The Service I provide

As a writer and avid reader, who maintains a blog, is working on her second novel and creates numerous character interviews for other blogs I continually ask myself, Am I providing the service that my readers expect of me.  After a very hectic work week (yes, I have a full-time job) I went to my local nail salon to get a much needed pedicure.  While sitting in the chair receiving a wonderful foot massage I looked around me.  I have been coming to this salon for several years and although it is several miles from my home town, and sometimes a pain in the neck to get to with rush hour traffic I thought, why do I keep coming back?

1)  The owner.  Karen is a lovely woman who not only runs the salon but works there as well.  She continually pitches in when needed and continually watches the quality of the work of her employees – She is service driven.

2) She is always improving her service. I generally get a regular pedicure, however, the staff is always using new lotions and potions to make the experience better for the customer.  They are always looking to improve their service.

3) The owner is loyal to her customers.  At Christmas time each customer receives a gift certificate for a free pedicure and March is usually her 20% off all services month.  She is loyal to her customers, which translates for me to: she appreciates my patronage.

After Hurricane Irene hit last August, her salon was under six feet of water.  They closed for a month.  As I patiently waited for them to reopen, I asked myself why?  Not only for all the reasons listed about but because they carried on in the face of disaster.  They remodeled and reopened – they moved on past obstacles.

As I continually work on ways of improving the service I offer, I look to Karen and her salon as a model for someone who provides a good product and quality service.