive.

I for one love the diversity of a neighbourhood high street, hate it they all look and feel the same across the UK, can’t stand to see boarded up shops and failed closed businesses, the reason why when I can, I support independent. I am attracted like a magnet.

I had never been into this particular store before, I don’t have a pet but I have recently got to know someone else’s dog and wanted to buy him a present.

I have also walked by this pet shop a number of times and thought what a cute little shop so when the opportunity arose to support them I walked in with gusto, explained what I needed as a non expert kind of expecting to get some engagement, help and advice.

Instead I got pointed in the direction of the treats and was promptly left alone having no real idea what I was browsing or indeed what to buy. If this is your shop likely you’ll know.

I was at a loss. There were two people, staff in the shop, one later happily chatted as regular customer appeared, the other continued quietly working but me as a new comer was left to my own devices. Even though I’d asked for help.

I didn’t know what to choose. I felt a bit awkward. I couldn’t ask again. I wanted to walk out without purchasing anything but that’s difficult in a small shop with a large selection so I just picked up something, paid and left.

Technically they didn’t do anything wrong, it’s a great well stocked shop for dog owners and gift buyers like me, maybe they were having a bad day, maybe they’ve lost the will to live, maybe business is terrible, all of the above.

I walked in excited to pay a bit more than a pet supermarket for a swankier selection and a nice personal experience. I walked out deflated, not sure of what I’d purchased feeling like my business didn’t really matter.

The interesting part of the whole experience for me I went in there announcing I was shopping for a gift, I had an intention to buy, I had a budget in mind much higher than the cost of the packet of chews I purchased. But because I didn’t get an help, I didn’t spend the max or perhaps even more with encouragement.

So for all small business owners out there, of which I am one, just remember every customer who steps over your threshold is an opportunity for you to share your knowledge and experience, even if it doesn’t translate into money immediately, that pay it forward attitude and good vibes will convert in the future.

Will I return to the shop again, maybe for the Earth Animal selection, but then again maybe not.