Would you risk alienating a customer over $1.42?
Posted on | March 20, 2012 | No Comments
the tall six pack kept us from noticing the broken bottle . . .
We moved into our current house just over 10 years ago. There’s a nearby commercial strip shopping center built around a supermarket, and we do much of our shopping there. There is a liquor store right next door to the market that we’ve patronized that entire time, as well. We’re not high-volume customers, but we go there regularly.
Last Saturday we stopped into the liquor store to pick up beverages as we headed to a friend’s St. Patrick’s Day party. When we got to the party, my wife went to open a bottle of Hard Core Cider from a six pack we’d purchased, and discovered the bottle, with the cap still on, had two big holes in the side and was empty. The carrier itself was dry, so the bottle must have broken some time ago, perhaps on the delivery truck. I put it in the car and figured we’d take it back later.
Today, I went back to the store, with the broken bottle and my receipt. I presented it to the cashier, who seemed unclear on how to handle the situation. To me, it was easy – give me a new bottle, or maybe store credit for the $1.42 it cost me for that piece of damaged merchandise. Heck, in an ideal world, maybe you give me credit for an entire six pack, or send me out the door with one – not what I expected, but a sure way to make sure I leave happy and keep coming back.
A brief math tangent – this was a $7.99 purchase ($8.53 with state and city tax). When they checked our “VIP Club” (customer loyalty program) balance, which they put in place in recent years, and which we almost always forget about (you have to tell them when you are checking out to credit your account for that purchase), it had 145 points, reflecting $145 in purchases by my wife and I. A pittance, to be sure, but I’d estimate that we forget to tell them to credit our points about 4 out of 5 times we buy there.
Instead, the clerk goes to the back to get what I gather was a manager. As they came back out, it seemed they were a bit agitated. I heard mention made, in a frustrated tone of voice, that they had dealt with a similar problem recently, and were not happy to be dealing with it again.
My exchange in the next couple of minutes consisted mainly of them blaming the customer (me) for not handling the broken bottle in a way that made life easier for them. When, instead, they could have taken the no-brainer step of just fixing the problem and sending me on my way.
How, you might wonder, did they blame me?
First, by explaining that I should have brought the entire six pack back to them. No, I responded, I was not going to turn right around after arriving at a social event to bring it back.
Then, by saying I should not have consumed the other 5 bottles of cider. No, I responded, there was no problem with any of the other bottles – and, after finding the broken one, we were sure to check.
They also mentioned, during this portion of the discussion, that when I bring back just the broken/damaged portion of something, rather than the whole six pack, that “it fucks up our inventory.” Yep – you read that right – they dropped an f-bomb. I use that particular word somewhat regularly, but this seemed like a particular inappropriate time for them to go there.
Then they revisited the “just had to deal with this with someone else” path. It seems a customer had a similar problem early that very day, and did not bother to bring in the broken bottle, let alone the whole six pack, and just wanted a replacement, sight unseen. It was said that he had a bad attitude during the exchange, and was, in fact, “an ass about it.”
At this point, I called a time out. I noted that none of this was my problem. I don’t care about their inventory. I was not that guy, I was just a *regular customer* who had never had this kind of an issue before, who *had a receipt* and a *capped, broken bottle* – and I just wanted something to be done to replace it or reimburse me. I was in no way going to leave a party to return a broken bottle the moment I discovered it, and I was definitely not going to not drink the other, perfectly good five bottles out of the six pack.
At that point, the manager seemed to snap out of it a bit, and realize that he was taking out his frustrations from his prior dealings with a different customer on me. He offered a bit of an apology, went and got another six of Hard Core out of the cooler, swapped a bottle out of it for my broken bottle, and I was on my way; but it left a bad taste in my mouth, and, for the time being, I’ll think twice before going in there again.
This happened just a couple of hours ago, and I have sent them an email seeking advice on who the best contact there is to submit some constructive criticism. I’m awaiting a response, and hope to hear back from them within the next day or so. Until then, I’m not going to name the store; but if and when they respond, or if they do not, I will share that information and how they handle my suggestion that a different approach is warranted.
However, I WILL give a plug to another little local liquor outlet where we’ve always been treated very well by the friendly old gentleman behind the counter – and where I will likely be taking a bigger chunk of my business for the foreseeable future – Blue Moon Wine & Spirits, at 2228 W 1st St. here in Loveland, Colorado. There’s also another store we frequent on W. Eisenhower, next door to El Cielo Mexican restaurant, but its name escapes me.
Also, not to pile on, but I went looking for info online about the store where I had the troubling customer service experience. I found that their Facebook page had not been updated in many months; that the email address on their website contact page has a typo, and so does not go through; and that they have a generic commercial of some sort posted on YouTube courtesy of a non-local “local business group” of some sort. None of these are unforgivable sins in and of themselves, but, combined, it seems that this outlet needs a bit of a customer service refresher course.
