Q: Small businesses often have very different customer service expectations than mega big-box stores. Understanding why people choose your store or business will help you assist your customers in getting exactly what they want out of their interaction with you. If you are a large company, customers will likely expect a wide selection of goods or services, low prices, and quick "in and out" shopping experiences. If you are a small business, personal interaction, knowledge ability, and problem-solving are very important aspects to focus on. You probably cannot offer prices as low as a mega business, but your friendly expertise will make up for it. One study suggests that 70% of customers are willing to pay higher prices if they get excellent, personalized customer service. 81% of customers believe that small businesses provide better customer service overall than big businesses. Having a clear vision statement for your customer service mission is crucial. You will incorporate this vision statement into employee training and will likely also share it with customers. Your vision statement communicates your business's core values, what you're all about. Consider examples from very successful businesses. ACE Hardware, a very successful chain of independently-owned hardware stores, has been repeatedly recognized with awards as being a top customer service provider. Their customer service vision boils down to a very simple statement: "100% helpful." This emphasis on helpfulness, not just friendliness, has helped them compete with big-box stores such as Home Depot and Lowe's. Another example is from Amazon, whose customer service vision is: "We see our customers as invited guests to a party, and we are the hosts. It's our job every day to make every important aspect of the customer experience a little bit better." By using a metaphor (invited guests to a party), this vision statement clearly expresses Amazon's goals: to make customers feel welcomed and appreciated, and create a fun and enjoyable experience shopping there. Your employees are one aspect of your business's public "face," which customers interact with every day. Other representations of your business's mission include your handling of customer service calls and interactions, your location (brick-and-mortar and/or online), and your approachability. This article will cover how to ensure your employees' customer service skills in-depth a little later. In general, consider that they represent the face of your company, so make sure that they are trained to be respectful, friendly, and knowledgeable. How do customers interact with you? Can they get a "live person" to speak to right away, or do they have to go through automated systems? Studies suggest that customers overwhelmingly prefer to speak to a person rather than navigate an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system. If you have social media presences, how quickly do you respond to questions or comments on those accounts? What does your business location look like? Is it laid out well, easy to access, and clearly organized? This applies to brick-and-mortar locations and your online presences. Do your employees and your company structure give the impression that customers are free and welcome to approach you with issues? For example, is your contact information clearly located on your website, and do customers in your physical location know who to ask or where to go with questions? New hires and experienced workers should all know what "quality service" means to you and your business. This definition may be made up of larger ideas, like "consistency, communication, and connection", or more specific ideas that involve specific actions or attitudes. For example, if you own a retail business that sells clothing, your definition of "quality service" may include specifics like "always greet the customer when she walks into the store" or "offer to start a fitting room for a customer if she is holding one or more items in her hand." The definition of "good" customer service is highly dependent on your industry and your customer base. For example, a friendly, talkative salesperson might be desired in a retail setting, but customers might not want their massage therapist to be chatty. Similarly, if your customers are older, they are more likely to appreciate in-person service, whereas younger customers may be more appreciative of easy answers over social media.
A: Consider your business type. Create a clear vision statement. Examine the public "face" of your business. Make sure your employees know what "quality service" means to your business.

Q: In general, the first 36-48 hours of a gout attack are the most painful but you can relieve the initial pain and make sure you are doing all you can to end the gout attack as soon as possible. You can relieve some of the pain of gout by icing the joint. Use an ice pack wrapped in a towel and apply to the affected area for 20-30 minutes every hour that you are awake. Keep the affected joint elevated as much as possible while you ice it. This will help to avoid the blood settling in the area that is being iced. Your can take common pain relievers, such as ibuprofen (eg.Advil, Motrin IB) and naproxen (eg.Aleve). Use any OTC NSAIDs for as short a time as possible. Long-term NSAID use can increase the chances of a heart attack or stroke and can also increase the risk of ulcers and bleeding. Make certain you follow manufacturer's directions exactly. However, avoid any aspirin or topical aspirin products (eg. Aspercreme or any topical cream with salicylates). Aspirin products can cause more uric acid to deposit in the joints. Tylenol (acetaminophen) is not an anti-inflammatory medicine and is not likely to help. You could also take colchicine, but you may need a prescription from a doctor for that medication. For chronic control of gouty flares, you should take allopurinol, which decreases the amount of uric acid in the body. Topical analgesics have been shown to be very effective, especially for joints such as the toes, ankles, knees, elbows and hands. For example, Voltaren gel is a prescription topical NSAID that can greatly reduce gout pain. Talk to your doctor about the use of Voltaren gel Over-the-counter topical treatments that may be helpful include: Capsaicin cream: Capsaicin is a substance derived from cayenne peppers that depletes Substance P a pain signal. Make sure you wash your hands well after applying capsaicin it can cause an intense burning sensation, especially if it gets near your eyes. Homeopathic creams: These include Topricin, which contains a mixture of homeopathic pain remedies. Gout relief ointment: Tanza Botanicals has a Gout Relief Ointment that is made of a number of pain-relieving herbs.
A:
Ice the area. Take over-the-counter pain relievers. Try a topical pain-relief cream or gel.