• The time duration taken by the host to greet the guests should be observed. The longer the time taken, the lesser the points awarded to the hosts. The type of greeting is also assessed. The host who gives a wholehearted welcome to his guests gets more points from the agents than those who do not receive their guests warmly. The hosts who are very friendly and make good eye contact with the guests are the ones who are assessed favorably. The cordiality of the hosts or the managers at the time the mystery shoppers leave the bar is also assessed, the more cordial the host the more favorably he is assessed.

• After seating themselves in the bar, the agents should proceed with their further evaluations as follows. They have to take a note of the time taken by the bartender to bring their ordered items. The table on which the beverages are served should be immaculate. The etiquette of the bartender should be assessed. The way he greets the agents and the way he presents the items ordered on the table are also factors that need to be observed. The bartender should shake hands with his consumers and he should serve the drinks properly. The mystery shoppers have to observe if the beverages were served on beverage napkins or coasters. The bartender should also be evaluated on the usage of selling techniques. Those that use techniques like offering the visitor something to eat, or promote a newly introduced beverage are the ones that are evaluated more positively than others.

• The agents should direct their attention to the beverage that they are served at the bar. They should see if it is garnished as specified in the menu or as desired by them. Ideally the additional drinks should arrive on time. The bartender is also supposed to attend to the other necessities of the consumer like providing them with ashtrays, or napkins as and when required.

• The mystery shoppers have to observe if all the sales were being reported promptly after serving each item ordered. The accuracy of the bills should be assessed. The amount of drink poured should be of a specific measure. The agents should observe if the bartender is pouring inappropriate quantities of the drink. The quantities mentioned in the bill should correspond to the exact quantities consumed. The cash handling should be ethical. The agents also have to observe if any flair bartending like flipping the beverage bottles was used during their visit to the bar.

• The mystery shoppers should also observe if the inventory manager is keeping track of all the bottles that are being served and seeing to it that none of them are being left unaccounted for and being placed back onto the storage rack in the appropriate storage place.

• The agents should also observe if any of the guests is getting intoxicated and if law and order is being maintained in the bars.

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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But often the final question that is asked is how genuine are they and how to differentiate between the real and the fraud? The answer lies in the mystery shopper reviews . You can find storage [www.storageconcierge.com] of these review, where they are kept, for curious new shoppers online. These reviews tell much more than what the websites of the special shopping agencies declare. You actually get to read between the lines when going through such a review. The reviews are based on actual feedback from the people who are already doing the job of the special shoppers, the persons appointing the agencies to do mystery survey and also the various newspaper and government reports on the mystery survey industry on a whole.

Mystery shopper reviews are good for both the shopper and the shopped. That is if you want to take up a part time career of a special shopper you can easily go through the reviews on the agencies posted by the actual shoppers. They are the persons already on the job and they know best what they are getting. They report from their personal experience and these are great guides to those who are yet to join. You will get both the satisfied ones and the dissatisfied ones because no one can satisfy all. So the reviews will not give you a result in black and white. But they will provide you with enough material to judge for yourself.

If you have already become a special shopper then you will get immense help from the mystery shopper reviews if you are already not getting it. the experience of the special shoppers do not only tell about the relation with the appointing agencies, the payment structure and the job as a whole, they also provide useful tips and special observations that are like guiding lights for the novices in the field. The details even include where and why the shopper had made a note of a particular incident or object. But sometimes you need to filter your material out of these reports as the shoppers sometimes tend to go overboard while reviewing and exaggerate on the real matter. Another word of caution, do not attempt everything the reviews state. The exaggeration factor must be kept in mind and you might find yourself in a tight situation if you follow the words of the mystery shopper reviews to the core.

