100SPARKS.COM: Recent Comments

Comment on CUSTOMER SPARK #15 - WHAT'S OUR SIGN?

Nickole Brown — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 20:25:29 GMT

I was lost my first time here as well. You guys are great about taking care of your customers and that is what I love about you! Thanks for being awsome!

Comment on CUSTOMER SPARK #18 - "AS LONG AS YOU NEED TO"

Jeff Pelletier — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 21:09:31 GMT

This is a great spark about putting your customer's needs above your own.

I found myself avoiding my office one day this week, as I was being "stalked" by two students who wanted to have an unscheduled meeting with me. I managed to fend them off by stating that I had another meeting to get to (which I did), but when they moved down the hall to wait for my colleague to return, I realized that the small window of time I had hoped to have to myself could be better spent addressing their questions. It might not have been the most convenient time for me to meet with them (I was a touch late to that next meeting because of it), but they left with a better understanding of what they could do with their organization.

The meeting was not on my calendar, but it was clearly on theirs and that was what mattered most to them. I still got done what I needed to that day, even though, like Kara, that meant working later than planned on a Friday.

Comment on CUSTOMER SPARK #17 - SNOW DAY

Tamara Putvin — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 02:24:40 GMT

I am alwasy so delighted to see a new spark in my mailbox. Your team has a def. unity that I love seeing and sharing. Keep up the great Customer Service. Your team in an inspiration to the rest of us in the service industry.

Comment on CUSTOMER SPARK #15 - WHAT'S OUR SIGN?

Mike Thimmmesch — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 16:38:14 GMT

I really liked how you were attentive to your client's needs, especially their emotional needs. It was a great idea to walk in their shoes to experience what they were feeling.

You also very creatively used on of our newest products, the Myriad Banner Stand. When we designed the banner stand to also have shelves to hold things, I don't think we could have envisioned a pair of colorful Mr. Potato Heads adorning the banner stand. Hats off!

Regards,

Mike Thimmesch
Skyline Exhibits

Comment on CUSTOMER SPARK #5 - MIKE

Jeff Pelletier — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 20:07:28 GMT

Funny story about names of delivery-people. I have always made it a point to learn the names of our housekeepers, mail carriers, and delivery folks. I work pretty closely with the truck driver who delivers thousands of cases of Coca-Cola products to our building for our student organizations and other campus events.

Trying to be slick, I asked the account manager what his name was, so that I could use it instead of saying "hey, dude" every time he was in our office. I was told his name was Gary.
Two years later, I found out his name was actually Greg. So not only did his account manager not know his name, but I had been calling him by the wrong name for TWO YEARS! Greg being the nice guy that he is, just responded every time, and never told me that his name was not really Gary.

To this day, I always hesitate before saying hello, since I almost never remember which name is correct. I may have even switched them in this comment.
I don't know if there is a lesson here, but Greg and I are still friendly so I guess he was at least grateful that I tried, which may be more than some of his other delivery points do.

Comment on CUSTOMER SPARK #9 - ISN'T THAT WHAT CELL PHONES ARE FOR?

Jeff Pelletier — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 19:39:01 GMT

Reading this spark got me to thinking - where does the staff of a conference center go for a retreat? I know that many businesses and organizations use your space to retreat and get away from their usual surroundings, so what do you do? Hole yourselves up in a stuffy meeting room somewhere in a faceless high-rise building??
Just curious, because wherever you go must really work, given how amazing your staff is!
Happy New Year,
--Jeff

Comment on CUSTOMER SPARK #11 - SOUNDING BOARDS, SHIFTING, AND ACCOUNTABILITY

Chandni — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 22:50:54 GMT

Thank you for publishing this blog! The anecdotes demonstrate real situations that we face and times when we forget how we could have made a difference by serving the customer better. Great inspiration!

Comment on CUSTOMER SPARK #10 - THE EXTRA 1151 MILES

sparkspace — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 11:52:47 GMT

Thanks for the comment. We're excited to see other companies give it a try. We are working on developing a program to help people through the process, so if there's any way we can help at all, please let us know!

Comment on CUSTOMER SPARK #10 - THE EXTRA 1151 MILES

Darcy Spangler — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 11:40:04 GMT

I really appreciate the 100 Sparks concept and am trying to initiate this into my co-workers.

Comment on CUSTOMER SPARK #6 - IF YOU'VE GOT TIME TO LEAN...

Ohio Web Design Will — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 15:26:00 GMT

I completly agree, we spent alot of time getting ready for 2009 and cleaning up this past weekend. It's incredible the amount of misc. things that build up over a year. Also I noticed you mentioned not alot of people coming through the doors. You should look into search engine work, thats what keeps business flowing through your email inbox, instead of doors. It helps alot believe me, we are non-stop working on our own. Have a good 2009, Will