Sold!

1994 Jaycee of the Year;
Parisian Sales Consultant;
Belk Top Producer award;
Jaycee Volunteer of the Year;
Mention in a national trade magazine for best customer service in the US...

Accolades.
While going through a box of what I thought were old Christmas decorations, I ran across these plaques and service awards, along with many more, with Laura's name on every one. While I knew that she was awfully damned good at her chosen profession, I had forgotten about all the awards.
Laura had a theory about sales - if you weren't looking to purchase something, then why are you in this store? She also said that "if they step foot in my area, they will not leave empty handed". And they, more often than not, didn't.
Our first real meeting - she was a 19 year old hottie working at the McDonald's near where I attended Tech school. I dropped by for lunch, with limited funds. She was in the lobby selling Ronald McDonald Coloring Calendars for 50 cents each. On the bottom of each page was a tear off coupon good for discounts on food.
I was an 18 year old kid who knew a hottie when I saw one, standing in line, awaiting my turn to order. The hottie approaches me and says "you need to buy a calendar". Before I could explain that, as a grown man I did not color anymore, she started preaching the virtues of said calendar. "Look at the money you'll save in discounted meals alone! And, you can then give the calendar to some poor kid who may not have anything to color with. I mean, you do like kids, don't you?"
Before I could come up with an intelligent answer, I blurted out "yes" (meaning yes I like kids). She took the yes as 'yes, I'll buy a calendar'. "Good, you'll need two" and proceeded to take the entire dollar out of my hand. Before I could even react, she had moved along to the next sucker in line.
Years later, while relating the incident to her, I asked how she was able to swindle me out of the dollar and hand me two of those crappy calendars. "I made you say yes", was her reply. "But I was saying yes to the question about liking kids". "I know", she said and then winked at me.
Damn-she was good!
While looking at some of the comments on her memorial page, I came across this one:

Your bright light will shine forever in the hearts of those of us who had the privilege of working with you at Parisian, Laura! I can just hear your beautiful voice belting out your favorite songs in Heaven...I suspect, knowing your sales ability, you will talk God into letting you be his lead singer ...RIP my friend.

Donna NunamakerDecember 02, 2016 | Columbia, SC

Laura was known as the 'singing lady' at work. She was constantly singing and humming while working, a trait that endeared her to many and pissed off a few. She didn't care that she had pissed off a few. Neither did I. I loved her singing thing mainly because, whenever I was at her job trying to locate her, I would not look - but listen. I always found her by this method.

Laura was the consummate salesperson. I know. Believe me, I know!