THROWBACK SATURDAY — WHO REMEMBERS? 😊 Choosing a movie used to mean a trip to the video shop… and sometimes the family debate lasted longer than the film! Here are five memories to put a smile on your face: 1. “Be kind, rewind!” 2. 3. Returning your video on time was important. Returning it rewound? That was good manners! 4. Waiting for your photographs. 5. 6. You handed in the film and hoped for the best. A week later, you discovered who had their eyes closed… or whose thumb covered the lens! 7. Saturday night dancing. 8. 9. Polished shoes, your favourite outfit and the courage to ask, “Would you like to dance?” Then hoping the next song was a slow one. 10. The family telephone. 11. 12. One phone. In the passage. Everybody listening. And someone shouting, “You’ve been talking long enough!” 13. Meeting friends without a WhatsApp group. 14. 15. “See you there at seven.” Somehow, we found each other—and always found something to laugh about. There was plenty we could complain about back then, but these little moments still make lovely stories. Which one takes you straight back? Tell us your number—and share a memory of your own. I’d love to hear it. Gilbert | Professor & Me

COFFEE TIME WITH GILBERT THE PROFESSOR KNEW WHAT GOOD SERVICE STARTED WITH When I think about my father’s fruit and vegetable shop, I think about how well he knew what he was selling. He taught us the names, varieties and uses of the produce. He knew what was sweeter, what was best for cooking, and what a customer might need. That kind of knowledge helped him serve people properly. Today, businesses still need to understand their customers. But enquiries can arrive through WhatsApp, phone calls, websites and email. It can be easy to forget who asked for what, or when we promised to get back to them. That’s where a CRM can help. It gives a business a place to record enquiries, remember what the customer needs and keep track of the next follow-up. A CRM doesn’t replace the human relationship. It helps us look after that relationship more consistently. The tools have changed. Knowing the customer and keeping your word still matter. THE PROFESSOR’S WISDOM Know what you offer. Understand what the customer needs. Follow through. MY TAKE Good systems help us deliver the personal service people remember. YOUR TURN When a customer enquires about your business, how do you make sure the next step doesn’t get forgotten?

☕ COFFEE TIME WITH GILBERT YOUR CUSTOMERS DON'T JUST BUY A PRODUCT. THEY BUY THE RESULT! Here's something worth thinking about over a cup of coffee. I recently watched Alex Hormozi explaining what he calls the Value Equation. He says there are four things that influence how much value a customer sees in your offer. And it reminded me of something I learned many years ago working alongside my father, the Professor, in our family fruit-and-vegetable shop. 1️⃣ WHAT DOES THE CUSTOMER REALLY WANT? Not just a bag of potatoes or a box of apples. They want fresh, good-quality produce that's worth their hard-earned money. 2️⃣ DO THEY BELIEVE YOU CAN DELIVER? That's where reputation, honesty and trust come in. People need confidence that they're making the right choice. 3️⃣ HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE? Customers appreciate getting what they need without unnecessary delays. 4️⃣ HOW MUCH EFFORT MUST THEY MAKE? Make it easy for people to buy from you. Help them choose. Answer their questions. Take away the complications. 🌿 THE PROFESSOR'S WISDOM My father understood that customers remembered more than the price. They remembered how they were treated. ☕ MY TAKE After more than 40 years in sales, I see the same principle today. Whether you're selling fruit, running a restaurant, offering a service or introducing new technology, the lesson is the same. Give people something they genuinely want. Make them confident you can deliver. Deliver it sooner where possible. And make their lives easier. That's how you create real value. 💬 YOUR TURN Business owners, here's my question: Are you making it easier for customers to buy from you, or are you making them work too hard? I'd love to hear your experiences. Gilbert Nobrega THE PROFESSOR & ME Real stories. Real lessons. Real life.