While eCommerce sales have been booming to the tune of billions of additional dollars in recent years, retail locations are still the number one way people shop. That truth may serve as a breath of fresh air to many that assume their brick-and-mortar locations are at a disadvantage.

Although the consumer pool is healthy for traditional retail, eCommerce has certainly created a new set of expectations in customers when it comes to satisfaction.

Therein lies the value of learning how to improve the customer experience.

Our team has put together what we think are simple ways you can take your customer satisfaction to the next level, now! Keep reading to discover how you can revolutionize your shopping experience.

1. Make Checkout Faster

When people buy merchandise online, they don’t have to wait in line to checkout. That draws a stark contrast against in-person retail and is why it’s one of the first things that are worth investing in as you learn how to improve the customer experience in your business with faster checkout.

Fast checkout can be accomplished by adding self-checkout lanes. It might also be accomplished by increasing headcount at registers or even by offering mobile checkout to customers.

2. Have Aggressive Return Policies

eCommerce companies like Amazon offer returns on just about everything they sell. Many of these returns are accepted, no questions asked.

How does your store’s policy stack up?

To stay competitive, you need to offer aggressive returns that inspire confidence in your shoppers. If you do that, you’ll find you gain more business and very few people will cash in on the aggressive policy that got them in the door.

3. Hire Great People

Nothing is as impactful on a business’s customer experience than the people that business employs. If customers are exposed to workers that smile, are knowledgeable, and genuinely want to help, they’re going to have a much better time shopping than if they’re exposed to disgruntled team members.

Getting great people on your team comes from a rigorous hiring process and being able to pay competitive wages. Having a great team culture that excites people to come to work can also improve the attitude of your team.

4. Celebrate Your Best Customers

Your best customers are what keep your company in business. Share your adoration of the people that empower you by extending thank you notes, emails, or otherwise acknowledging people that support your dreams.

Having a customer experience manager that’s in charge of improving customer relations is a great first step towards keeping in touch with top buyers. That extra-attention may encourage people to buy even more from you!

5. Ask for Feedback

No amount of reading blog posts on improving customer experience will be as valuable as asking your customers what they’d like to see happen in your store. So ask them!

Send out surveys. Have checkout people pose open-ended experience questions to customers. Save the data you collect.

Through great questions, your team can collect valuable information that enables you to make impactful changes to your business.

You Now Know How to Improve the Customer Experience in Your Retail Setting

Knowing how to improve the customer experience in your retail setting is one thing. Taking the time to implement the ideas and feedback you get is another.

We hope you’re as much of a doer as you are a learner.

If you find yourself in need of additional inspiration, we welcome you to browse more content in our blog!

Are you thinking of hiring a catering company for your event? 

It’s a great idea because outsourcing the food preparation and serving tasks to professionals will save you time, money, and effort. By hiring a private caterer, you will benefit from the experience, food accommodations for dietary restrictions, meal planning, and more. 

However, all private caterers are not created equally. You need to hire a company that is professional, can work with the type of event you are throwing, and will deliver excellent customer service. 

If you are planning an event and need to hire a caterer, here are a few tips to make sure the company you hire is a great fit.  

Know the Theme of Your Event 

Before hiring a quality company like Rx Catering, you need to know the theme of your party. Many caterers specialize in certain types of events so it’s best to know what you need before you start looking. Determine your theme so you can hire the right fit. 

Ask for a Recommendation

One of the easiest ways to find good catering companies is to ask friends and family for recommendations. This will not only save you time but give you options that have already been vetted by people you trust. If any of your friends, family, or acquaintances have recently thrown an event, ask for a referral. 

Research the Company Online

A great tip for how to hire a catering company is to research the company online. You want to make sure the caterer has a good reputation and delivers quality results. Read online reviews and check their Better Business Bureau rating to get a sense of their reputation.