Look out for the mystery shopper reviews from the independent sources, sources that are not at all the beneficiaries of the system. Since they do not have interest vested in the system they generally speak the truth and the reliability can be assured. If the query arises about what are they doing the review for if they do not have any interest? The answer is simple. They are treating the job like any other job and reviewing the service provided by the special shopping agencies like any other service. The reviews also provide a good insight into genuineness of the various agencies promising great future with special shopping. As this business is proving very popular many spurious companies are trying to cash in on the frenzy and duping many. A closer look at the reviews will reveal a lot about the tell-tale signs to watch out for when choosing a special shopping agency to join or to appoint as the case may be.

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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This woman has chosen the assignment to mystery shop a corporate business in her town. Her assignments today, to shop a retail-clothing store and purchase one item fewer than 20 dollars. But that is not the only thing she will need to do to complete her assignment. She must also evaluate the staff and the customer service that is offered. The company that hired her sent her the paperwork ahead of time so she could be familiar with what she would be evaluating during her visit. She wanted to make sure that she had read through her assignment carefully and was poised and ready to shop.

To complete this mystery shop the company that hired her wanted to know a few things like:

Was the store clean and tidy?
Did one of the sales associates greet you when you entered the store?
Did anyone offer to help you with your items?
Was the cashier friendly?
Where the dressing rooms tidy?
How was the customer service overall?
Did the sales associate offer you a store credit card during check out?
What did the sales associate say to you after they were done ringing you up?

After these questions, she was supposed to leave comments about her visit in a special section. Specific examples were expected and she made sure to make a mental note about several of her interactions with the sales associates. This type of mystery shop would have her evaluate and give comments but it was not required for her to make suggestions to the sales associate. The company would review her paperwork and work up a report for the store, including suggestions and recommendations.

She finished her assignment just in time to pick the kids up from school and treat them to ice cream before going home. Her pay? She was supposed to keep the item she purchased and turn in a copy of the receipt to the company that hired her. Next week they wanted her to mystery shop a chain restaurant located on the south side of town. This time her pay will be a meal up to 40 dollars. She decides to ask her husband if he would like to join her on a night out, courtesy of her new part-time job.

Many people looking for a little extra money are turning to this type of job to make a few extra bucks. When you mystery shop , you get paid to shop and you are providing a service for a business to improve their customer service. Because the company is hiring someone from outside of their business to evaluate them, the business can turn around and let the sales associate know what was good and what needs work.

Athens Car Storage

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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What is a good property manager? A property manager oversees the income level of their commercial or residential properties. They ensure that the owners investment reaches its potential profit. In short, they are the glue that holds the proverbial walls together. They are ones that manage the day in and out processes. Whenever a tenant needs some work done on their home or apartment, they contact the property management office. Can anyone do this job? The answer is yes. Another way to look at this question is to ask does everyone want to do this job? The answer is no. It takes a particular type of person to want to get involved in property management .

Is there any special training involved in being a property manager? It depends if you want to go at it yourself or go through a company. Many property management businesses encourage you to attend some short-term formal training programs conducted by various professional associations active in the real estate field. Some employers send managers to such programs to better their management skills and expand their knowledge of specialized areas, such as the operation and maintenance of building mechanical systems, enhancement of property values, insurance and risk management, personnel management, business and real estate law, community association risks and liabilities, tenant relations, communications, and accounting and financial concepts. Completion of these programs, some on the job experience, and a satisfactory score on a written examination lead to certification, or the formal award of a professional designation, by the association paying for the event or program. In addition to these qualifications, some associations require their members to adhere to a specific code of ethics. In some states, community association managers must be licensed.

As you can see, going through a company may require you to be more trained on the subject of being a property manager. If you decide to get into this field yourself, you do not need to go through what you have read above. With going through a company, at least you know whom you can fall back on if you are in need of help. When you are alone and trying to make it, you have to be more driven than most to be able to succeed.

Decide what you would like to do. If you are business oriented, then you could have a very successful career in property management . That does not mean that you have to be business oriented. You need to find a way to succeed in your area. With the proper training and your determination, you can and will succeed in this field. There are many facilities in need of property managers.

