Archive for December 2010
a Tough Lesson – Customer Service Tips
These customer service tips will save you thousands of dollars and create a lasting bond with your customers. I was thinking recently about one of my worse home based business nightmares and how it turned out to be a very valuable lesson for creating excellent customer service.
It started out like a great dream. We just started our toner and ink-jet business and our first business customer was a medical firm of about 20 offices. I had known the purchasing agent for sometime and before long we got the contract to supply these offices with printer products.
We were so excited to get the order that we did not question when the purchasing agent placed a huge order for hundreds of toner and ink-jet supplies. She had mentioned that they were going to make the main office the headquarters for all the printer supplies.
The business we had set up was a drop ship company which meant we would be getting all the products from various manufacturers. We were on a cash basis with the suppliers, meaning that all funds were paid up front.
We ordered all the supplies believing that the purchasing agent knew what she was doing. Well, it became a logistical nightmare when they could not fit all the products into the storage area they had created.
Of course the medical firm was way too overstocked and we had to send back more then half of the orders. Now that makes it difficult when you are working with numerous manufacturers and their return policies. Our company motto is excellent customer service so we immediately sent a representative down to correct the errors.
Even though it was the purchasing agent who created the mess, when I look back at the situation it was my home based business that was more at fault. We had only offered good customer service not excellent customer service.
These customer service tips will save you from getting into the situation that my company did and save your time and money.
Customer Service Tips
*Pre Qualify Your Customer and their Needs
*Help the Customer with Volume Amounts
*Verify Storage Life of Product
*Test the Product and Business Relationship
Pre Qualify Your Customer
Integrating Ethics into All Levels of the Organization
It’s not worth investing in and implementing an ethics and compliance program unless the time is spent integrating the program into all aspects of an organization. The need for companies to develop effective ethics and compliance programs has been acknowledged by several government agencies- examples are the SEC in the US and the government in the UK. Both groups have recently passed legislation or made amendments to existing guidelines, focusing heavily on the importance of ethics and compliance at all levels of an organization- especially at the top. Employees at each level contribute to the success of a company’s ethics and compliance program. Integrating ethics and compliance at each level helps ensure the message from the top makes it all the way down to the lower levels of the organization. Training, messages and other ethics and compliance initiatives must be developed to evolve with employees as they move through the company. That being said, employees at various levels need to be prepared to address different ethical issues they may encounter based on the role they play in the organization.
Integrating Ethics at the Top
The tone of the organization is set at the top, therefore, a strong commitment and understanding of ethics and compliance must be instilled in top level executives and managers. Ethics and compliance must be built into a company’s corporate culture, as culture determines “the way things are done” within an organization. Top level executives serve as examples for fellow employees. Those at the top must frequently communicate and demonstrate to their staff the company’s commitment to ethics and compliance, as well as ensure ethics and compliance are built into all company projects. Top level managers must adopt and act on the values and messages they communicate to be considered credible in committing to ethics.
If your company hasn’t done so already, establish the role of a Chief Ethics/Compliance Officer (CECO). This person will be responsible for maintaining and executing ethics and compliance related activities (policy development, training, policy enforcement, program monitoring) to ensure company compliance with laws and regulations. One of the areas many companies must improve on is providing the CECO with appropriate resources and authority to effectively carry out their mission. In many organizations, the ethics and compliance department is relatively small in comparison to the total number of employees at a company. With the recent economic downturn, a number of companies were forced to reassess budgets, cutting ethics and compliance spending at a time when it was needed most. Don’t create positions or policy documents for the sake of looking good in the eyes of the public- the public can tell if a company is faking it.
Free Donut Shop Business Plan
Free Donut Shop Business Plan for Loans
Obtaining Business Financing
When obtaining a business loan for a donut shop business, it is imperative that you have a properly structured business plan that will assist you in showcasing how you intend to operate your Donut Shop, how the business will operate, how you intend to market the business, the anticipated financial results of your company, and how you intend to repay your debt obligations. This sample loan business plan will provide you with the framework that you need in order to acquire a business loan for starting or expanding this type of business.
Executive Summary
Introduction
When obtaining a business loan for a donut shop, it is imperative that your business plan has a clear and concise executive summary that provides an outline of what are seeking to accomplish, how much capital you are seeking to raise, the management biography of the business owner, and an overview of the anticipated profit and loss statements of the business. Here is an example of how the title paragraph should be written:
Donut Shop, Inc. (“the Company”) is seeking a business loan of 0,000 in order to launch the operations of a donut shop business that will be based in San Francisco, California. The Company was founded in (Insert Year). The business was founded by Mr. John Doe.
Products and Services
In the next segment of the business loan and business planning document, you should showcase the products and services that you will be providing to the general public. For instance:
As stated above, Donut Shop, Inc. will specialize in the retail sale of donuts, pastries, and beverages that are commonly found among retail locations that specialize in these products. The business will produce its donuts and pastries on site so that customers are provided with only the freshest products on a daily basis.
The third section of the business plan will further discuss the operations and products offered by the Donut Shop.
