Lessons from Nike’s Amazon Departure

Earlier this week, Nike announced that the company will no longer sell its products through Amazon, saying, “As part of Nike’s focus on elevating consumer experiences through more direct, personal relationships, we have made the decision to complete our current pilot with Amazon Retail.” That pilot program began back in…
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Three Simple Tweaks for Better Customer Service

Whatever your business’s wares, whether cuisine, cars, groceries, or something else, your first and most important product is your customer service. How your customers are treated and the impression they’re left with when they leave are the most important factors for both repeat patronage and evangelism. Your impressive selection of…
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Surviving in the World of Big Chains and Online Warehouses

The Verge posted a fascinating article describing so-called Amazon Nomads, independent merchants who scour out-of-the-way stores (often failing chains in small towns) for products on clearance to snap up and sell using Amazon’s storefront. But with all of the prognostications about the death of brick-and-mortar, one can’t help but think…
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The High Cost of Saving a Buck

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to save a buck. That’s why so many of us choose to shop at big-box stores that deal in such a high volume they can afford to sell their products closer to cost. Those narrower profit margins still translate to larger profits overall due to…
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Setting Expectations

As Katherine Barchetti has said, “Make a customer, not a sale.” Indeed, one of the common themes of our blog is the importance of making the customer experience your top priority so you can do just that. There is nothing more vital than the lasting impression he or she takes…
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Delivering the Best Customer Experience

Delivering the Best Customer Experience Shep Hyken recently posted another invaluable article recently, “20 Tips on How to Deliver an Amazing Customer Service Experience”. Let’s do a deep dive on a few of his points to really reinforce the importance of emphasizing customer service above all else, even before the…
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Your Invisible Product

Service That Sells posted a great article at the end of last month that we want to spotlight today, titled “Why Do Restaurants Fail?” As they explain, “The bottom line is that restaurants fail because they couldn’t sell enough product to cover their costs.” That may seem obvious on its…
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How to Leverage Your Online Presence

“If you’re not online, you don’t exist.” This may be the most important truism regarding visibility in today’s marketplace. Indeed, there are whole businesses dedicated to search-engine optimization, online reputation management, and more. There are even now previously unheard-of careers like digital influencers and brand ambassadors. If you want to…
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Complete the Picture with Feedback Surveys

We’re fond of saying that customer loyalty isn’t something you earn once—it’s something you must earn over and over again at every opportunity. You earn it with each interaction, whether it’s when a customer visits your retail store, calls your customer service, or receives a follow-up call from your salesperson.…
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