Hallmark – Really Sends the Very Best (Service, That Is)!

I am a card girl and have been my entire life.  I believe that sending a handwritten card is something that everyone enjoys receiving.  It might be for a new grandbaby, an ill relative or even a “just because” card.

Of course, one of the best card selections is your local Hallmark store.  I should have taken out stock in Hallmark, given as much money as I have spent over my entire life!

My list for cards was large, so it was time to venture on to Hallmark.  The closest Hallmark for me is the Collinsville (Illinois) store.

As soon as the door opened, I heard a friendly voice say, “Welcome to Hallmark!” as she made eye contact with me.  She asked if she could assist me, and I explained my list of cards.  She graciously took me to show me where each type of card was.  I also mentioned that I would like a balloon bouquet and without missing a beat, she listened and whisked away to take care of what I needed.

You know, I am all about time management, so someone who was able to multitask with me is someone who is a WOW in my book.

I gathered my cards and in turning the corner, I heard one of the sales clerks explaining to another customer that clearance is 80% off.  Yep, so that got my attention.  I was perusing the deals and another clerk said, “If there is something in particular you are looking for, just let me know.”  Just about that time, the clerk arrived with my balloons and said, “Thank you for your patience.  I apologize for your wait.”

Wait?  I didn’t even feel like I was waiting!  To me, that is the true trick of having to wait – not feeling like you are waiting because the organization has helped with that wait time.

As I checked out, they reminded me that I could order my chocolate covered strawberries.  Mmmmmm.  I really wanted to but refrained (simply from a caloric point of view).  I used my debit card to pay for the transaction and I intentionally had not signed the back of the card.  The clerk asked for my ID. All of the staff were very friendly and clearly, high customer service expectations had been set for all.

Kudos to the owner of the Collinsville Hallmark.  YOU get it!

Will You Have a Good Day or a Bad Day? YOU Decide!

Daylight Saving Time just began on Sunday, March 11 at 2 a.m. this year, and we as a nation (with only the exception of Arizona and Hawaii) had to “spring forward” and turn our clocks up an hour earlier.

To some people, this means that there will be more daylight in the evening for them to enjoy doing all of the things they love. For others, though, Daylight Saving Time’s beginning simply means losing an hour of precious sleep.

If you’re anything like me, I never want to get up in the morning (especially after losing an hour of sleep!). Who actually WANTS to leave a soft, cozy haven of blankets, pillows, and warmth? Not anyone I know!

In fact, the very THOUGHT of leaving your bed can sometimes set you off in a bad mood instantly!

Think about it – what is THE FIRST THING you think of whenever you wake up in the morning? Do you think, “It’s a beautiful day today, and I’m going to make the most of it,” or do you think, “Ugh, I don’t wanna get up and go to work. I hate today already,” when you wake up? If you think the latter, then you are deciding that your day is going to be rotten no matter what right then and there.

That’s right. Every single morning of your life, you have a very important choice to make: whether today will be a good day or a bad day. Your attitude and thoughts will dictate what sort of day you will experience. And yes, it CAN be a difficult choice to make (especially if you’re running late for work or forgot your wallet at home halfway to your destination), but it still IS a choice that you must make.

So why would you ever make the choice to have your day be a bad one? Bad days are horrible, and we generally do whatever we can to avoid them. Here are a few things that you can do to help yourself choose to make a better day.

Wake Up To Good Music - You know what one of the worst parts of waking up is? The alarm clock. Who wants to be awakened from a nice dream by the incessant “BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!” of the alarm clock? Not you (and probably not your alarm clock, too, if you tend to throw it)! Instead, wake up to your favorite song or to sounds that make you happy. This will help you to wake up in a better, more positive mood.

Appreciate Something Beautiful - Take a moment in your morning to look out your windows and watch the sunrise. Look at the pictures or works of art in your home that you love when you eat your breakfast. Listen to beautiful music when you get ready for work. Beauty stirs the soul and helps us to become in a better frame of mind.

