Customer Service??

OK, I am about to rant a little, but I just can't take it one more minute!  If I walk into another retail store where some disembodied, twenty-something voice from behind me in the clothing racks or from the back of the store says "Welcome to [fill in the blank]", scarring the hell out of me, I am going postal!!!  Don't these young people know what real customer service means?  Don't they know you need to make EYE CONTACT with the customer when they enter your establishment, then speak?  Didn't their manager's look up from their IPhones or Blackberries long enough to explain this one important component to the "official greeting"? 

For heaven's sake!  Stop rattling off your greeting like a Pavlovian dog the minute you hear the door chime.  Move your ass across the showroom floor and get in my line of vision before engaging me in conversation.  Instead, you're giving me a whiplash from trying to find you, while I'm doing an impression of Robert DeNiro in Taxi Driver,...."Are you talkin' to me?...Are you talkin' to ME?!"

The only retail store that has really impressed me lately with their customer service is, believe it or not, the AT&T Wireless store.  I hope the smart marketing executive that turned these stores around got a huge raise.  I used to dread the AT&T store.  You would stand around for what seemed an eternity before any of those snotty kids would look up from their computer screens to help you.  Now, it's an entirely new experience.  You are greeted face-to-face at the door by a polite, well trained customer service rep and that customer service rep stays with you every step of the way until you leave the store.  Excellent!  A+, AT&T.  My only complaint is the last time I was in the AT&T store to purchase a hands-free system for my car, the young woman helping me suggested a system she knew I would like because her mom really liked hers.   Ouch!

Happy Organizing

2011, Bring It On!



Happy New Year, Dear Hearts.  I hope you're as jazzed about the new year as I am.  My Christmas spirit may have waned over the years, but I'm always excited about the promise a new year brings.  There's something about breaking out that new calendar of 12 months that makes all things seem possible.  I'm not one for resolutions, but I do believe in taking the time to envision a fresh start, or in some cases, a "do over" with better results.

I've been watching a lot of television lately in my free time during the holidays and of all the resolutions people are talking about, reducing clutter and getting organized appear to be the most popular.  I, of course, applaud this resolve, but I recommend setting specific, attainable goals that will help steal your resolve with success.

The key is small, doable projects.  For instance:

• Clean out your refrigerator and give it a good scrubbing.
• Have your car detailed and treat yourself to a new travel mug.
• Clear out your closets of unused clothes and shoes, and donate them to charity.
• Throw out all your old or unused makeup, cosmetic brushes, hair brushes, razors, bath products and start fresh with new razors, loofahs, brushes, sponges, etc...
• Buy new underwear and clean out your lingerie drawer....DO IT!
• Box up your office files from 2010 and put new, empty file folders in your file drawers, ready to fill with new business.
• Get a facial.
• Take down all the stuff held by magnets to your frig door and create a blank canvas for the new year.
• Have the kids donate to charity one toy or gadget for every new toy or gadget they received for Christmas.

Well, you get the idea.  I've personally cleaned out my makeup drawer and bought 4 new bras (I even had a personal bra fitting...gravity can sure change things in a year!).  Completion of these small goals can serve to set a good precedent, and inspiration, for bringing order into your year going forward.  However, if you absolutely must have a new year's resolution, resolve to be kinder to yourself, gossip less and say "I love you" more, or ask your children about their day more often, then really listen to what they say.

Happy Organizing