Customer Service - Take the Time and Make the Effort

A little time and effort into giving good customer service will be invaluable to any business.

Its one thing to have the inventory, a plan of action, a mission statement, and good location, enough employees, etc. but if you don’t take the time and make the effort to provide this “cut-above” customer service, I am afraid it will all be for naught.

Customers need to shop for goods; that is a given. However, they do no - I repeat do not have to shop with your business. They have alternatives, some maybe even more glamorous, cheaper perhaps, and maybe in a more desirable location.

The trick is, to make those customers feel like they are special. Be extremely hospitable from the time they walk through the doors until the time they leave. Do this, even if they decide not to purchase anything.

Your actions, body language, sincerity and hospitality all carry intrinsically more weight than you can possibly imagine. Customer service is “given”, but genuine hospitality is “Felt”.

Make that customer feel like they are important to you and that you undoubtedly and without question value their business. A personal greeting when they come through the door and a thank you in acknowledgement of them “stopping by” when they leave are always in good taste - and good business.

I will make an analogy for you to ponder. Would you rather dine in a “fine” dining establishment with fancy silverware and bow-tied waiters and receive poor customer service and average food OR would you rather dine in a totally average restaurant, with decent food that gave excellent customer service and made you feel welcome? The latter I would say anytime.

I will trade all the fancy and lousy service for average and great service anytime.

Well folks that is really what it is all about. You know it, I know it, and more importantly - your customers know it.

Put these ideas into motion, have your people buy into it, take the time and make the effort to give “cut above” customer service. I would be willing to bet that you will see an increase in not only more loyal customers, but referred customers as well.

Business by reputation is a valuable thing, but it does take work. It takes “Cut above” customer service.

About the Author

Galen is CEO of the Direct Sales Company Shopping In The South. He has been directly involved with human relations and customer service work for over fifteen years. Possessing a wealth of knowledge in the areas of customer service and hospitality he truly enjoys working with people. To contact him to speak to your group or organization you can reach him at: galen@shoppinginthesouth.com or (803) 322-3162.