A couple of weeks ago, my wife turned 40. Naturally this called for some acknowledgement (at least on my part), so a few of my wife’s girlfriends and myself planned a surprise party.

Now, without a doubt my wife’s favourite treats are Slurpees from 7Eleven. She loves those flavoured frozen drinks so much that it was a no brainer to organize a slurpee-themed party with “adult” Slurpees like Pina Colada, Margaritas, and frozen lemonade mixed with alcohol.

In addition to the adult Slurpees, my wife’s friends decided that a simple slab cake from the grocery store, wouldn’t do the trick, so they had another surprise in store. I, myself, had no idea what sort of cake they had planned, except that it would be special in some vague way, so when the time came for them to get the cake they came out with this:

They had gotten my wife a full detailed Slurpee 7Eleven cup-shaped cake. It was beautifully detailed from the colouring of the Slurpee cup to the 7Eleven brand logo. It looked so much like the real thing that I half expected Slurpee to come dribbling out when my wife cut into it 🙂

Needless to say, my wife and I were completely blown away with this cake. She was literally speechless at her friends’ thoughtfulness.

While eating the tasty cake, I asked my wife’s friends where they got such an intricately decorated and frankly amazing cake, and they told me the company was called Cake By Roberts.

At Cake by Roberts, the staff were wonderful to deal with, and they were so committed to making it perfect that they dedicated a lot of extra time and effort trying to have a plastic dome lid as part of the cake.  Although such effort was ultimately unsuccessful, the detail they had was still amazing, not to mention great tasting.  I would highly recommend them for any party that you want to go the extra mile for.

Cake By Roberts
134 Doncaster Ave. Unit #5
Thornhill, ON L3T 1L3
Phone: 905-889-1448
email: cakes@cakesbyrobert.com

Whenever I have an issue that involves electronics, I always cringe when thinking about going into one of those “big box” stores. Despite the wide selection of electronics that these larger stores have, I find it challenging to come across an experienced and knowledgeable staff member on a regular basis who can deliver great customer service.

Thankfully, I met just this type of employee several years ago at The Source, located at Lawrence Plaza (Bathurst Street and Lawrence Avenue), in the city of Toronto. Since then, this employee has been my “go-to guy” for many of my electronic needs and has constantly gone above and beyond the level of basic customer service that is so common in many other stores.

I’m not sure how long Mohammed has been with the company, but I have been dealing with him for at least the past three years. During that time, Mohammed has constantly exceeded the expectations of every customer that walks through the doors. Not only does he greet everyone with a warm smile, but he also demonstrates an earnest desire to provide any sort of assistance, no matter the issue. He is also extremely knowledgeable about technology and the products that the store offers. If these two factors were not enough to keep me coming back, Mohammed always knows how to come up with a quick fix or low cost solution for whatever challenges I may have. Whereas other sales representatives frequently suggest that the highest priced solution is the only solution, Mohammed knows exactly how to meet your needs at the lowest cost without compromising quality. This is refreshing to see, especially in a retail world dominated by “high priced solutions” that are pushed on you by inexperienced and less than knowledgeable staff. Seeing the work that Mohammed does truly demonstrates how dedicated he is to his craft and to the customer.

Whether it’s a simple battery, a more complicated computer issue, or if you’re looking for the latest in the gaming world, I urge anyone with any sort of technological issue to stop by and see Mohammed. I can guarantee you that if his warm personality doesn’t keep you coming back, his level of expertise and cost saving abilities will!

The Source
526 Lawrence Ave W, Unit 16D
North York, ON M6A 1A1
416-782-6379

While I usually write about specific customer service experiences that have directly impacted me, I wanted to take an opportunity to highlight a well run business on behalf of my seven year old daughter.

Now that my daughter has enjoyed another successful and hugely entertaining summer, I thought I would give a shout out to a great summer camp. For the past few summers my daughter has gone to Crestwood Valley Day Camp. Located in the valley near Bayview and Lawrence, the camp has been around for the past 20 years. In fact, my wife was a camp counselor the very first year they opened!

From a parent’s perspective, the camp is an incredibly well run and organized business. From the pre-summer orientation where campers get knapsacks and water bottles, to the mid-summer open house where kids get to perform, to the buses which pick up and drop off on time (a little known fact is that prior to the day before camp starts, the buses go on a run to make sure they will be on time for the coming days), and finally, the ongoing communication about what is happening. The camp truly runs like a well oiled machine.

It is also the little touches that make a big impact. From having police and traffic attendants present during parent events (due to all the cars), the great camper activities (e.g. swimming, nature area, pottery, art, archery, creating a music video, optional overnight camp, etc.), the snacks and lunches (which the kids actually eat), to always being prepared for weather inconveniences. The camp itself is an incredibly fun, organized, safe, and highly educational experience.

Crestwood’s owners, Bobby and Eric, are great to deal with, and after a quick conversation with either of them you will understand why your kids will love it there. For anyone looking for a great summer experience for their kids, I highly suggest you consider Crestwood Valley Day Camp.
Crestwood Valley Day Camp
411 Lawrence Avenue East
Toronto, ON M3C 1N9
Phone: 416-444-9595
Fax: 416-444-4178
Email: crestwood.camp@crestwood.on.ca