| Several persons in Linden were on Friday last given the opportunity to learn and reinforce good customer relations practices, through a Customer Care Seminar at the Egbert Benjamin Exhibition Centre and Conference Hall at Speightland, Mackenzie.Ms Morgana Bethune, whose initiative it was to conduct the seminar, said the general response from participants was quite good.However what was disappointing, according to Bethune, was the fact that even though several businesses and service providers in Linden were invited to participate, by sending a representative,Wholesale NFL Jerseys, many of them did not see it fit to do so.“And surprisingly these are the businesses most in need of such interventions,” Bethune declared, citing the uncouth and grossly unprofessional behaviour often displayed by employees of some of these entities.This sentiment was reiterated by many persons, who pointed out that too many employees are guilty of treating customers shabbily, both in the way they communicate and their service generally.“Some of these people they building big fancy places, but they’re not training the staff. Most of them don’t know how to answer the telephone courteously, and their attitude generally leaves a lot to be desired. Some of them behave as though you’re begging them. They fail to realize that it’s only with customers’ patronage, that they can keep their jobs,” one irate woman declared.It was these and other types of poor ‘customer care’ that motivated her to facilitate the seminar, Bethune pointed out.The Customer Care seminar was conducted with the aim of advancing the professionalism of persons already employed, and those persons seeking employment, especially youths just out of school.Participants were taught how to improve their evaluation skills, and the level of knowledge required to be transferred to customers.They were also exposed to good communication skills, including how to communicate effectively and courteously on the telephone, and the correct procedures to adopt when sending and receiving, or relaying messages. They were also reminded that the customer is the foundation of any business or organization, and that the customer is the boss – that the customer is always right, and they were advised to always be courteous to customers, while being reminded that it costs at least five times more to get a new customer than to keep an existing one.Partners who contributed in one way or another towards making the seminar a success were the Linden Fund USA and the Linden Mayor and Town Council.Sponsors were the Linden Online Internet Café, Le Gasp Studio Production, Image Design, New Graphics Enterprise, Donna Executives and Office Supplies, Consumers Goods Complex, Glow International Hotel – Kitty Georgetown, the Guinness Bar, Red Bud Chinese Restaurant, Pastor Lee Racketeer, Regional Vice Chairman Region #10-Samuel Hooper, Sharon’s Snackette – One Mile Wismar, and Somerset’s on Green Heart Street.Facilitator Morgana Bethune said she was very much encouraged by the response of participants, and as such would endeavour to do another seminar within the next three months. Bethune herself did the programme in 2006 at the University of Guyana-IDCE (Institute of Distance and Continuing Education) in Linden, and gained a distinction. |