Business Loan Terms
Now it is time to discuss the anticipated terms of the business plan that you are seeking. An example paragraph of how this is stated:
From career counseling to placement assistance, HCL CDC is the right IT Institute!
IT education in India is a much opted study option for maximum numbers of students. The drastic growth in IT sector has further enhanced the requirement for more IT experts in the country. The increasing demand for IT experts further provides a direct impact on IT education in India. Through this article, let us have a look at how HCL CDC as an IT institute plays a primary role while imparting IT education in India to budding aspirants. From career counseling to placement assistance, HCL CDC is one such IT institute which imparts quality and standard IT training to its students.
HCL CDC’s role in IT education in India
HCL CDC plays an important role while imparting training for IT education in India. Every year, the institute prepares thousands of IT professionals by grooming their skills and training them to become experts in various IT sectors. HCL CDC’s approach of imparting IT education in India is different from other IT institutes. The following paragraphs will throw more light upon why HCL CDC is a preferred choice amongst the list of IT institutes in India.
Career Development Facilities at HCL CDC
Nowadays, a mere training for a particular IT course is not sufficient. Students are expected to have all-round knowledge about work place, corporate culture along with technical knowledge right during their training period. Every organization expects an IT passed out to be well versed in his related field of training as well as in related corporate skills. Career Development programs are specially designed to prepare students with extra knowledge and skill about work culture, etiquette and career enhancing techniques. Though the technical skill is mandatory, these things also count while shaping a successful career of any candidate. HCL CDC stands apart from other IT institutes particularly for its career development facilities. A wide range of career development facilities are provided at HCL CDC to assist IT students to launch a rewarding career in IT sector no sooner than they complete their IT training. A list of career development programs offered at HCL CDC include-
- Skill development in India
- Industrial training in India
-Enterprise learning solutions
- Corporate training in India
- Project training
Career in Hospitality Management
Hospitality management is the academic study of the running of hotels, restaurants, and travel and tourism-related business. Hospitality management is both a field of work and a field of study. In the work sense, it refers to management of hotels, restaurants, travel agencies, and other institutions in the hospitality industry. As a field of study, it refers to the study of the hospitality industry and its management needs.
Given the potential for interesting and rewarding careers in tourism and hospitality industries many young people are looking for suitable courses which will help and facilitate them to build strong career in tourism and hospitality industries. After graduating from Hotel Management institutes there is a wide range of career option available for all the aspirants.
Hotels, one can get placed in reputed hotels like Taj, Oberoi’s and to some international chains like Hyatt, Sheraton etc. One can get placed in different departments like housekeeping, front office and food & beverages etc depending upon skills, knowledge and interest of the candidate.
Airline industry, is also a good option for the hotel management students. One can join as an Air Hostess and Flight Stewards. Some of them can also join as ground Staff or as Public Relationship officers. Retail sector, has a wide range open for hotel management graduates. It includes PVR, Malls, Back Office jobs, joining as receptionist in corporate offices, Hospitals and BPO industry.
Enterpreneur, one has the option to open up his own hotel as he has done the theoratical study and can now implement studied principles to make his hotel world famous.
Careers in hotel management-The Hospitality sector travel & tourism, hotel industry – has witnessed a fast growth in recent years. To match its rapid growth, the Hostel industry is in constant need of qualified professionals. Candidates opting for the Career in Hotel Management need to go through a rigorous professional training program. Qualification in Hotel management will open doors for young aspirants in the areas like Management trainee in hotels, Customer relationship executives in hotels, Housekeeping management, Cabin crew in airlines, Catering officer in cruiselines and executive in Tourism Development Corporations.
With increasing globalization, career opportunities in the field of hospitality are not limited within the country but there are chains of hotels which operate internationally providing scope of a career abroad. With the growth of hotel industry propelled by foreign and domestic tourism and business travel, the demand for well trained quality personnel too has grown impressively.
Starting a Business From Home: How to Start a Home Business and Keep It Positive and Prosperous!
Starting a business from home is easy when you learn to use the secret that successful business people have mastered throughout the years. Using the Law of Attraction in your home business catapults your success in many ways.
SUCCESSFUL VISUALIZATION: When starting a business from home, one of the first things necessary is to have a vision of what you want for your life and how you want your business to run. Having this inner vision ensures that you not only stay on track with your new endeavor, but also invokes one of the greatest laws of the Universe, the Law of Attraction. This enables you to attract everything you need on how to start a home business.
While many people discuss the Law of Attraction, there are two critical factors you must use when visualizing your home business success:
First, in order to manifest anything, you have to come from a place of true desire for your life in general. When you can visually see and emotionally feel how you want your life to be overall, then your business choices will fall into place naturally.
Secondly, the true way to use the Law of Attraction is by feeling that you have already attained your business success before you start. When you feel your success on an emotional level and believe your success is possible, you have mastered starting a business that will succeed.
VISION BOARD: One of the main benefits of starting a business at home is that you have full control over your working time and space. So, putting up a vision board and using daily visualization exercises that allow you to access your emotional feelings of having a successful business is easy and gives you a visual boost every day. If you can’t find pictures, draw or sketch out your internal images. This fun act has already begun the manifestation process simply because now your dreams are on paper.
