Customer Service Week

Customer service has long been recognized as a key differentiator between businesses.  This was recognized by the U.S. Congress in 1992 when it declared that the first week of October would be “Customer Service Week.”  Across the country, businesses take this week to celebrate their customers and to find new ways to improve their customer service.  There are limitless ways to promote customer service week at your business, but you can start with these tried and true tactics.

Discounts: The staple of every promotion, a discount is a guaranteed way to drive people to your business.  All customers relish a good deal and your willingness to cut into your margins to keep them happy.  Major retailers understand the power of a sale – there’s no better way to clear out inventory and boost traffic.

Giveaways/Promotions: Discounts are always well-received, but the lure of something free can be even more powerful.  “Gamifying” giveaways in the form of promotions is a great way to increase the visibility of your promotion.  The opportunities are endless, from carnival-esque games all the way to more modern Text-2-Win promotions.

Customer Service Week is a great way to celebrate customers and it’s also the perfect opportunity to reward employees who have gone above and beyond the call of duty.  Most companies choose this time to focus on front-line employees since logistics make it easier to acknowledge those in office roles at any time.

A Phone Call: Depending on the size of your company, most of your workforce might never be in the same state as your CEO.  This can create a disconnect, or a lingering feeling that upper management only sees front line employees as worker bees.  A simple five minute phone call to exemplary employees to let them know that they are noticed can do wonders.

Vacation Days: Never, ever, underestimate the power of a surprise day off.  Many of us have fond memories of waking up on a school day, only to peek out the window and see a few feet of snow.  It’s nearly impossible to recapture that feeling as an adult, but you can deliver it by awarding days off to employees who deserve it.  They get the reward of a surprise day off, and you get the assurance that your key employees aren’t approaching burn out.

Customer Service Week is the perfect time of the year to promote your company and your organizational commitment to customer service.  NBRI recommends preparing for next year by deploying customer service surveys to read the minds of your customers.  Then, resurvey periodically to gauge the effectiveness of your improvement initiatives. Contact us today to be prepared for the next Customer Service Week.