Dania Beach Furniture Storage

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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There are many questions for a prospective stay at home mom that will naturally go along with the main issue. If you remain at home to raise your children, will you take on a job, even if it is part time, once they are enrolled in school? To what extent will you get involved in their school projects, trips and meetings if you have time at your disposal? If you can solve these problems 100 percent before the time actually comes, that is wonderful. Most of the time, though it is much easier to wait for the time to draw near, feel out your child and the circumstances, and then come to a decision. Although there is much so called evidence to support both being a stay at home mom and being a working mother, it really boils down to you. What do your lifestyle, budget and personality allow for? Children differ greatly as well. Will your child do well away from you for long periods of time every day? 

Keep in mind that being a stay at home mom for the wrong reasons can be more detrimental than beneficial to your child. A child can pick up on many subtleties that we, as adults, think we are hiding well. Your child will feel, more than know, that you are depressed, unhappy, or anxious if you are remaining at home out of guilt or a wrong sense of duty. You should not feel that you are at fault if you wish to also pursue your career. Search thoroughly for a good day care or babysitter with strong and accurate references, make certain your child is personally comfortable with the person or people you choose for his care, and then let yourself relax a little and try to enjoy both the aspects of being a parent and being a working mother.

Sometimes the choice to be a stay at home mom is simply a choice that is not truly yours to make. Finances or circumstances may not allow you this luxury. If this is the case, console yourself by knowing that you are doing what you can in the best interests of your child. Be sure to make the quality of the time you spend with your child something important, as you do not have the quantity to give with much freedom.

If you are ever tempted to pass judgment on another woman, whatever her choice is for her children, try to remember that she is a mother, just like you. Only she can know the intimate details of what her life is and why she makes the choices she does. Working and being the best parent you can be to your children do not always have to be two different roads to take. But if and when they are, most women make these decisions with the best of intentions in mind.

One option that many mothers are finding is a work-from-home secret shopping position. Secret shopping tasks come in all shapes and sizes. Secret shopping usually allows flexibility to the shopper and many moms can take their children along with them. Some secret shopping assignments allow a mom to makes secret shopping calls from the phone. Other secret shopping assignments require a quick trip to the clothing store or grocery store. These types of jobs are worth looking into for a mom who wants to supplement her income.

Self Storage Manager

Oregon Car Storage

San Antonio Storage

September 2006 Secret Shopping Blog Archive

Food Storage Revisited

Self Storage Article Directory – Self Storage Locations by State

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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So, how does it work? A lot of it is about customer service and observance. All you have to do is go into a clothing store, a restaurant, a gas station or any number of different places and observe the customer service you receive. Usually there are lists of things you have to specifically watch for, all of them very easy to spot. You must keep your identity as a shopper hidden from the sales associates and other customers, and act as if you are simply an ordinary shopper out for a normal day of shopping. You watch the employees, the service you are offered, the help you receive, the way things are done, the food you eat (if you are at a restaurant) and the cleanliness, among other things. You are usually given a form to fill out after you have completed the audit. This form will give you questions to answer and things to outline. If you are good at expressing yourself and your opinions, this is a very easy part of this job.

Well, you might ask who qualifies to become a shopper. You do! Whoever you are, and whatever your current occupation or situation in life, you most likely qualify for the job. If you are a stay at home mom, if you already have a part time or a full time job, if you are in school and need some extra money on the side, this is a perfect job for you. There are no set hours, no set schedules, no set times you are required to work. Most of the time you may pick and choose where and when you will work. Secret shopping companies offer a wide variety of places for you to work as well. Many times, if you give information about where you are located, the secret shopping company you work for will try their best to find a place near where you live, so that you do not have far to travel away from your home. So there is no need for you to pay for that extra gas to travel somewhere miles away, or to commute for this job. If you have children or a friend you would like to take along, that is usually no problem at all. And an added bonus is that many times, the company you work for will either pay for what you buy during your shop, or reimburse you at a later time. It is truly the easiest, most convenient job that anyone could find!

