Why I Didn't Buy the Pants from Your Store

I didn't buy the pants. Not because I didn't like them, but because I lost all interest after dealing with too many barriers " the barriers retailers put up between a customer's interest in making a purchase and actually making the purchase.

When Your Home is Also Your Office

When I was a teenager, my mom worked out of a home office. There were strict rules pertaining to Mom’s workday: She was not to be bothered unless the house was on fire or there were people at the door with balloons and a “ginormous” check from Publishers Clearing House. Mom laid down very clear ground rules, and she and Dad enforced them. Here are some tips to help you make working at home a home run:

Social Networking – Just Do It!

If you still think that social networking is for kids – think again! According to Facebook’s site – the fastest growing demographic of their 300 million users are 35 years old and older. If you aren’t using Facebook and other sites like Twitter and LinkedIn to promote your business you’re missing an opportunity and likely falling behind your competitors who are!

How to Get Your Customers to Give you Feedback

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.

Give A Little - Get A Lot

According to a new study by the University of California, Berkeley, workers who are more generous at the office had more influence and are more likely to get ahead in the workplace. This likely comes as no surprise, but it's a good reminder to give more than you get when it comes to how you interact with your co-workers. It's good for you, for them, for business and for your career prospects.

SMILE:) - It's Good for 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!

What LL Bean can Teach us About Service

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.