LAW OF ATTRACTION BUSINESS: Another thing to consider when starting a business from home and using the Law of Attraction is to start a Law of Attraction Business. Just like a painter becomes well versed with painting techniques, so you will become well versed with how to successfully use the Law of Attraction. Successful business people, whether they are starting a business at home or in the corporate world, know how important it is to choose a profitable business model and a Law of Attraction Business can be highly profitable.
Clover advertising ? Enhance brand visibility and market share with ease
The direct marketing specialist Clover Advertising is one of the fastest growing companies in this segment in London. With many satisfied customers in its fold, Clover has carved a niche of its own in direct marketing. Driven by a dedicated team of professionals, Clover has branched out into other areas like Bristol and Cardiff and has set its eyes on higher goals as the impending expansion plans that will help Clover advertising to jump-start its operations in many unrepresented pockets of the world such as Newport, Derby, Gloucester and Europe among others.
Founded by Gareth Byrne, Clover stands out with its innovative and personalised marketing solutions to the clients. Apart from providing promotional services to large corporate companies and increasing their markets share and brand image, Clover Advertising also deliver measurable results for the clients. Direct marketing is well poised to be one of the most potent means of marketing in the days ahead and with Clover Advertising, the possibilities of growth is virtually endless.
No matter whether your business interest is in Telecommunication / Internet, Financial Services, Charities and Sports and Entertainment, Clover advertising will help you notch up your sales by offering tailor-made business packages. The exposure in both national and international business scene has made Clover one of the leading Marketing Companies throughout the UK. By contracting your marketing activities and promotional affairs, the customers can chuck out the marketing blues and bid adieu to all those brain storming sessions and late night meetings to work out strategies to enhance your brand visibility and market share. Clover Ad vertising Ltd
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How to Promote Your Business Online?
So how long have you been thinking about the reasons why your business has not getting notified the way it has to be? If you have nailed down the reason as lack of marketing sources then here’s a relief bestowing solution to help you shoot up your business through marketing and advertising promotions. The answer is simple and right at your finger tip- online marketing.
There are very few places left for the internet technology to invade on the globe. And in almost all the places where it has struck more and more people are starting to become its slaves comfortably. This addiction is simply due to the easiness of accessing the internet and helping yourselves achieve what you had wanted to get done within a matter of seconds. Internet marketing has a number of added advantages when compared to the traditional ways of promoting your business through marketing.
The speed with which the targeted customers could be reached out to is remarkable. Emails holding the contents and information about your business and products could be sending to targeted customers online easily. This would be help you to communicate with interested customers and build a good relation with them. Online promotions could carry forth your business beyond geographical boundaries also as every nation has embraced the internet technology open heartedly. This is a huge bonus cum blessings for small business men to help them and their companies known to the rest of the world.
Apart from the local customers whom you could easily and straightly meet up online marketing help you broaden your customer base across the globe. Small business online marketing is based on pull marketing strategies. This means it actually pulls or attracts customers who accidentally or specifically hit your online promotion site when they are searching for a product online.
There are certain optimization techniques that could be carried out to help increase the number of hits your web site gets by search engine optimization. This is a feature that is available only for online marketing. Apart from this the modes of promotions could also vary when they are made online. There could be video demonstrations, catchy graphic posters, reviewing and comparing products etc in small business online marketing.
Customers Direct Point of Contact – Customer Service Representatives
Customer service representatives (CSRs)
Interact with customers to provide information in response to inquiries about products and services and to handle and resolve complaints. First point of customer contact for general inquiries like pricing, products, scheduling etc maintain business relation with clients by providing accurate service so as to promote customer loyalty.
CSRs are people employed by companies to serve as a direct point of contact for customers. In the 24/7 worlds today companies need to secure their customers receive an adequate level of service or help with their questions and concerns. Such customers may be individual consumers or other companies each with different needs. Many companies provide customer service to path of the telephone through call centers. The Customer service representatives interact with customers to provide information in response to inquiries about products or services. They also handle and resolve complaints and communicate with customers through a variety of means. Telephone is the most famous but increasingly customer service is supplied by e-mail. Faxes and regular mail parallelism and even a direct meeting can also be used by the CSR. Some customer service representatives handle general questions and complaints, whereas others particularize in a particular area.
Customer Service Representative is explain by the following points: –
1. Customer Services
“Good customer service is the lifeblood of any business.”
Excellent customer service is one of the few ways to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage. Customers are satisfied or dissatisfied with the level of customer service provided by CSRs. Good customer service is the lifeblood of any business. You can offer promotions and slash prices to bring in as many new customers as you want, but unless you can get some of those customers to come back, your business won’t be profitable for long. Customer Services are increasingly changing the way customers interact with firms to create service outcomes. Good customer service can increase your customer loyalty rate, leading to greater profitability.
2. Customer Satisfaction
“No business can exist without customers.”
Customer Satisfaction may be measured directly by survey and expressed as a percentage, such as Percent of Customers Completely Satisfied. Providing good service in a pleasant manner and meeting the customer’s expectations is also known as Customer Satisfaction. Customer satisfaction is the fulfillment of customers’ requirements or needs.