Tag Archives: Brand Standards

At Crestwood Valley Day Camp the Day is Never Done!

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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

 

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Rogers’ CEO is a Great Guy!

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As many of us have come to learn, companies tend to be hit or miss when it comes to customer service. In addition to this, it seems that many people tend to have a love-hate relationship with companies that they encounter every single day. A perfect example of this would be mobile phone companies- like Rogers.  It can be as difficult to resolve a minor issue with them as it can a major one. For example, I knew a Rogers customer who wanted to get help with an issue he was having with his new phone. Unfortunately, none of the Rogers customer service reps were able to help resolve the issue.

Tired of sifting through tons of Rogers customer service representatives all repeating the same line, my friend decided to take a different approach and contact Guy Laurence, the current CEO of Rogers communications. Mr. Guy Laurence is well known for his amazing customer service skills and taking the time to resolve everyday issues for Rogers customers. Guy Laurence was also the former President CEO of Vodafone, a European phone company. He is a great example of a leader in the field of customer service as he reads every single email that is sent to him by valued Rogers customers and he does not waste any time in responding to them.

After my friend contacted Mr. Laurence via email on a Friday afternoon, the CEO of Rogers responded by having an authority call him back on Saturday morning. He spoke with the authority for only five minutes, but the issue was finally resolved. Although it took a while, it seems that Guy Laurence is redeeming Rogers’ customer service. So hold on loyal customers, there may be a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.

Rogers Communications
www.rogers.com
(416) 935-7777

 

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Experiencing the Magic of Disney

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There is nothing quite like the magic of Disney, and what contributes to that magic is its incomparable level of customer service.

Recently, I contacted Disney about purchasing an animation cell of Wendy and Peter Pan for two of my close friends. The Disney employee told me the store had lots of animation cells, but it was rare to find one with only Wendy and Peter Pan. Fortunately, the employee was able to find the cell and we began to arrange the purchase. However, just as the arrangements were almost complete, my phone call with Disney was suddenly cut off. I called back and the employee was very apologetic, but then the call cut out again. Having been cut off twice, I gave up for the time being.

It was a few months ago that I decided to retry contacting the Disney employee about the
rare animation cell. I emailed them only to have my message bounce back because the employee had left the company. The arrangement for the Wendy and Peter Pan animation cell was still important to me, so I sent the information about the previous arrangement to another Disney employee. It was not until weeks later that I got the confirmation from the employee that the cell was being framed.

The wait was worth it, as when the cell arrived it was beautifully framed and of high quality. In a way, it was magical. Impressed with such care and effort, I called Disney once more to thank them. Disney’s reply both surprised and impressed me. They wanted me to have the cell as a gift and offered their deepest apology for their lack of contact. Disney went above and beyond their customer service, and that is what makes it all a truly magical experience.

www.disney.com
1-800-328-0368

 

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Bruce and Steve- SQM’s Real Estate Go-To Guys

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Suitable office accommodations contribute to the success of a business. Now, you might be wondering why, and it may seem like an irrelevant detail, but every business has its unique accommodation needs. Excellent Real Estate Agents are the ones who have the ability to identify and familiarize themselves with their client’s specific needs, and from this, leverage their contacts to provide the solution to those needs. An office space is simply not enough- the accommodation should be ideal for the type of business. Everything from the size of the organization, to the type of office layout, and most importantly the budget, must be considered when making a decision. Businesses seldom find Real Estate Agents who can do all of this and much more, but once they are found, its best to stick with them. Real Estate Agents of this caliber remind me of Bruce WiIls and Steve Brown.

Bruce and Steve are two real estate agents, based in Toronto, that work for CB Richard Ellis. Their office can be found right around Highway 401 and Don Valley Parkway. They have  provided Sensors Quality Management Inc. with very suitable office accommodations for the past 20 years. They know the properties within the GTA area very well and have established relationships with the landlords. They understand the different accommodation needs of various businesses, whether they are a start-up or a small to medium-sized organization, and they take these needs into account when working out lease agreements.

The GTA Real Estate industry acknowledges and respect Steve and Bruce for delivering quality service at reasonable costs to their clients. On occasion, we have other Real Estate Agents who call our office, asking if we are in need of office accommodations when our current lease expires. Of course, we kindly decline and tell them that we’ll be sticking with Bruce and Steve because we know that we are in great hands with this duo.

So are you searching for ideal office accommodations? Do you need an agent that understands your business needs, an agent that will work with you, and leverage his contacts to provide you with ideal accommodations with the right terms? Well, give Bruce and Steve a call because I have been with them for 20 years and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them.

Steve Brown
416-495-6239
steve.brown@cbre.com

Bruce Wills
416-495-6229
bruce.wills@cbre.com

 

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Today’s Lens Gives Me and Extra Set of Eyes

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Every few months, I need to order a new batch of disposable contact lenses and for the past three years I have realized that there is no better contact lens provider than the folks at Today’s Lens. The company is an online contact lens and glasses retailer that offers high quality products and great service.

The manager of Today’s Lens, Joe, runs the company and is a mastermind when it comes to outstanding service that is bound to have customers leaving positive feedback and returning.

I prefer to purchase my lens from this specific online retailer because not only do they offer contact lens and glasses for a cheaper price (compared to in-store purchases), but they also offer an easy, usable site that is simple to follow by almost anyone.

