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Finding Strength In Tough Times
June 11, 2008
A wave of problems can arise in the wake of a recessing economy. For retailers these problems may include an influx of complaints. As consumers are more cautious of where the dollars go, they expect high-dollar quality for lower prices. Manufacturers, on the other hand, are bringing in less product and products of lower quality to cut corners and maintain their own form of cautious buying. The result is that I, as a customer service manager, am pommeled with insane shipping times, product imperfections, and of course, consumer complaints.
While the complaints are legitimate and relate directly to the manufacturers, not the store, I am swamped with maintaining my post as a liaison between consumers and distributors. (In fact, I really feel that "distributors" is a better term than "manufacturers" because the factories are all over seas.) This is a very difficult position for me because I have no ability to separate work from home. Many of you who work for your families can sympathize. I have been losing sleep and have become very anxious in my day-to-day life.
It's not all bad news, though. In these times I have found many friends who really keep me grounded. Quite a few of these are other members of the juvenile products industry. These are the friends who send me e-mails that remind me of why I'm going to heaven (because I've done my time in hell by being in furniture!), the friends who send me reminders that my God is bigger than my problems, the friends who ship my furniture pieces a la carte as ready, and the family members that send me flowers when they know I'm at whits end.
This industry is more to me than business. The store is my immediate family and the industry members who do so much are simply my extended family. My customers are part of my extended family as well. While I find my problems come from within the business, my solutions and my peace often come from within the same.
This blog is dedicated to some of the few who really make it all worth while. Thanks to Lisa C., Sandra V., Dick W., Dennis W., Grandpa Howard, and Mom for helping me through this time!
Posted by Kelly Nelson on June 11, 2008 | Comments (0)