Let Go of The Past - Bad things will happen sometimes in our lives. Maybe you got in an argument with your spouse the night before. Perhaps you’re not getting along well with your coworkers. Instead of stewing and mulling the negative situation over and over in your mind, do something simple to comfort yourself like eat some chocolate, drink some coffee, or take a nice, long shower. Then let it go, and move on. Your mind will thank you.

Go For a Walk - This may seem nearly impossible for some of us to do first thing in the morning. But going for a walk either by yourself, with a loved one or friend, or with your beloved furry friend will benefit you in many ways. Your body will become more toned over time, you will feel the rush of endorphins (which help make you happy!), and your mood will be improved overall. You will also have the energy you need to tackle what you need to do in your day.

Talk to Someone About Your Problems - If there’s something going on in your life that’s bothering you, don’t hesitate to pick up the phone and call a close friend to talk about it. You’ll feel much better after getting it off your chest. Grab your spouse and give him or her a hug. Ask for support from those around you. And don’t forget your furry friends! Even simply petting a dog or cat can lower one’s blood pressure and improve a sour or downtrodden mood.

Remember – every day has the potential to be a good day or a bad day. It’s all about your attitude and what you choose your day to be. So don’t choose to have a bad day. Make the conscious choice to have a good day first thing in the morning! You’ll be surprised how your life can improve with a positive attitude in your arsenal!

Wow Your New Customers With These Eight Fantastic Tips For First Impressions!

You only have three seconds to make a first impression. That’s right. THREE.

Don’t believe me? The next time you encounter a stranger, start the countdown and decide how long it takes for you to form an impression of them. And within that nearly non-existent amount of time you too will be completely evaluated, the person on the receiving end will be scrutinizing everything from body language, mannerisms, physical/verbal, and every other little detail from your haircut to your shoes.

It’s only human nature to do so. We’re visual creatures, and the visual perception leaves a strong imprint. How come so many people blow it? Well, because we have many opportunities to blow it – via telephone, in person, or even on the Internet.

Consider the following example, which happened many years ago in a jewelry store. I always make it a point to support small businesses whenever possible and had decided to make a planned purchase at a local jewelry store rather than a large franchised operation.

I entered the store, a small but empty showroom where no one greeted me. After several minutes, an employee finally emerged from the back room. I could hear the television playing and it sounded like a commercial had come on. She asked if she could help me. I said, “I am looking for a heart necklace,” and she showed me the case where they were displayed.

It was then that the phone rang. From the tone of voice and conversation, it was obviously a personal friend. I heard that her daughter had a problem with a teacher, that she had forgotten to take the hamburger out of the freezer, and the fact that oh-how-she-wished that she weren’t at work.

At the end of her phone conversation, she returned to the back room for some reason. When she returned after a short time, she asked, “Have you made a decision?” I smiled and said, “Yes,” and I turned around and left the store.

Now, what’s wrong with this picture? Several things. See how you can avoid making those mistakes; check out these following eight tips on how to give your customer a great first impression:

1. Never, ever, EVER chew gum. And I mean never. While chewing gum itself may freshen your breath, the act of chewing gum shows contempt for your customer.

2. No matter how bad you feel, smile. It won’t kill you! Your customer may feel lousy, too, or they might be having a horrible day. Maybe their dad is in the hospital or their dog just died. But a smile and a warm greeting from you may be the thing they need right now, and it will keep them coming back.

Oh, and by the way, smiling makes YOU feel better. Try it. Right now. See? Don’t you feel better now?

3. Remember – every customer who walks through your door should be the most important thing that has happened all day. Be sure to treat them that way!

4. Even if you’re busy when the customer arrives, acknowledge their presence and let them know you’ll be with them shortly. There’s nothing worse than being ignored when you arrive and made to feel like you are a secondary consideration to the important task at hand!

5. If the customer needs to wait, ask if they would like anything to drink while they wait like water, coffee, or tea. They’ll feel more at home.

6. Engage your customer in small talk, but be sure to not talk TOO much. They don’t want to hear about your life story or the latest information about your surgery or health.

7. Learn to love your customers and enjoy having them around, and DO NOT look or act bored! Whether you think the customer is important or not, THEY think that they are. Don’t let them think that they’re not important!

