ddbd1966@earthlink.net As a business consultant, I have had the privilege of working with some companies internationally, and I really enjoy working with people from other cultures. I have learned so much from friends that we have in Japan, Australia, England, The Philippines, Korea, and Costa Rica, just to mention a few. Presently, I am a Business Consultant for One Cup International Consulting Group. My background in sales, sales management, and operations provide strong organizational credentials. View all articles | Contact author

I want to tell you a story about an extraordinary sales person I met at an Office Depot store in Surfside Beach, South Carolina, and then share with you Five Simple Strategies for Successful Customer Service.

I first met Chris Babcock at Office Depot a few months ago, when I was looking for a lap top computer. Upon observing him, I noticed that he paid close attention to what the customers were asking him. He treated them with respect and patience, even if they could not understand what he was trying to explain to them. He also helped them to articulate what they needed. He was always trying to be a problem-solver and not a problem-creator. I watched him as he told a customer "Thank You," showing them appreciation for their business. A few weeks later, I was in the store to purchase a pen. At the same time, I took along my digital camera that was not working, to see if they carried the same brand. As I was preparing to check out, I asked if they had ever carried this brand of camera, when the cashier called for Chris to help. He did not remember me from the last time I was in the store, but he did not hesitate to offer his assistance. He took a quick look at the camera, and with a small tool, he fixed the problem right there on the spot, saving me repair costs. Then he thanked me for coming to the store, even though he is the one who helped me! If you are a business in the Myrtle Beach, SC area, you need to go and hire this person. He would add a lot of value to your business.

Chris understood the Five Simple Strategies for Successful Customer Service that he practiced naturally. I don't believe that Chris was a people-centered person. In fact, he told me that he was a "technical support" person. However, it was apparent that he had great customer service skills, because he is a service-centered customer service person.

Here are the Five Simple Strategies for Successful Customer Service to implement in our competitive market today.

1. Help the customer communicate with you, without making them feel like they are ignorant.

2. Be professional in your treatment of the customer.

3. Make a 100% effort to communicate with the customer.

4. Be a problem-solver and not a problem-creator.

5. Show appreciation for the customer's business, and always say those magic words,"Thank You."

These days, we really have to be honest as we look at our companies, to analyze what are we really doing to give our customers the best customer service that they so richly deserve.