Tags: blame the customer > constructive criticism > customer relations > customer service > feedback > just fix it > public relations > social media marketing
Cornerstone Farm 2012 Summer Horsemanship Camps Offer New Options
Posted on | February 21, 2012 | No Comments
Cornerstone Farm 2012 Summer Horsemanship Camps Offer New Options
Local business offers summer camps, horseback riding instruction & horse training services
Longmont, Colo.– Cornerstone Farm (www.CornerstoneFarmLLC.com), a local business offering horseback riding lessons and horse training services to area residents for 15 years, has announced its 2012 summer horsemanship camp schedule. This summer brings new options to younger children, those with little or no riding experience, and accomplished equestrians. Cornerstone Farm specializes in hunter/jumper instruction for beginning through advanced riders and offers camps, lessons and training at Triple Creek Ranch.
Four types of camps are offered:
Introduction to Horses & Riding, ages 7+ with little or no riding experience
Horse Show Camp, ages 7+ for all levels of riders, a Saturday horse show caps the week
Dressage Camp, ages 7+, riders must be able to walk and trot
Ponies for Preschoolers Pony Camp, ages 3 to 6 years
2012 Cornerstone Farm Summer Horsemanship Camps
June 4-9 – Horse Show Camp
June 11-15 – Introduction to Horses & Riding
June 18-20 – Ponies for Preschoolers Pony Camp
June 25-29 – Dressage Camp
July 9-13 – Introduction to Horses & Riding
July 23-28 – Horse Show Camp
July 30-August 1 – Ponies for Preschoolers Pony Camp
August 6-11 – Horse Show Camp
August 13-15 – Ponies for Preschoolers Pony Camp
Instruction is tailored to each student’s needs and riding ability, and enrollment is limited. An indoor arena allows riding rain or shine. Introductory, Horse Show, and Dressage camp sessions run Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to2:00 p.m.Pony Camp runs Monday through Wednesday from10:00 a.m.to 1:00 p.m. Cost for camp is $400/week (plus show fees for Horse Show Camp), while Pony Camp is $250.
Camp with Cornerstone Farm is designed to teach English riding and stable management skills in a safe, friendly and fun learning environment. A time-tested program teaches not only horsemanship but also teamwork, confidence and self-reliance. Knowledgeable instructors guide campers to develop new skills, both on and off the horses. Cornerstone Farm school horses are trustworthy and kind, and come in a variety of sizes and ability levels.
Cornerstone Farm is run by Head Instructor Jennifer Shannon, a graduate of the ColoradoStateUniversityequine science program (http://equinescience.colostate.edu/) and a certified English and Western riding instructor. She has been riding for more than 29 years, and has taught riding and trained horses for 21 years. She specializes in hunter/jumper instruction, and offers private and group lessons, as well as horse training services. Lessons can be taught on one of Cornerstone Farm’s trustworthy horses, or riders can take lessons atop their own horse.
For more detailed information on lessons, training or camps, contact Cornerstone Farm at (303) 828-9040, email Jen@CornerstoneFarmLLC.com, or visit www.CornerstoneFarmLLC.com. Find Cornerstone Farm on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CornerstoneFarm.
Directions
From Longmont, take Nelson Road westapproximately five miles from Hover Roadand look for the Triple Creek Ranch sign on the north side of the road. For more information, visit www.triplecreek-ranch.com.
About Triple Creek Ranch
Triple Creek Ranch, at 4255 Nelson Roadin Longmont, was established in 1991 and is one of Colorado’s premier equestrian facilities. The 64-acre facility is along the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, just north of Boulderon the west side of Longmont. Triple Creek Ranch is owned and operated by Lynn McChesney, and features two outdoor arenas and one indoor arena, access to trails and a cross-country course. Full-service boarding and training is available, along with western, dressage and hunter/jumper lessons for children and adults, beginning through advanced levels, in private or group class settings. Lesson horses are available. For more information, call 303-444-4291, email lynntriplecreek@cs.com or visit www.triplecreek-ranch.com.
Nordy’s BBQ & Graham’s Carpet Network Host Ultimate Fishing Experience Viewing Party February 23
Posted on | February 20, 2012 | No Comments
Nordy’s BBQ & Graham’s Carpet Network Host Ultimate Fishing Experience Viewing Party February 23
Businesses helped reality show remodel wounded Brighton veteran’s home
Loveland, Colorado – Graham’s Carpet Network, northern Colorado’s traveling floor and window covering store, and Nordy’s BBQ’s Loveland location will host a February 23 viewing party of the reality show Ultimate Fishing Experience. The UFE episode, shot in early January, features materials and labor provided by Graham’s Carpet Network, while Nordy’s catered five days of lunches for the cast and crew when the show remodeled an injured military veteran’s Brighton home. The show is scheduled to premiere at 6:30 Mountain time Thursday, February 23, and be aired as a re-broadcast on March 22.
