Trends: Customer service 101
Shopping for fun... Ever the adventurous spirit, I ventured the other day to a new fast-food restaurant that recently opened in my neck of the woods. I had heard about the place from a friend of my daughter's — who is 16, mind you, meaning I made the turn into the parking lot mindful that his tastes (and constitution) might not directly mirror mine. After all, I can recall the days when home-cooked meals actually were cooked at home; I'm not sure he can.

Anyway...

I hadn't so much as walked in the door when I was greeted by a smiling, uniformed woman clearly bent on making sure I was in the right place. "Welcome to Krystal. I'm Jeanette, and if there's anything you need, you let me know." Lest I forget where I was, the veritable youth behind the counter manning the computer that would register my order and tell me what it would cost, continued the spiel. "Welcome to Krystal," he said. "I'm Matt. What can I get for you today?" After giving the menu a once-over, I said, "A No. 5, please," to which Matt replied, "Good choice, sir. That's my favorite." He then gave me a plastic card with a number on it, along with a cup for my soft drink. But before I could fill it, Jeanette made good on her initial promise and took the container from my hand. "What would you like to drink?," she asked. After I responded, she swiftly filled the cup and nodded toward a table in the corner: "We saved that seat just for you." My order was prepared in a matter of minutes, and when it was ready, Jeanette brought it to my table, reciting, "A No. 5 for our friend with the Diet Dr Pepper." Then she was on her way to greet/serve the next person.

As I sat at the table saved just for me, a television set a few feet away was showing a continuous-loop video that outlined the various dining options and amenities available at Krystal — along with endorsements from people who seemingly would make No. 5 their last meals, given the choice. All told, I spent maybe 20 minutes in the eatery from start to finish, yet I was visited by Jeanette and another hostess three times before heading for the exit. All this, AT A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT! — one that I no doubt will visit again, simply because of the way I was treated.

And here's the clincher... I'm pretty sure I wouldn't order a No. 5 for my last meal.

Just for kicks, I checked out Krystal's Web site and found the interactive playground to be as entertaining as my visit. The moral of the story, I guess, is that you can never be too good at making people comfortable and happy at your place of employ. Generally speaking, it's the comfortable and happy ones that remember to tell others.

Puzzling pictures
You can do it, waterboy!... One of the pictures below is a puzzle. Find the right one and then piece the product together again. When you achieve said nirvana, pat yourself on the back because you know it took the woman at the cubicle next to you three tries to accomplish the same feat.

"Outdoor rooms with no place for plants?"
Check the *BLOG*

Pick 'n Click
I want it all, and I want it now... Do you need to find "just the right" garden/gift items? The suppliers listed here are ready/willing/able to send you the information you desire (assuming, of course, you're not still stuck on that "what is the meaning of life?" question). Click the company for e-reader service.

Alpine Corporation Anamese Garden & Home Ancient Graffiti Asian Ceramics Atlantic Pottery ATLAS Glove Consumer Products, a Div. of LFS, Inc. Bamboo Accents Benchmaster by Structural Plastics Bird Brain, Inc. Brook & Hunter Carruth Studio, Inc. Carson Industries Ceramo Co. Charlie Cook Associates, Inc. Collier Metal Specialties, Inc. Danove Corporation Deer Out Dekorra Products Discount Pond Supplies, Inc. EasyPro Pond Products Fabriscape Featherock, Inc. Gardenware Gifts That Bloom Good Directions, Inc. Hines Pottery Horticopia, Inc.

Imperial Ponds Jamaica Cottage Shop Listo Products Little's Good Gloves Magnet Works Maine Bucket Company, Inc. National Lawn & Garden Show New Creative Enterprises Novelty Manufacturing Co. Ohio Wholesale, Inc. Outback Chair Co. Pacific Northwest Christmas Tree Assoc. Parker Davis Company, Inc. Plastair Punxsutawney Glass & Tile Co. Red Carpet Studios Retail Service Company Riverside Enterprises Ruibal’s Topiary Systems & Ironworks Savio Engineering, Inc. Silcast, Inc. Trunk Mat Company, The Tula Hats Upper Deck Ltd. Wayside Fence Company WeatherPORT Global Shelters White Cedar Gazebos

 

"Outdoor rooms with no place for plants?"
Check the *BLOG*

Oh, yeah, the riddle answer...
Watch closely. I'm only going to do this once.

 
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