Gift Basket Business Blog

“Tune-Up” Your Customer Service Staff

March 21st, 2009 at 11:52am Lorie Obernauer

I just read an article in February issue of  “The Gourmet Retailer” about the importance of keeping your staff “tuned”. When business is slow, apathy can set in. Sometimes, it seems that less gets done the less we have to do.

Now would be a good time to get your staff involved and reinvigorated about their work. Plan a meeting for all staff members that includes plenty of great food (pot-lucks are perfect!). Make sure this is “fun”: a time to get together and share. Use this time to solicit ideas from staff members as well as talk about your plans for the upcoming months.

• Show the staff the new products that you found during your recent buying trips and get their opinions on baskets that could be designed with these items.
• Generate a list of “spring cleaning” ideas: chores that need to be done to help make the business run more efficiently. (For example, build a new ribbon rack to organize all those rolls that are lying on shelves; rearrange your shipping area so that supplies are stacked neatly and readily available; hang a bulletin board where employees can make notes about products that are running low).
• Brainstorm ideas for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day promotions.
• Ask for volunteers to call customers and get updates on email addresses.

Please share your ideas about how you keep your staff inspired. A highly motivated staff can go a long way to making our businesses prosper!

Entry Filed under: Business Tips, Customer Service, Marketing