December 28, 2013
► Customer Feedback: An anonymous customer stated that their general shopping experience with us was Excellent. “Everyone was friendly and helpful.” Did any of our team members do an unusually good job? “Our salesperson (Roz), very pleasant.” Sales help, operations, and products were all rated Excellent. Communication was rated Good. What can we do to improve? “Had to special order barstools and I would have liked to receive a call telling me they would be 2 weeks late. I had to call to find out.
► Added by Dennis: I sent an apology. I can’t find out who said what.
► Happy New Year!
► New advertising, weekly specials, and promotions continue from last week: “Family Gifts”
► Remember, we close at 3:00 pm on New Year’s Eve, and we are closed all day New Year’s Day.
► Those of you with security system pass cards, remember to switch to your new one on January 1.
► Happy Birthday to Tod on Friday, January 3.
► Happy Birthday to Joe, ten days ago, on December 19. I missed mentioning it in the Gull News two weeks ago.
► If we cancel the Wrap Party next Saturday, we will leave a message on my voicemail: extension 242.
► Submitted by Mia: Now that we have re-organized the lunch room, have a look around – things have moved; including the MSDS books, walkie-talkies, recyclables, and more.
► We are running a special on the Marquis 435: we have just one out back, just like the one on the floor, but with Twilight lighting too. That’s a $400 upgrade. The first person to give us $199 for the upgrade, can buy that one instead of the floor model!
► Expect changes in above ground pools starting January 2: 1. All prices remain the same as in 2013. 2. We have added the Contempra pool in 52” and 54”. But remember, we are using a dramatically better liner than Namco. 3. The ability to price more pools from Sharkline Premium. 4. Less expensive resin universal fencing. 5. An upgrade to a new ladder/step combination. Note that the upgrade is free, but you need to add the mat/sand combination, so it’s still more expensive. Also, that first step is too tall for small children on a 54” pool. 6. There is now a different liner protection package (at different prices) for every step.
► I was told that we should have salt systems available with our pools. We do. They are on page 4 of the “Complete Pool Package”.
► The 2014 calendars have been put in the lunchroom for internal use only. That means here in the building. Any calendars left after January 12 may be taken by anyone.
► The jokes are going to keep getting worse if someone doesn’t occasionally give me better ones.
► Fun and Laughter from the Reader’s Digest:
Prescriptions, Pills, and Palpitations: To illustrate the importance of making prescriptions clear to patients, Dr. William Osler used to tell his students the following story: A doctor advised a foreign patient, “The thing for you to do is to drink hot water an hour before breakfast every morning.” After a week the man returned to the doctor’s office. “How are you feeling?” asked the physician. “I feel worse if anything.” “Did you follow my directions and drink hot water an hour before breakfast every morning?” asked the doctor. “I tried my best,” replied the patient, “but I couldn’t keep it up for more than fifteen minutes at a time.” Mrs. H. L. Harrell