In summary, you are merely doing the ordinary, normal things that you do in your everyday life. The difference that being a shopper makes is that you are now getting paid for doing these things. You can get paid for shopping at your favorite store, get paid for eating at your favorite restaurant, get paid for filling up with that much needed tank of gas. Yes, it sounds like such a job is almost too good to be true. It is not! You should find out for yourself!

Storage Bins 

Montana Car Storage

Secaucus Storage

December 2007 Secret Shopping Blog Archive

Yacht Storage

Self Storage Article Directory – Self Storage Locations by State

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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The life of a secret shopper is not always an easy existence. They must travel, from store to store, will the sole purpose of gathering information. No one can know who they are, or what they do, or they would instantly lose there title.  It is kind of like being a retail detective. You move from case to case, informing and gathering and then gathering some more. They could be reviewing restaurants. They sometimes will go into an establishment and order the most expensive meal. If the manager is rude or unpleasant to the shopper, watch out. They could take the credibility of any establishment down if the right people employ them.

Whether going to the mall, going to the trendiest clothing store or just scoping out antique shops, they are the anonymous police of the retail world.

There are plenty of companies that offer shopping jobs to the eager and willing person who does not mind living in the shadows. Because of the generally good pay and reasonable hours that they work, the profession can be especially alluring to those down on their luck or even for the dedicated shopper. After all, what could be better for someone who is always looking for the next deal than to become a secret shopper?

With the somewhat ambiguous nature of the shopping business come the companies who are out to scam their own employees. Some unsavory individuals have found that it is easier for them to make money off of the people they hire rather than by other legitimate means. So, it is advised that anyone who considers taking up employment as a secret shopper take adequate precautions. If the company who is telling you to go out and purchase things is not giving you a budget to operate on, find out why that is. Remember that any place that employs people should be paying them, not asking them to front money for things. Another thing to consider when entering the shopping business is if there are any upfront fees. When was the last time you went to a job interview and the manager asked you for 100 dollars before they would hire you? The fact of the matter is that this never should happen. If some company is asking for your hard-earned money before they are going to pay you, this should raise some serious questions in your mind.

Being a professional secret shopper can be a fun, exhilarating and unique job. But before taking the plunge into the world of secret shopping, familiarize yourself with the pitfalls and dangers that do exist within that profession. Who knows, maybe you will be buying a donut with a secret agenda next time you go to get coffee.

Self Storage

Minnesota Furniture Storage

Waldorf Storage

March 2008 Secret Shopping Blog Archive

Climate Controlled Storage

Self Storage Article Directory – Climate Controlled Storage

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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In property management, the people involved have it hard compared to some other professions. In property management, you get to deal with the issues of the people on your property. They can deal with the full range of issues as little as a leaky faucet to as big as a theft. It is hard to predict when these issues will occur. In property management, most managers do daily or weekly checks on their property to ensure that all is well. Some managers visit each apartment monthly to see if everything is going well inside their apartment. Some people in storage property management do monthly sprays for pests. The people involved in property management definitely have a lot on their plate. Sometimes they make good decisions and take care of their clients and sometimes they make things worse.

There was an example of a property in the Midwest, which the person involved in the property management of this facility, made bad decisions. That area just was slammed with feet of rain and it was just a miserable time in that area. The river was rising and some roads were not passable. Some people just decided to stay in doors. One of the renters had a huge issue that was not taken care of properly. With all the rainfall, her roof caved in over her bed causing some loss in personal property. That young woman lived on the top floor and was right underneath the area on the roof where the pump lied to distribute the extra water off the roof. Well, the pump malfunctioned and the water just collected to the point where it collapsed that portion of the roof. In property management, you cannot predict that to happen, but it is what you do after an issue does occur.

The property manager was called instantly and they got someone out there to fix the roof. Remember, this collapse of the roof cause damage to the personal property of the renter. The person in property management chose not to pay for any damages. That got the renter irate and they wanted to move out of the apartment and have nothing to do with this property manager. The renter was very upset to find that they were not allowed to leave their contract. Therefore, the renter, who has just had personal property damage and was not allowed to move into another apartment, was left angry and they were not taken care of. You can bet that the client did not renew their contract and reported this event. When you are involved in property management, you do not want this kind of complaint on your records.

