Does the omelette stick to you? You don't have the ideal pan

From Basar Vidal you leave with a frying pan, a knife, a saucepan, a set of pastry molds, a peeler, a shopping cart, or whatever. But above all, you leave having received a masterclass in cooking, practical advice to be as well-equipped as you wish, to optimize all resources, to obtain the best performance from the famous quality-price equation. Marc Vidal and his father Juanjo – now retired, but still occasionally seen – are the second and third generations of the family business. Well, strictly speaking, the fourth, since the founder was, in 1952, Juanjo's father, but it was the grandfather who, in Cerdanya, opened the first family grocery store. Then, already in Barcelona, two more establishments dedicated to food until the specialization in general store arrived at the corner of Tamarit with Urgell, where even today they are a true pillar of the Sant Antoni neighborhood.

Juanjo remembers that the specialization was heavily influenced by the proximity – right opposite – of the Sant Antoni Market. A lot of food on offer and few plastic options – an absolute boom in the fifties and sixties – and home goods. For quite a few years they also sold toys until the definitive specialization arrived with the fascinating world of cooking. This explains the subtitle of the business: Basar Vidal. Table and kitchen. Unmistakable.

The business has had tentacles. One in Gràcia, which lasted for several years, and one right next door, a minute away, which allowed them to have a very wide range of references for all products for fifteen years. Last December they closed this branch to refocus efforts on the historic premises. It is a joy to see the customers coming and going, to hear their needs and to see how they are attended to. This precisely is, according to father and son, the great value of their establishment, their ability to advise and dissuade, to offer good products and to meet needs: "The shopping experience," Marc calls it.

"Small businesses survive thanks to this." And what is it? It's proximity, kindness, expertise, empathy, patience. "Let's see, who is the shopping cart for? For a young or old person?" From the resolution of this question, they will know whether to offer a foldable cart – for someone young – or if, on the contrary, it should not be one because the user will be an elderly person who will also use it as a walker to go down the street with more security. A detail of a good salesperson, no doubt.

More examples? Well, the pandemic accelerated the "home cooking" habits of many citizens. What were the star products that sold out at Basar Vidal? Cake molds and paella pans for rice dishes. They sold like hotcakes. What's important about a paella pan? Not getting burned when you grab the handle, of course. This means the seller must have a very clear understanding of the manufacturing materials and also what they are offering for sale. “In the world of cooking, there is clearly an excess of information,” explains Marc. In what does he exemplify this? Well, in the boom of stainless steel paella pans, which are unsurpassed today. Why? Because the rumor spread that non-stick components can be carcinogenic. “Here we always try to apply common sense and have the customer do the same.” What problem can stainless steel have for paella pans? Well, believe it or not, omelets stick to them. No problem with fried foods, meat, vegetables, seafood, etc., but omelets, alas, can be a problem.

What are the unsurpassed products in sales? Paella pans and knives. They have all kinds of sharpeners. But also shopping carts, water thermoses, and in summer, coolers to take to the beach. A revolutionary product that people are increasingly aware of and that is a hit? The stainless steel lunchbox that can go in the microwave, the air fryer and the oven. A revolution! And in cases like this, the customer is the best advertisement because they recommend everyone to buy them. By the way, one last note, people are getting tired of Nespresso-type coffee capsules and are increasingly returning to traditional coffee makers. How do they know? Because sales don't lie.