Taste Sample Dishes

A helpful tip for how to hire a caterer is to taste sample dishes. Your caterer can be highly recommended but if you don’t like their food, the company is not a good fit. Schedule an appointment and taste a few sample dishes to ensure you will enjoy the menu. 

Consider Customer Service

One of the most important elements of any private caterer is their level of customer service. Throwing an event is time-consuming and stressful so you need your vendors to be as professional as possible. Consider your interactions with the company and make sure you are receiving the best customer service. 

Read the Fine Print

Before hiring a private catering, make sure you read the fine print on your contract. Check the cancellation policy, refund policy, and more. Make sure the terms you are agreeing to are mutually beneficial. 

This Is How to Hire the Perfect Catering Company

By using these tips, you can hire a catering company that will deliver the best results.

Start by determining your theme and asking friends and family for recommendations. You should also research the company online, taste sample dishes, and make sure they have excellent service. Before you sign a contract, make sure it is customized for your needs and you agree with the terms and conditions. 

Follow these tips and you’ll be well on your way to enjoying delicious food at your event. 

Don’t forget to browse our site for advice on sustainability, travel, entertainment, and more.

Hosting a good dinner party is one of the true marks of adulthood. There’s no better feeling than inviting your friends into your home, serving them a thoughtful meal, and connecting with them through conversation.

But if you’ve never done it before, you might be feeling a little lost in the weeds.

Not to worry. The following guide will not just tell you how to host a dinner party, but how to host a great dinner party. Before you know it, your friends will be asking you for all your dinner party tips.

Establish the Theme

Not every dinner party needs to have a theme, but you should always consider the intention behind a dinner party. Is it someone’s birthday? Did your BFF just get a big promotion?

If there is a reason to celebrate, consider making it the focus. Other great themes include book club dinner parties, holiday dinner parties, or seasonal themes like “Autumn Harvest.”

Basically, anything that gives you and your loved ones a reason to come together.

Prepare the Scene

You’ve probably already thought to deep-clean the house, but there are a couple of key problem areas that you should focus on.

Bear in mind that over the course of the evening, your guests will generate trash and dirty dishes. So before any of your guests arrive, make sure your trash and recycling receptacles are completely empty. You don’t want to take out an overflowing trash can in the middle of your party.

Also, ensure that your dishwasher is empty. That way, you can stack in dirty dishes as soon as they appear, minimizing your clean up and keeping your kitchen looking fresh during the party.

Nail the Decor

An attractive table spread is critically important when planning a dinner party. Consider investing in a nice tablecloth that you can break out on special occasions. 

Select a material that will be easy to clean for multiple uses, but will always look new. Polyester tablecloths are great for the frequent host.

Next, choose a centerpiece. As it says in the name, the centerpiece is meant to draw your eye in. You want it to be good.

The best centerpieces reflect the spirit of the times. If it’s summer, a bouquet of sunflowers is lovely. In the winter, incorporate some holly with red berries. 

You can pick up any number of good centerpieces at the store, but you can just as easily make one from what’s available in your garden or in the neighborhood.

If you want to achieve an elegant spread, all of your dishware has to match. But it’s okay, you don’t have to buy top quality dishes for everything. That can get expensive really fast.

Consider spending a little bit more on nice wine glasses and nice silverware. Fine wine glasses can literally improve the wine drinking experience, so it’s a good thing to spend money on.

You don’t need to spend as much on plates, bowls, or napkins. Generics will look nice and will be just as durable.

Consider the Menu

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be a celebrity chef in order to host a good dinner party. But you do need to carefully consider what to serve.

The main course should be something that you can make in large quantities without too much effort. Pasta dishes are a good example of something that can be made for a lot of people. Plus, they are always a crowd favorite.

But you’ll also want to include hors d’oeuvres and dessert. Cheese plates work well, but make sure you don’t let your guests fill up on brie and charcuterie. 