Self Storage

Indiana Self Storage

Olathe Storage

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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Part of the job responsibilities of property management is taking the customer on a tour of the self storage facility once they arrive.  It is important for property management to have some type of plan in place, knowing how long the tour will take and what you want the new tenant to see and know. Try and have the time prearranged for a meeting so you do not have to rush through it.  For many self storage customers this is the first time they have ever rented self storage before and this gives them the opportunity to see how the whole process works.  For the seasoned self storage veteran this gives them the opportunity to see what they may have missed before storing elsewhere and what your self storage facility has to offer.

Property management should be prepared by having the self storage units cleaned and ready for inspection, a variety of locks on hand for point of sale once at the self storage unit, and any information given from previous contact with the self storage customer. If possible have a self storage lease agreement preprinted for a quick and hassle free checkout when done with the tour. 

The property management tour itself should have a beginning, middle and end. First impressions of course are crucial so always smile, use the self storage customers name and have a professional appearance. After the meet and greet take whatever form of transportation, your legs or a people mover, and begin showcasing your self storage facility. Remember as the tour guide and property management you are the expert and you are reinforcing that image by your knowledge of the self storage facilitys history, construction, and pointing out features. Property management should narrate the process so the self storage customer can visualize the experience and what it would be like to store there.

When property management arrives at the self storage unit, again, help the customer visualize what they will be storing and the process by demonstrating the particulars of the unit. Open the door, show them the light switch, operate the alarm if any, and get them comfortable with the unit.  Now is a good time for property management to ask if they have any questions and ask for the sale. By this middle stage the customer should be ready to rent because showing them and helping them understand the process also helps close the sale. 

As you wind the tour down on the way back to the property management office the customer should feel relaxed, comfortable, and be ready to sign the self storage lease agreement.  Now is a good time to share a little personal information about the property management with the customer and get to know them maybe even be able to recommend a good local restaurant or two. You may not have a bullhorn, maps to the stars homes, or a double-deck tour bus but for your new self storage tenant it was certainly worth the price of admission. 

Self Storage Business

Hawaii Self Storage

Miramar Storage

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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Given that Americans spend a plethora of their hard earned money on the food industry, it is important that they are receiving high-quality customer service. Different restaurants should be monitored frequently to ensure that customers are pleased with the service they are receiving.  Restaurant secret shoppers are the perfect people for this job. A restaurant secret shopper will actually pretend to be customers and eat at the different restaurants. A restaurant secret shopper may evaluate performance, food quality and give training and support to restaurant managers and corporations.

In the future, it would be important that  a restaurant secret shopper evaluate the healthiness and quality of the food. In view of the fact that Americans are getting fatter it is important that they cut down the fats and sugars in the foods. A restaurant secret shopper should evaluate how fattening the food is. Fresh fruits and vegetables should be added to many menus to decrease the amount of unhealthy calories eaten daily. There are many healthy recipes that restaurants may choose from. Many people believe that if a meal is healthy then it is distasteful, however there are countless recipes that are healthy and can keep you taste buds jumping.

In order to change restaurant menus, a restaurant secret shopper service may be able to provide alternative menu ideas. Some guidelines to healthy eating are as follows. First of all, portion size is a major factor in eating healthier. A fun quote that may help you with this is, Smaller portions lead to a smaller waist size. Some healthy alternatives that may be chosen are grilled chicken or fish, whole-wheat rolls and breads, or baked potatoes with veggies instead of butter and cheese. Cheese sauces, sour cream, tarter sauces and most special sauces are things to avoid when eating out. Soft drinks are also a significant source of nutritionally empty calories. Water or low fat milk would be a preferred drink of choice when eating out.

