Closing the Sale Doesn’t Have to Feel Weird

Asking for the sale can feel awkward—especially when you’re new or working in a high-end retail. Whether you’re helping someone shop for an anniversary gift or guiding them toward the luxury timepiece of their dreams, that final moment—the moment where you say, “Would you like to move forward?”—can make your…
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The Drop in Dining-Out Is a Wake-Up Call—and an Opportunity

In a sign of the times, “Restaurant Brands (QSR.TO) missed first-quarter revenue and profit estimates on Thursday, hurt by sluggish demand at its restaurant chains such as Burger King and Tim Hortons amid tariff-related uncertainty,” according to a recent Reuters report. That miss isn’t just a warning signal for the…
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Tariffs, Turbulence, and the Power of Your Customer Experience

One of the hard lessons of the last few years has been that economic uncertainty is just our reality. now. Whether it’s global pandemics, international tariffs, shifting regulations, or even Houthi pirate activity disrupting supply chains, you can count on something throwing a wrench in the economy. The big-box retailers…
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Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late

When it comes to delivering a top-flight customer experience, timing is everything. All too often, businesses wait until the very end of a transaction—or worse, until after a complaint surfaces—to find out how the customer felt about their experience. By then, the damage is done! Instead, the wisest businesses train…
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Quality Products Do Not Guarantee Success

Every business owner should dream of offering the best product in their industry—one that’s so good it outshines the competition with its top-notch craftsmanship and unbeatable value. But having the best product isn’t enough to guarantee success. Studies show that customers are just as influenced by their experience with a…
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Customer Service Is an Ongoing Commitment

Training employees in customer service is an essential component of employee development for any business. However, many managers make the mistake of treating it as a one-time event, something that is handled during the onboarding process. While onboarding is a critical time to establish service expectations, as we all know,…
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A Repeat Customer Is Not Always a Loyal Customer

It’s easy to assume that customers who keep coming back must be loyal to a business. However, this isn’t always the case. In fact, customers often return out of convenience, habit, or price, and not necessarily because they are emotionally invested in your brand. As soon as a competitor offers…
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Be Proud Not Prideful

Customer service is about building relationships, solving problems, and fostering trust. However, according to a recent article by customer-service expert Shep Hyken, one of the biggest obstacles to great service is pride. When pride gets in the way, employees and managers can become defensive, argumentative, and resistant to change—all of…
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The Power of Listening

Businesses that listen to both their customers and their employees possess an overwhelming advantage over their competitors. Gathering feedback isn’t just about checking boxes—it’s about making informed decisions to improve the customer experience, increase employee satisfaction, and drive revenue growth. At The Brandt Group, we understand the importance of feedback…
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