8. If a customer comments on the beautiful weather, NEVER reply with, “Yeah, too nice to be working!” These comments reflect badly on the company and make the customer feel uncomfortable.

If you follow these tips and keep in mind that the customer is #1, you will be amazed at how your customers will respond. And who knows? That very customer may tell all their family and friends how great you are, and you could generate even more business. Remember, it’s ALL about the attitude!

Schnucks – You Win Some, You Lose Some!

Okay, so really, is it THAT tough to at least acknowledge the customer in front of you?

I was shopping at the Granite City Schnucks on Sunday, and twice I asked people for assistance – one person in the frozen foods section for pie crusts and one for some pre-made chicken.  Both took the time to take me there.  WOW.  Loved that!  They didn’t just point to where the items were, but they actually TOOK me there!

Then the checkout process began.  No greeting.  No eye contact.  Nothing.  I could not believe it.  Now the interesting part here is that my mom has had MULTIPLE experiences at this location with the same issue and last week, she actually spoke with a manager who said they were “working on it.” Well, apparently, that training has not started.  I did get, “Have a good day,” and eye contact when he handed me the receipt.  But nothing else, not even from the bagger!

Here is my question – you have competitors right down the street.  You have to wonder what it is that you can do to stand out.  I would say it begins with ACKNOWLEDGING YOUR CUSTOMERS.

Longhorn -1, Red Lobster – 0

People, I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – perception is EVERYTHING! The last three lunch visits at Red Lobster (twice in Alton, once in Fairview Heights) have ended up the same way.  I get there, ask for a table for one and they hand me a blinking thing and say, “It will be twenty minutes.” But upon closer observation, there are no less than ten (yes, ten) tables available.

So one would say – do they want you to spend money at the bar?  Are they short staffed yet again?  Could the manager and two others who are seating you assist the waiters?

The last two times I stayed but this time I did not.  I could not believe they were asking me to wait with about twenty others, and they had all of these tables open.

So I went down the street to Longhorn.  They took me right in, sat me down, and I had a great waiter.  I explained what I did for a living and told him about my experience at Red Lobster.  He did note that they were a parent company and explained that it could have been a shortage of waiters.  So, I offered this – “Could they have just given each waiter one more table?”  He laughed and totally knew where I was coming from.

Come on, Red Lobster – why are you making us wait for those delicious cheesy biscuits?!

 

Oh, Walgreens, You’re Definitely Doing It Right!

Okay, so, I’ve always been fond of Walgreens, but as some of you might know from reading my last blog, I’ve become quite a fan of them! And really, what’s not to love about this wonderful place? You can obtain your prescriptions from them there, pick up a couple of items you might need, and even print off your pictures.

Here’s another thing that I love, love, LOVE about Walgreens – they are truly stepping up to the plate in delivering excellent customer service. Not only did they help me with all of my picture developing needs a week or so ago, but they have also developed an amazing app for smart phones that helps their customers do their shopping more easily!

And I’m not the only person who loves this app. Tweetheart TV’s very own Stephanie Wonderlin, one of the top 100 Women in Social Media, raves about the app on her Tweetheart TV review. You can check out her review of the app here.

The app, which is available on Apple, Android, and Blackberry smart phones, has nine different features, which include pharmacy, photo, store locator, coupons, refill by scan, scanner, shopping list, weekly ads, and shop. Now that’s convenience!

If you’re sick with a sinus infection, bronchitis, pneumonia, or whatever, one of the last things you feel like doing is getting off the couch to go get your medicine from a pharmacy, let alone wait in line to receive said medication around other sick people. Well, now Walgreens helps eliminate the need to wait in line for the medication with their app! All you have to do is scan in your medication bar via your phone camera, or you can simply type in your prescription’s numbers. Afterward, manage and edit your pick up location and time for your refill. Easy, right?

It gets better. Walgreens exceeds my expectations even further with their photo app! You can upload the pictures you want to develop directly from your phone to the Walgreens app, and then you can pick up your pictures at the closest Walgreens location near you! This makes for developing pictures on the road SO much easier as you don’t even need a computer! So now you can come home from your weekend trip with your friends and show your family your adventures with pictures in hand!