Finally, there are some important tips for a restaurant secret shopper when shopping different establishments. The number one rule is to act normal and enjoy the food. Asking lots of questions would be helpful when grading the quality of customer service in the restaurants. In addition to asking question a restaurant secret shopper may want to accidentally spill something or have a slight issue to see how they would respond to the situation. A restaurant secret shopper may want to make sure they keep their eyes and ears open, in order to better grade the quality of the restaurant establishment. When rating the quality of the service it is essential that the customer, or restaurant secret shopper, pay close attention to detail. It is not that often that a person gets a chance to eat at a fine dining or family restaurant for free so having fun would be a great tip to give anyone in that profession. A restaurant secret shopper has an interesting job that many people would want to do.

TN Storage Units

Storage-Mart on South Federal Hwy. in Pompano Beach

Automobile Storage

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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Now do not get it wrong. We are not saying that the property managers do not know how to do their job or do not know what their managers are going through. It is just being said that maybe a property owner should work in a store for a day or two and see how it is for your managers. Then, while working, a secret shopping agent gives them a call to see how they handle the customers. The secret shopping agent could call a couple of different times in the day just to catch the property owners at different situations. This will give the manager a snap shot of what is really like for the property managers to be shopped when they are least expecting it. This will allow managers to maybe rethink how they coach and train their associates around customer service.

There was an example of a manager of a large retail store being involved in secret shopping. He was in his department and a regular customer, or so he thought, came in to ask for assistance. The secret shopping agent proceeded to go along with the shop even though they identified he was a manager. It just so happens that same manager was shopped again in a different part of the store that same week. Both scores came back from the secret shopping agent and it revealed some interesting things for the general manager. It showed that even the leaders of the departments were inconsistent in their customer service presentations. One score was over a 90 percent, which their individual secret shopping score goal was 85 percent. The second score was a 56 percent very sub-par.  The manager was pulled into the general managers office where they had a conversation around consistency and expectations of a department manager.

So what does this show us? This shows us that even the property owners have some opportunities in the area of being consistent around customer service. They would not know that unless secret shopping assisted the manager in the example above. The secret shopping evaluation opened his eyes to show him that if he is not consistent, how can he expect his people to be. How can a property owner that expects a certain level of service receive such low secret shopping scores?

Maybe we all need to put ourselves in the shoes of our employees. We can go out there and sell just like them. We can take calls just like them. We can also receive customer issues just like them and see what they go through on a daily basis. After going through all of that, then we can see what our secret shopping scores would be.

OR Storage Units

StorageMart Odenton, Maryland 21114

Self Storage

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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The first impression that a potential customer gets over the telephone can make all of the difference in the world. Even though the initial conversation will be fairly brief, a lot can be accomplished in that short period of time. The attitude of the person answering the telephone can make or break a sale.  These things can all be examined when it is a secret shopping company that makes the call.

People needing to get a storage unit are usually at a crossroads in their life. They are getting divorced or moving across the country or getting deployed by the military. Their life is full of uncertainty. If they call a self storage facility and the employee sounds completely confused and incompetent, then the customer knows there are other facilities in the area.  Listening to the actual call and reviewing the evaluation from the secret shopping company can help management address this issue.  Maybe this employee just needs some extra training to help them feel a little more confident on the telephone.

A person might call a health spa trying to lose weight, or maybe their doctor might have told them they needed to start an exercise regiment.  Either way, the caller is probably very timid and hesitant. This would explain why the customer called on the phone instead of physically going to the facility and enjoying the customary free work out. If the employee on the telephone is very gruff and standoffish then the potential customer will probably decide to workout at home, or maybe start that program next year. A secret shopping company can help the gym manager realize maybe this particular employee is better in the training room than on the telephone.

