The Review Critic

 

Are professional critics still writing reviews of their eating or shopping experiences? Remember those people? Well, I want to be one. There is a SEVERE lack of customer service if any left at all.

I get that I am just one opinion but growing up in the CS business both wholesale and retail, I know what true CS should look like. Allow me to share: (my opinion) lol

We went to three stores today in Galveston, on the beach, in search of that perfect long-sleeved beach shirt. We love the shops with a shirt heat press and iron-ons to make a custom shirt.

 

#1 Had the heat press and iron-ons but only did them for their inventory and not for the customer. No one greeted us or acknowledged us as customers. We left!

 

#2 Had a heat press and iron-ons but no long-sleeve shirts. It's February people! We left!

 

#3 I walked up to the counter where two employees were talking,

I am like 2 feet from them staring at them waiting to ask a question, but they keep talking. I interrupted and asked my question anyway. They had no long-sleeved shirts. We left.

 

Not one store greeted us, acknowledged we were customers, and said nothing when we left. Do they ever wonder why their business is failing? So, you stuck with me for a few minutes and read the whole rant. Q. Why is there such a great shortage of CS?

 

Comments? 

My Pleasure!

Just hearing the title of this article you will know what business I am referring to right! Chic-Fil-A figured out that manners and smiles are key to customer service and they have incorporated that into their business model. Guess what? It works!

Customer service in a church setting is so critical that if we miss focusing on it, we will miss an opportunity with our guests. I have heard so many sad stories of people visiting a new church and never being greeted that it has ingrained in me even more that we must have that in our churches. I am so excited and thankful to be on staff at a church that makes guest service a priority in ministry. Allow me to share my excitement.

Over the past year we have recruited new volunteers, organized and structured our customer service into Guest Services Ministry or GSM. All the volunteers wear bright orange lanyards with a circle B logo name tag. Each volunteer also gets to wear a bright orange and white circle button that says "Ask Me". What a fun way to easily identify our GSM team volunteers. We intentionally place them at strategic places all over the campus.

We have a saying at First Burleson to all our guests. "Do not go through the day alone"! By placing and easily identifying our GSM team, every guest will find their way and be greeted over and over during their visit. That is so exciting and fun to see in action. Our guests are greeted from the parking lot to the pew and will get a touch from us at least 7 times during their visit.

For me personally, GSM is the most exciting and fun ministry. I love to meet and greet people and get to know them and help them at our church. I love to see their faces when after just a few minutes of meeting them, I can repeat their name while introducing them to others. Chic-Fil-A has captured their customers by using two simple words. At First Burleson, we use a similar philosophy but with four simple words..."I'm glad you're here".

Customer service is so much alive today and is making a huge impact on people in our church.

Comments? Your thoughts?