Oh, and did you know that Walgreens also exceeds in getting back to their customers on social media? Recently, I tweeted to them about the great experience I had at their store, and they replied to me rather quickly! Here’s what I said:

“#Customerservice done right! Thank you @Walgreens!”  I also added a link to the blog I wrote about them last week.

To that, Walgreens replied to me, “This is great to hear! Thank you!” And not only that, but they actually retweeted my message so others could see! Now THAT’S customer service done right!

So Walgreens, you’ve heard it from me – I’m very proud of how you’ve been handling your customer service, and I encourage you to keep up the great work! To everyone else out there, I challenge you to step up and provide excellent customer service to your customers. If all else fails, just channel Walgreens, and you’ll be on the right track!

Cracker Barrel Takes you There- Literally!

 

I must admit – I am indeed a Cracker Barrel fan.  They have wonderfully crusted macaroni and cheese.  And, of course, thick cut bacon.  And you can’t forget the Coca Cola cake with ice cream!  I mean, who doesn’t love a good meal?!

But my experience did not stop at just a great meal when I was at the O’Fallon Cracker Barrel.  In this particular experience, I do not believe I could have improved anything in any way.

As I entered the lobby, of course, I heard the usual, “Welcome to Cracker Barrel,” but this greeting was a bit different.  The employee looked up and beamed at me; I could really tell that she had a smile in her voice, too.

As I approached the hostess station, I was greeted by a smiling, friendly face who said, “Welcome to Cracker Barrel! How many are in your party?” As he came out from behind the station, he walked over to the picture of the special of the day and explained the special while drawing my eye to the picture with his hands. He then said that the hostess would take me to my seat.

Yep, here’s where it gets good.

Usually, a person walking you to your table walks ahead of you and is waiting for you when you get to the table.  This is what I would usually call a missed opportunity but not in this case.  You see, the person actually walked with me and had a REAL conversation!  Wow, almost unheard of!  (By the way, businesses often tell me they do not have time to walk with the customer, to which I say, “It takes the same amount of time to wait for them there as it does to walk, talk, and build a relationship for ten seconds.”)

The hostess let us know the name of our waitress and quietly stepped away.  About ten seconds later an extremely friendly waitress approached and asked for my drink order.  You just knew by looking and talking with her that she loved her job and clearly did it very well.  I decided on a new dish, requesting the bacon be a bit crisp and sour cream on the side.  My tea was never left empty.  She just unassumingly slid in and filled it.

Oh, and when my food arrived – it included EVERYTHING I asked for.

Here is another WOW.  As I was finishing up my meal the waitress approached with another waiter, to let me know that her shift was ending and she wanted to introduce me to my new waiter.  WOW!  Really!  Okay, so get this, HE was just as friendly as SHE was!  It was crazy.  I just sat there in awe of it all.

As I finished up my plate, the waiter said, “Are you finished with your plate?” and I said, “I am thinking I couldn’t lick anything more off that plate,” and he responded with, “So no room for pineapple upside cake?”  WOW – an upsell.  So, of course, with that being said, I felt the need to – well, I HAD to order a dessert at that time, but made the choice of the Coca Cola Cake with ice cream.

At this point, I couldn’t hold back any more.  So, when he came back to the table, I gave him a card and explained that I owned my own customer service company and I wanted him to know that I would be blogging about him on my website.  When he brought the check and on my way out, I stopped to talk with the manager.  He was extremely grateful for my feedback, and it just so happened that others from the management team were at the table.  Every single one of them was nicer than the other.

What made this complete experience a WOW was just that – it was a complete experience.  Every detail was handled, every script was utilized (though without feeling scripted), and even the restroom was clean (An unclean restroom would have thrown this whole experience out the door.).

It’s true that you remember the lowest level of experience you’ve ever received.  I now challenge you to find something in this experience that wasn’t a WOW!  So, O’Fallon Cracker Barrel, I am going to say words that will just make your day – “I’ll be back!”