December 10, 2016

►    A customer came in recently with the Reward$ coupon that allows a FREE $10 Seasonal t-shirt or a $5 gift certificate.  That coupon is the gift certificate.  One would think that no one would bother to drive here to get a $5 gift certificate that does not expire until 4/30/17, without just spending it in the store, but maybe they get a good price on gasoline.  Anyhow, if someone insists on trading their coupon for a gift certificate, go ahead.  Use the special gift certificate that we use as a coupon.  It’s a 3-part form, you see them all the time, and we keep a few in the gift certificate book.  Just write the serial number of the special gift certificate on the coupon when you have the customer sign it, and write their name on it.

►    Customer Feedback:  Customer Ron S. from Leominster, MA rated his general shopping experience with us as Excellent.  Why?  “Olhausen Tables.  Also, I’m happy with the accessory package that I bought.”  Did any of our team members do an usually good job?  “Allison: knowledgeable, answered questions thoroughly and patiently.”  Sales help, operations, communication, and product performance were all rated Excellent.  “The installers of the table also did a great job.  I got a very complete package the previous year.”  He would recommend us to a friend.  “Good selection, knowledgeable, service, and courteous.”  What do we do really well?  “Made me feel comfortable with my purchase.  I took some considerable time making my decision.  I want to feel confident why I buy.”

►    New advertising starts Sunday, December 11:  “Family Gifts”. Everything else remains the same.

►    There were 37 One-Of-These Awards for November; 10 for customer service.  That is a very impressive amount for a slow month!  Far more impressive is that I found 16 to make the first cut for Owner’s Choice!  The next cut got down to Anne-Marie, Mia, Allison, Sarah, Patrick, Ally, Connie, Joe, and Rose!  Finalists ultimately were Anne-Marie, Sarah, Patrick, Joe, and Mia.  Owner’s Choice was Anne-Marie, and the Drawing Winner was Ryan.

►    Happy First Anniversary to Connie, on Tuesday, December 13.

►    Joe has revised his rates on hot tub removal.  Note that, by the time the tub gets here, it could still end up costing the customer to trade-in a hot tub.

►    Life in These United States by Reader’s Digest:

Oh, Baby…Here are four parents who have just enough time in their busy baby-rearing schedules to shoot off a tweet or two.

• Four-year-old said he went potty, and I asked if it was Number 1 or 2. He said Number 7,and now I’m terrified to go into the bathroom.
• I can’t find my kid’s birth certificate, but I apparently save one for every Build-A-Bear we own in a special file because I’m insane.
• “This is a funny necklace!” – Three-year-old with my thong around her neck.
• I try to explain to my kids during the movie that in reality, even a cowardly lion would definitely eat a girl and a little dog.