Prepare as much in advance as possible, so you don’t have to do much actual cooking when your guests are present. You are most likely to burn a ham or forget an ingredient when you’re trying to host while you cook.

Another important aspect of planning the menu is to consider any dietary restrictions in your group. If you don’t know your guests that well, be sure to ask them when they accept your invitation. You don’t want to make a chicken alfredo to serve, only to realize that one of your friends doesn’t eat meat.

If you are having more than 6 or 8 people at your party, feel free to make it a potluck. Potlucks are fun because they let everybody participate in creating the meal together. But as the host, it’s on you to make sure you don’t end up with everybody bringing the same thing.

Determine the Ambiance

Many people who are wondering how to host a dinner party haven’t considered ambiance. The ambiance is all in the details.

If you have never thought about creating ambiance before, make notes next time you’re over at someone else’s home. What do they do to set the mood?

Candles are an excellent go-to choice. Try picking scents that complement the theme or tone of your dinner party. For example, if you’re having people over for a Halloween dinner, try a “candy apple” scented candle.

Place the candles strategically. Leaving one burning in the bathroom is a great idea. Just remember to put it out when the party is done.

Plan Some Activities

Your dinner party doesn’t need a hard and fast agenda, but it will help you host if you plan out some activities. Activities offer structure, and the opportunity to keep the conversation fresh.

Lawn games like bocce ball are excellent in the summer. For a group of five or six people, try a board or card game. Pick something accessible, that everyone can be a part of.

How to Host a Dinner Party Like a Pro

Hosting a dinner party for the first time can be intimidating. But with the right guidance, you’ll look like an old pro. Remember that there are so many ways you can make your evening unique, and the most important thing is to have fun with your friends.

Looking for more tips on how to host a dinner party? Check out our Lifestyle section.

Did you know that Steve Jobs decided to rebrand Apple in 1997 in order to keep up with the times? And while you may be thinking about rebranding your business for similar reasons, it’s important to do it the right way in order to be successful. 

From finding your “why” to figuring out how your business can stand out from your competitors, your image means everything when it comes to your business.

If your business is considering rebranding, there are lots of steps to prepare. Here are some tips for launching a successful business rebrand.

1. Find Your Why

When it comes to business rebrand, it’s important to first sort out why you are rebranding. Whether it’s because you want to target a different audience or launch new management, find your “why” and stick to it.

The purpose of your rebrand should always set you apart from your competitors. Your objective should always be defined in case you lose your focus along the way. 

2. Plan Ahead

Before making a huge announcement about your business rebrand, it’s important to plan ahead. This not only decreases the chances of confusing your customers by cross-branding, but it gives you an ample amount of time to plan things strategically.

Ask yourself the following questions:

• Are you planning on launching your business rebrand within the year?
• Are you going to host an event in order to make an official announcement?
• Are you going to redirect your SEO efforts in order to draw in more customers? (If so, visit this page)

It’s important to remember that your marketing and advertising efforts must align in order for rebranding to be done correctly.

3. Authenticity Is Key

One of the worst things you can do when rebranding your business is eliminating your core values. Unfortunately, many companies lose customers when they try to take on a vision, value, and a voice that is something other than their own.

Don’t forget. There are customers who made your business exactly what it is today. Be careful not to neglect them during this process. Embracing the newness of it all is great, but be sure to keep your authenticity.

4. Notify Your Vendors

It can be so easy to forget your vendors in the middle of the rebranding process. Be sure to keep them in the loop with any changes so they can avoid any confusion or errors in the future. If any of your vendors are local, they can help spread the word about your rebrand and strengthen your rebranding message.

More Tips on Making a Succesful Business Rebrand

Whether you’re considering a business rebrand or are trying to implement a new marketing strategy for your business, we’re here to help.

Let’s face it. Marketing is one of the most important aspects of your business. But without the right strategy, you can really hold your business back from reaching its full potential. Be sure to browse the rest of our site to see how we can help.