I noticed the headlight was out on my 2002 Jetta so I took it into the dealership to replace it. My car has 130k miles on it and like all of us with a few miles on us Ms. Jetta requires a little more upkeep than a newer vehicle. While I was there they pointed out several other issues that I need to address soon.
Ask anyone who works with the public and they will tell you that one of the keys to survival is having a good sense of humor and the ability to let criticism roll off your back. I learned this lesson quickly when I operated businesses in Bar Harbor during the summer tourist season.
I recently interviewed the operations manager from a local bakery that distributes products through out the US and Canada. One of their most popular products are whoopie pies. If you are not familiar with them - imagine two chocolate round cakes filled with a butter cream frosting center. There are many variations to the recipe - different flavors and sizes - but the traditional whoopie pie continues to be the most popular.
Yep... that would be me --- numb!
Ask anyone who works with the public and they will tell you that one of the keys to survival is having a good sense of humor and the ability to let criticism roll off your back. I learned this lesson quickly when I operated businesses in Bar Harbor during the summer tourist season.
Customers are critical to the success of your business especially in these challenging times. Your customers are also a valuable resource when it comes to making decisions regarding the direction of your business.
I recently returned from a fantastic trip to Aruba where customer service is as much a part of the island as the sandy white beaches. Tourism is the economic driver in Aruba so being nice to tourists is key to the survival of the island. From the hotel staff to the restaurant workers to the bus drivers – everyone is so nice!
The National Retail Federation recently named LL Bean the number one retailer when it comes to providing exceptional customer service. There were a number of reasons customers voted LL Bean number one - including their liberal return policy. If you’re unsatisfied with a product you purchased at LL Bean they’ll take it back no matter how long ago you purchased it.
Talk to me! Tell me what’s going on! When it comes to providing excellent customer service – communication is key! This is especially true when customers are waiting for service. Let’s face, it we’re all busy these days so when we have to wait for anything it can lead to great frustration and dissatisfaction.
L.L. Bean proves once again that they are the leaders when it comes to providing exceptional customer service. The National Retail Federation recently released the results of their fifth annual NRF Foundation/American Express Customers' Choice survey, conducted by BIGresearch. This is the third year in a row that Beans has held the top spot. Overstock.com came in second, followed by Zappos, Amazon and QVC. Go Beans " go Maine!
Have you given thought to what you would do if you or your key employees were too sick to come to work?
Small business owners know that satisfied customers are critical to the success of your business!
Watching the news lately has me thinking about one word lately – trust. Starting with Tiger Woods admitting in a press conference that he messed up. Now he’s trying to regain the trust of his sponsors, fans and last but not least - his wife. 
A friend of mine recently posted on her Facebook page that she had to cut back on her spending. She stated she would cut her visits to one of her favorite big box stores because she can’t seem to get out of there without dropping at least 50 bucks!
I’ve been spending a lot of time on line lately researching places to stay when I head to Napa Valley California next month. I’ve looked at a zillion websites for resorts, hotels and B&B’s. I recall my days as an inn owner in Bar Harbor back in the 90’s and think to myself - how things have changed. 
We’re all aware that using the web and social media to market our businesses is critical in this age of technology. But don’t discount the impact of a more traditional approach to your marketing efforts …