In addition to attractive pricing and an easy-to-use website, during my latest experience with the company, I learned that Today’s Lens takes quality very seriously and ensures the quality of the product before sending it out to customers.

When the time came for me to replace my lenses, I visited the Today’s Lens website and ordered the contact lenses that I normally purchase. As normally is the case, I waited for the lenses to arrive by mail, but became concerned after three weeks went by and my order had yet to arrive. I decided to give the manager, Joe, a call and I explained my problem to him. He was very apologetic and he wanted to get the problem solved as soon as possible, but he also wanted to look into the matter beforehand to find out what had happened. After a few minutes, he called me back and explained that they currently had the lenses in stock, but the expiry date was fast approaching. Since it would not be fair for the customer if they were to ship contact lenses that were not up to their standards, he was waiting for a new shipment. He then apologized to me again, and told me that my contact lenses would be shipped to their warehouse within the next week and that they would immediately send them out to me. On top of his sincere apology, he added that a complimentary box of contact lenses would be provided on my next order, as a result of the lengthy delay.

When the time came for me to make my next order, I called Joe and placed my order. I found it outstanding that Joe still managed to remember my name, my prescription, the type of lenses and of course the complimentary box of lenses, without any reminder. The service that Joe provided clearly demonstrates that he knows his customers, cares for the customers, and lives up to the company standards of providing high quality and great service. I would highly recommend Today’s Lens to anyone looking for glasses or contact lenses.

www.todayslens.ca
1-877-275-1334

 

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Tartino & Brother Lay Down a Solid Brick Foundation

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Over the past couple of years, I have been meaning to do some tuckpointing on my chimney and on a few places on the side of my house. For those who don’t know, tuckpointing is the process whereby the cement cracks in between bricks are patched up in order to avoid any further damage to a home. Unfortunately, my chimney is located right alongside the brick wall beside a very slanted roof, which has led every bricklayer assessing my house to tell me two things; 1) scaffolding would be needed and 2) it was going to cost a lot.

Since I figured there had to be a better solution, I have been putting off the work until I recently received a recommendation for a guy named Tartino- an older Portuguese man who works with his brother. When they showed up at my house, I could barely understand them because of their thick accents, however I was able to understand that they were offering me a reasonable price for the job and that they could do it on the following weekend.

Even before they started the work, I was impressed by the way they prepared themselves- first by putting down drop cloths so as to not dirty the landscaping around the brick wall, and then by the way they set their tools down in a organized manner (in steep contrast to the way many other tradespeople just throw their tools, suggesting that if they don’t care about their own tools, they probably don’t care about your house).

In addition to working in an organized manner, perhaps the most impressive thing Tartino and his brother did involved the “scaffolding”. While every other bricklayer told me “scaffolding this” or “scaffolding that”, Tartino and his brother used a couple boards of wood as support and a ladder as a bridge to support another ladder against the chimney in order to reach my chimney safely and quickly. What other bricklayers would have taken extra time and a ridiculously large bill to do, Tartino and his brother were able to complete on my brick wall within a day and at a much cheaper cost.

Even when working on my chimney, Tartino and his brother showed the same care they had when setting up. Unlike other contractors who will just slap on more cement between the bricks, Tartino and his brother actually grinded down the existing cement, cleaned out the cracks, then added their own cement. This left a chimney that looked like they had built a new one for me.

They did such a great job, that I recommended them to one neighbour, who after completing his chimney, recommended them to one of our other neighbours. It was a testament to the quality of their work, how hard they worked to finish the job quickly, and offering reasonable prices for their services.

While it may have been hard to understand them at times, it’s well worth the great quality and service when doing business with Tartino and his brother.

Tartino & Brother
416-720-3994

 

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Tim Horton’s Gives Me A Great Start To My Day

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A couple of weeks ago, I took my daughter for breakfast at a Tim Horton’s located on Caledonia Road in Toronto. In addition to our two breakfast meals, my daughter asked if she could try their new yogurt smoothie.

After making the payment, we waited for a few minutes and the cashier handed us our order. We took our seats at the table and began to eat when my daughter took a sip of her Tim Horton’s smoothie. Although she normally devours such a beverage, I could tell that she didn’t like it because she only took a small sip, and didn’t touch it again.

Having worked in the restaurant industry, I didn’t want to throw out the smoothie due to the possibility of creating a big mess in the garbage container, so I handed it back to the cashier, and asked her to pour it down the drain instead. The Tim Horton’s cashier asked me if there was anything wrong with the smoothie, and when I told her my daughter just didn’t like it, Rather than simply taking the smoothie away, she asked if she could get my daughter something else to drink.

By asking that question, the Tim Horton’s cashier recognized there was a problem and went above and beyond the normal call of duty to ensure the guest experience was positive and that we left Tim Horton’s satisfied. Instead of simply completing the requested task of pouring the smoothie down the drain, she truly took care of us. My daughter asked for a chocolate milk which made her very happy, thus making me a happy Tim Horton’s customer.

Research shows that approximately 75% of customers who have a good experience will make repeat visits to a business. Surprisingly, when something goes wrong, but is rectified to the customer’s satisfaction, there is a 92% chance that the customer will return to the business. As such, this is a great example of service recovery because the Tim Horton’s cashier identified a problem and completely turned the experience from a negative one into an extremely positive one. Without a doubt, I will return to this Tim Horton’s location.

815 Caledonia Rd, Toronto, ON M6B 3X8
www.timhortons.com

 

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