The real value of good customer service

If you are a fan of consumer champion programmes like ‘Watchdog’ you will know that in many instances people aren’t complaining about an actual product or even the cost of it, but how they have been treated by the seller.

‘We give exceptional customer service’ is a boast that has been taken up and rolled out as a mantra by a whole host of different organisations. But how many of them actually understand what real customer service is? If you think about it, providing customers with a first class service should really be taken as read. But too many businesses are very happy to treat the customer with understanding and respect before they actually purchase, but far too few of them continue with that courtesy once they have the money safely in the bank!

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Christmas Parties should be Fun not a Chore

Whether you love it or hate it, the summer has flown and THAT time of year is approaching fast, and I don’t mean the annual salary review. It’s only a matter of weeks away now until the Christmas Party becomes the talking point around the office! It can be great fun for those who come along to enjoy themselves. but quite a stressful time for the poor soul who has the responsibility for organising it. Colleagues will be expecting you to provide the perfect event; as will your boss, but you have to fit it in with your usual heavy workload.

At all the Chartridge Conference Company venues, we’ve had years of experience organising very successful Christmas Parties, so we’ve put together a few tips to help keep the run up the Christmas stress free.

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How to choose the perfect venue for your wedding

Your wedding day is one of the most important in your life. Of course you want it to be perfect, but it’s not only your Big Day, but a day that all your family and friends are looking forward to. There is so much to arrange, but get the main ingredients right from the start, and all the other things will fall into place so you can focus on the fine detail that make a good day into a great day.

Traditionally the wedding ceremony was held in a church or registry office, with the Wedding Breakfast at a hotel or other hostelry. These days, more and more people are choosing to hold their wedding in castles, stately homes or historic buildings to really make it a day to remember for the rest of their lives.

But how do you choose the perfect location for your wedding, and how can you make sure the day is a triumphant success? We have a wealth of experience in holding memorable weddings at all the Chartridge venues, so perhaps we can help by highlighting some of the critical issues that will ensure your day is the success you’ve always dreamed about.

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There’s no excuse for poor service

You don’t have to be an international economist to know we’re still facing difficult economic times but I wonder just how many businesses in the ‘service’ industry are using this as a convenient excuse for lower standards.

We know that our customers have different requirements, and it’s not difficult to provide any specific requirements they may have, but we overlook the basics at our peril. We’re in the hospitality industry so surely our core offering is hospitality – a friendly welcome, a personal service and good food.

At all the Chartridge venues, we make a point in talking to our customers to find out what they want, what they expect. Their biggest gripe is venues that promise the latest high tech facilities with all the bells and whistles, yet fail to deliver those things they expected as standard – functional rooms, a peaceful environment, staff who make them feel valued and a menu that makes up for being away from home.

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Quality Service doesn’t demand a premium price

The expression “You only get what you pay for” may be relevant in the manufacturing industry, but in the service sector it’s a misnomer, and often just an excuse for justifying inflated prices. By definition, ‘service’ is work done by a person or a group that benefits another, and if it’s done well it generates competitive advantage, and results in a successful business. But delivering a quality service shouldn’t mean a high price tag.

You can entice new customers with special offers or promotions, but unless you can deliver the quality service customers expect, they just won’t come back. What’s even worse, customers talk and a bad reputation spreads like wildfire.

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