Lesson from the Toy Store

Yesterday, my kids wanted me to buy them some toys, so I took them to a nearby toy store. It was quite a large place — more than 5,000 square meters with thousands of toys neatly displayed. Shelves were full, and many packed toys were also arranged on the floor in creative patterns, giving customers plenty of choices.

While kids and parents were happily exploring, suddenly a loud burst echoed through the store. Curious, I asked a staff member what had happened. He explained that the main water supply pipe on the first floor — where their warehouse was also located — had burst. Within moments, water began leaking from one corner of the store and spreading quickly across the floor.

The challenge now was clear: remove the toys from the floor before they were damaged. But unfortunately, the staff seemed unprepared. They rushed around in confusion, without a clear plan to handle the emergency. Their efforts were scattered and inefficient.

Noticing the urgency, a few customers stepped in. They grabbed large shopping trolleys and began loading the cartons before the water could soak into the nicely packed toys. Thanks to their quick thinking, most of the toys were saved within two minutes, although some still got damaged.

Observations

The water pipe may not have been inspected regularly, which caused it to burst unexpectedly.
Employees were not properly trained to evacuate the store in an emergency.
Staff lacked training on handling toys, packaging, and cartons during urgent situations like fire or water damage.
Most shoppers simply watched, while only 3–4 people took the initiative to help save thousands of dollars’ worth of goods.

Comments

The bigger lesson here is simple: the quality of work is directly proportional to the quality of the worker. No matter how strong policies or processes you design, mistakes and inefficiencies will arise if employees are not critical thinkers or well-trained.

This story highlights the importance of carefully selecting the right resources and continuously developing their skills. When workers are trained, empowered, and confident, they gain the courage to manage emergencies effectively. Without this preparation, even a small crisis can turn into a costly disaster.

✨ Right selection of people, combined with the right training, is what truly protects an organization in times of crisis.

About Author: Junaid Tahir, a telecom engineer and a blogger, writes articles on wisdom, happiness and stress management. His articles can be read Here