Small Business & Customer Service - A Myth?

Early this week Todd Razor from The Des Moines Business Record was a guest on our radio show, Insight on Business.  (Here is the link from that day.)  Todd is the Online Editor for the company that produces that product and others.  He was a great interview.

His online offering today for Iowa Biz had to do with poor customer service among small business owners.  It was written by another friend Tom Vander Well.  Good stuff.

Poor customer service is something we've written about many times.  We also get to counter those stories when we receive good service...however, those articles are few and far between.

But, poor customer service among small business owners?  Yep.  I have, over my career, spent hours in small business meetings where I hear owners moan and groan about the "Big Box Stores" or "Corporate Stores" taking away their business.  How often have I been in a Chamber meeting where this is a topic of some discussion?  They complain to their associations, legislators and just about everybody else.

But, the fact remains that too many small (and large) business leaders who produce poor customer service seem to be unaware of what is really hurting them.  Look, most of us, just like Tom says in his article, WANT to do business locally.  But so often it's impossible. 

So, today...quit whining and perhaps put some polish on how and what you do.  Gather your people together and remind them who they really work for.  And, if you need a shot in the arm...call us.  Shucks, it's better than letting folks walk out of the door...never to return.

Let's do business...and service who is really Number One.  The rest will follow.

Thanks for reading...you can learn more about our advertising agency by heading to our site, www.InsightCubed.com, follow us on Twitter @MichaelLibbie and join our daily radio show, Insight on Business.  Here is the link to the daily Show Page.

 

 

Comments

[Herndon Affordable IT]

I think if small businesses were able to better manage their resources, they would be able to provide better customer service. There are businesses out there who's purpose is to help out other businesses by handling their IT services or phone services or other areas. If more small businesses utilized these services, they could have more time to dedicate to improving their own customer service.

[Michael Libbie]

You are right...just TODAY I was visiting with a small business owner in the Jewelry arena. They SHUT DOWN their website because it was, "Too hard to take care of." She noticed my look of shock. (Jewelry, small, affordable, easy to ship...) and added, "And, we had lots of trouble with it, you know getting it to work." Bet that was a cut rate site too that may have been tough to operate. Anyway...you are right. We do what we do so folks that make and sell things can concentrate on what they do...manufacture and sell product. Thanks for reading and for the comment, Michael