- Image by Vivanista1 via Flickr
Keeping customers happy is the number one priority of a business. Making sure that they get what they asked for means that they’ll be back for more in the future. A steady customer is what drives the bottom line of the business, empowering the company’s growth and draws in more customers. The importance of satisfied clients means that they in turn will sing the praises of the business, providing word of mouth sales.
The road to customer satisfaction starts the moment that the order is taken. Whoever takes the order needs to keep a smile in their voice, even if they aren’t feeling it that day. It’s important to make that customer feel like their business is wanted. So many stories are out there along the lines of “they don’t seem to want my business, so I’m taking it elsewhere.” It truly doesn’t take much to avoid this situation. Put the best customer service reps on the job, ones that want to give the customer their all. Sure, everyone has a bad day, but those who truly love their job will have them the least.
After the order is taken, it’s now time to fulfill it. Make sure that the product at hand is of the best quality available. No “bruised fruit” should ever go out the door. Sometimes a customer doesn’t mind getting something that’s less than first quality, but check first. One never knows if time is of the essence and they’ll accept an item that’s not perfect. It’s good practice to sweeten the deal by taking a little percentage off. It may shave the profit margin down, but everyone wins. The customer gets the item when they need it, the company doesn’t have to throw away inventory, and a little bit of cash went into the profit line. All of this by going the extra step.
