Walking the Talk

“Customer-first” is a phrase you’ve probably heard a hundred times. Maybe you’ve even written it into your company’s mission statement. But as easy as it is to say, living it takes intention, discipline, and the courage to see your business through your customer’s eyes, to admit when you’re wrong and…
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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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On-Ramps to Sales, Off-Ramps to Lost Customers

When customers interact with your business, they follow a journey that either leads them to loyalty or drives them away. A common metaphor is that sales and customer service processes are like a highway with on-ramps and off-ramps. On-ramps make it easy for customers to buy from you, while off-ramps…
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Transparency Builds Confidence

One of the most significant obstacles to customer satisfaction is uncertainty. Customers often obsess over what could go wrong, from whether they’ve chosen the right options to whether the company is telling them everything they need to know before they commit. When customers feel unsure or feel left in the…
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Balancing Automated and Human Customer Service

The most important component of the customer experience—the combination of products, services, brand reputation, discoverability, and more—is easily customer service. In fact, one could say that no matter what your industry is, it’s your most important product. No wonder so many businesses are seeking new and innovate ways to enhance…
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Strategies for Staying Open

As if the labor shortage weren’t already aggravated by the so-called Great Resignation and the droves of baby-boomers retiring, you can add a giant spike of employees calling out sick recently. Fueled by the Omicron surge and likely combined with other seasonal maladies, many businesses are struggling to field enough…
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