Have your employees wear name tags. Answer the phone by the third ring. Schedule a customer appreciation day. It is important that all store employees feel important and part of the team. Have store meetings frequently to prevent problems before they happen.
Employees often have a wealth of ideas, so ask for their opinions.
Without feedback from your customers it is nearly impossible to uncover potential problems. It is possible to exist in the face of competition from the retail giants such as Wal-Mart. Individual small retailers have survived and thrived with such formidable opponents. Armed with a positive attitude, these retailers have added life to their stores by improving service, inventory, marketing and customer relations. University of Wisconsin-Extension, Center for Community Economic Development, all rights reserved.