Service with a smile

news@theheraldnewspapers.com As we approach the Christmas season we seem to be more and more stressed. Stores put out Christmas decorations earlier and earlier each year. Statistics tell us that the busiest shopping day of the year is the day after Thanksgiving. We just reflect on our many blessings and then we go out in traffic and crowds and forget all the things that we have to be thankful for. One of the interesting dynamics about all this is that Dec. 25th comes on the same day every year. If that sounds a bit redundant, perhaps it is. The point is, on Dec. 26th, we have a year to prepare for next Christmas. The last time I checked, there are no laws that say you cannot buy a gift in February and save it until Dec. 25th. Another thing that really bothers me is that we seem to forget the “reason for the season.” As Louise Mandrell reminds her audience at the beginning of every Christmas show, we are here to celebrate the birth of the baby Jesus. He was born in a stable. Now, the big rewards are paid for finding the solutions, not the difficulties. So here are a few suggestions that might keep the joy in Christmas shopping. It may take some effort on both sides, but it really is easier to be nice than it is to be nasty. What happens when you smile at someone else? Usually, they smile back and you break down the barriers to negative communication. Besides that, you burn up two calories every time you smile. So, when you set out to shop, tell yourself that this is going to be a pleasant experience. You will be setting a short-term goal for yourself. If you are in retail, you, too, have a choice. You can see how many people you can make miserable, or you can do everything possible to turn a frown upside down. We all have our favorite places to shop, and if you think about it, much of the reason people enjoy going into one store over another is the way they know that they will be treated. You have a choice. You can greet your guest with a smile and do everything possible to help them achieve their goal, which is to find a gift that will make the recipient happy, which should make both of you feel good. Or, you can act as though the guest has interrupted your day and you can add additional stress to your guest. The reason I call your customer a guest is because the business you work for has really invited them to shop with you. By advertising and setting up attractive displays, you are rolling out the red carpet and saying, “Come shop with us, you are welcome here!” Your actions need to be consistent and we should treat every customer as a welcome guest. To paraphrase a great American President, “You can please some of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time.” The question is, how hard you try and how successful are you. As a guest, or shopper, you can help make your experience more pleasant by treating everyone as you want to be treated. If the sales associate is wearing a name tag, call them by name. Observe the Golden Rule and treat everyone you meet with kindness. If you will really remember the reason for the season, we will all have a better holiday season!