Most people calling a retirement home for information are very distraught and upset.  They are considering the fact that they may no longer be able to care for a loved one at home, and that it may be time to consider a senior living facility.  However, if the person answering the phone appears to be preoccupied, or to busy to be bothered, the caller will be put off.  They will think that this facility is understaffed, or even worse, uncaring.  The odd thing is that the retirement home employee may not even realize they sounded indifferent. It may be the policy of the facility for the person answering the phone to also perform several different tasks at the same time.  After actually receiving feedback from the secret shopping company, the retirement home may be able to change their guidelines.  With the help of the advice from the secret shopping company the facility might establish a new procedure that the person answering the telephone focuses only on that one important job.

Excellent telephone skills can make the difference between getting a new customer, and having them continue to let their fingers due the shopping through the yellow pages.  A secret shopping company can help owners and managers alike to determine the best way to use this important asset.  A good secret shopping company has the tools and know-how to help a business make the best use of any employee that answers the telephone.

IN Storage Units

StorageMart 95th & 435 Lenexa, KS 66219

Storage

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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• Our self storage units have drive up access, so it is easier for you to unload your belongings into your unit
• This phone has Caller ID, which allows you to see who is calling
• This car has Cruise Control, which will help you avoid a speeding ticket on long trips
• Our property has a fence, which gives you better peace of mind

 
No matter what the feature is, you can always put a positive spin on it and relate it to what your customer’s particular needs are.

• Our self storage units are all inside the building down the hallway, so we can better monitor who is coming and going and improve security
• This phone will announce who is calling, so you do not have to find your glasses to read the Caller ID
• This car is a manual transmission with a stick shift, which makes it easier to get out of snow drifts
• Our fence is 8 foot tall and gated so only customers can get into the area

Simply telling a customer the features you provide is not enough. Showing them how these features will improve their lives is what is really important, and will make it far more likely that they will want your product or service. That is why we here at PhoneSmart stress giving the feature (drive up, caller ID, cruise control, fence) and then giving the benefit (monitor and security, announces who’s calling, better for snow, and 8 foot tall). Both of these things, benefits and features help provide the caller and walk in customer with all that goes into pricing a self storage unit, car, caller ID or security. If you can help the potential self storage customer visualize the value of the self storage unit for the money, then the potential customer will be more likely to spend their money.

Sales techniques and good sales training along with being a first-class listener will let you convey to the potential customer that your self storage property is worth the money and the peace of mind of storing your belongings. It takes a flexible and seasoned sales professional to be able to convey to a potential customer that they are getting their money’s worth. So whatever you are selling take these tips and run because the name of the game is getting more customers who will spend more money while giving them a top quality service or product.

Storage Concierge is your premier Storage, Storage Unit, Car Storage, RV Storage, Furniture Storage, Boat Storage, Yacht Storage, Self Storage finder.

Canada Storage Units

Storage Unit

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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Yesterday, I found out that I cannot do everything myself. I know, I know, I am a together person, but I have a lot on my plate. The difference that I have made this year that will make the biggest impact on my business is getting my people to take some pride in the business. I can go out there everyday, all day and coach my people around good business decisions and showing them the numbers. How much of an impact do you think it would make if all of my associates were talking about the same thing to all of their peers? 

I had one of my part time associates come up to me and present a good business case on why he should receive a raise. I entertained the idea and he had a good point. He pointed out that we pay associates a certain amount of money and the store makes a certain amount of money. He should get more. Right after that statement was made, one of his peers stated that he would get more money if he produced more. He went on to state, if you have less people on the floor producing at high levels, then everyone receives raises because we don’t need to pay more people. But currently with a lot of people on the floor producing at low levels, how can we expect raises? I went on to show them all the numbers and show them why they are not receiving more money and where our profit actually goes. It was like a light turned on in their head and they saw that they are the main reason and the main driving force of this business.

I felt awesome after that conversation, because my staff understood how the business works and how all the money is divided up. They finally understood that every customer interaction made the difference in the bottom line of the company. Every interaction counted towards their year-end bonus. Every time they decided to take a day off at work and not take care of their customers, it could cost them dearly in the long run.
If everyone understood what part of the big picture they play and how they influence the business, your job will be a lot easier. What a great outlook to start of the New Year with!

Joel Little, experienced Manager.

