The comforts of home

Surprisingly, I've been on an athome-sales-party kick of late. I couldn't figure out why I was willingly attending, even hosting, these parties. Then I read Jennifer Graham's comment in our cover story (page 14): "Treat clients like family and keep the focus on the pet." I recently went to a friend's house for a clothing "party." The saleslady talked briefly, than gave us free rein to try on samples. She saw me staring blankly at the rack and asked if she could help. "I can never find jeans that fit and I need jackets for work," I said.