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Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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This method of business analysis can be utilized with a variety of businesses and industries, not just the self storage industry. All businesses typically have the same expenses in varying degrees, such as payroll, insurance, advertising, maintenance, office supplies, and taxes. While every industry will differ in their competitive analysis and means of how income is earned (i.e. retail, food, production, real estate, etc.), it all comes down to a hurdle rate of return that must be met for investors, and an evaluation of the level of risk that the opportunity presents.  It is not rocket science and does not require a college degree (though it would help tremendously). All it requires is knowledge of the industry, the specific market embarked upon, and accurate analysis of critical operating information.

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Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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In property management, I for one will make a goal to do over 15% better than I did last year. Is that attainable, absolutely. I will have to grow my business that much over this year to stay in business and to take some of the market share in my community. I want my store’s name to be at the forefront of people’s minds when they are out looking for my type of services.

Is this goal going to be easy to reach or will it be very hard work? It will definitely take a lot of work. With the passion that I possess, I must look at every facet of my business to see where I failed last year and where I succeeded. I will have to look at who helped me in my victories and who contributed to my losses. However, with my drive and desire, I will attain the 15% growth that I am after.

So Happy New Year to everyone out there involved in property management. I wish you the best in your business, but as a property manager, you are in the driver’s seat and must make some tough decisions this year in order to grow. Are you able to plan and make goals to do the work necessary to drive results in 2008?

Joel Little, experienced Property Manager.

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Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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Things improved somewhat on Monday.  Schools were cancelled which allowed road crews to make good progress laying salts and chemicals on the streets.   Most of our employees were able to make it to work; maybe a little late, but thankfully all in one piece.  The only problem was that the weather forecasters were calling for another serious round of ice storms for Monday night.  We thought, here we go again.

In steps, Tron with his Outside the Box mentality, came up with the perfect solution.  He simply asked for volunteers to spend Monday night at PhoneSmart.  Since we have a backup generator, even if the power went out and the streets were treacherous we would still be able to answer calls for our self storage clients.  Tron would provide sleeping bags, air mattresses, snacks, etc. for anyone up to the challenge.  He had three people take him up on it.

As luck would have it, the temperature only got down to 33.5 degrees that night.  All precipitation fell as rain, and the roadways did not refreeze.  Our three volunteers were tired the next morning, but still raring to get on the phones and give self storage rates. 

Tron is always willing to get a little creative when it comes to providing the best customer service to our call center clients.  And we all have a funny ditty we will be talking about for some time!

Written by Ann Sheehan, call center representative.

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Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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No matter what business you are in it is important to realize that they only reason you are there is to serve people.  You’re not a storage company serving people; you are a people company providing storage. Your main focus should be on serving the customer. Some will be harder to please than others will but everyone has that one thing that will satisfy them.

Go for the WOW. Sometimes there will be customers that have a complaint. It is important that you listen to them without interruption and if possible repeat what their problem is so you both are on the same page. After you correct the problem, try to go for the WOW again by going above fixing the problem to give them something that they were not expecting.

This will help erase the bad feeling that they had previously and leave them with a positive image of your company.

Written by Heather Gerling, Restaurant Manager

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Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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When I am running my department in my store, I am accountable for sales, merchandising, customer service and inventory. I have to ensure that I have people on my staff that will do the job well and care about the job. When something needs to be done, I can do it myself to ensure that it either gets done on time and is accurate, or delegate it to someone else. 

Other keys to a team that communicates well are, being detail oriented. I like to have the employee repeat back to me or write down the task, and most important is following up with them. With out following up with your employees, you are not ensuring that what you have communicated to them is being done. 

As managers, we are put in charge for a reason and we are probably really good at what we do. One sure way to succeed with our business is to make sure we have an open line of communication with our teams to ensure inventory is counted, alarms on storage units are tested periodically, specials are being offered to our new storage customers, etc.  The better your communication that is between you and your team, the less you physically have to do. 

Written by Guest Blogger, Joel Little

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Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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