Ultimate Fishing Experience on NBC Sports Network (formerly Versus) is similar to Extreme Home Makeover, with dream fishing destinations and outdoor activities. The program chose Aaron Bugg of Brighton as the subject for episode #5. Aaron’s wife Lisa, in cooperation with the show, went with him to Tampa, FL to fish and enjoy a trip to Disney.
While they were gone, a team – including Graham’s Carpet Network, their vendors, distributors, manufacturers and installer friends – retrofitted the Bugg home to make it more modern, accessible and user-friendly. Graham’s provided new carpet and hardwood floors, and the crew installed a new stove, refrigerator, washer/dryer, and jetted tub to help Aaron with residual pain in his legs from an IED injury. Aaron and Lisa returned home with a motorcycle escort to a celebration with the retrofit team, neighbors, family, and others.
“It was truly one of the most touching, moving experiences I’ve ever been a part of,” said Katie Ingram, Graham’s Carpet Network office manager. “The way the community rallied around this project to help a man wounded while serving his country was amazing.”
Graham’s was invited to participate in the show’s production through one of their commercial customers, Kirk Muhlenbruck of Century Three Senior Housing in Windsor. Kirk’s son, Blake, owns Naked Bait Co. Inc. in Evans, knows the show’s producers, and coordinated the project with local non-profit American Military Families.
Those who wish to view or record the program but can’t make the viewing party can check local listings or use their remote to search for “Ultimate Fishing Experience.” Local cable and satellite services carry the network on the following channels: CSU Channel 53; Comcast Channel 55 & 689; US Cable Channel 30 & 288; DirecTV 603; Dish 151 & 9466. The episode premiers February 23, and rebroadcasts March 22. See http://ultimatefishingexperience.com/ for details.
About Nordy’s Bar-B-Que & Grill
Nordy’s, with locations in Old Town Fort Collins and just off I-25 at Crossroads Boulevard in Loveland, is owned and operated by Les and Eric Nordhagen. Whether you are in the mood for fall-off-the-bone ribs, smoked brisket, fried catfish, juicy turkey, Carolina pork, BBQ chicken, or sausage, Nordy’s fits the bill. They offer catering, a gluten-free menu, and an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet weekdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for just $9.95 (kids buffet $4.99). Visit http://www.nordysbbq.com/ for more information, or find them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nordys-BBQ-Grill/158234544667.
About Graham’s Carpet Network
Graham’s Carpet Network operates on the principle that there’s no place like your own home or office to make important decisions about the floor and window coverings that are best for your environment. Consultants bring a pallet of personalized colorful samples right to your home or office, so you can select from a wide variety of carpeting, vinyl, hardwood, natural stone, ceramic tile, area rugs and laminates, as well as designer blinds, shutters and shades, right in the rooms where the materials will be installed and enjoyed. Graham’s Carpet Network’s low overhead and volume buying power help ensure that clients receive superior flooring and window fashion values, along with high-quality, professional installation by trained craftsmen dedicated to providing “Red Carpet Service.”
Scott & Monica Graham opened Graham’s Carpet Network to serve the northern Front Range in 2003. They are graduates of Carpet Network College and are Hunter Douglas Certified Professional Installers. Their business has been honored by the Loveland Chamber of Commerce as multi-year nominees for ‘Business of the Year.’ The Grahams work hard to be the most convenient, knowledgeable, professional and informative resource for residential and commercial consumers of carpet and related products in northern Colorado and southern Wyoming. They strive to provide their customers with the most pleasant and professional shopping experience, acting as advocates and establishing relationships to help ensure repeat customers and referrals.
For more information, call (970) 612-0214, visit www.grahamscarpetnetwork.com, or email graham@grahamscarpetnetwork.com. You can also find them on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Grahams-Carpet-Network/144560548949001) and Twitter (http://twitter.com/designdivacn), or connect on LinkedIn (http://www.linkedin.com/in/monicagraham).
Graham’s Carpet Network Adds New Team Members
Posted on | February 14, 2012 | No Comments
Office manager and project manager handle things at headquarters and in the field
Loveland, Colorado – Graham’s Carpet Network, northern Colorado’s traveling floor and window covering store, is pleased to announce the addition of two new members to its team. Katie Ingram is now the company’s office manager, and Mark Chaput is its newest project manager.
Chaput has been in the flooring industry for nearly 20 years beginning as an installation craftsman at the age of 20. After six years working hands on with carpet, vinyl, tile and wood products, he moved into an estimator and warehouse role with a small store in Fort Collins. Rounding out his skills and experience, it wasn’t long before he took on a sales role and later was promoted to store manager.
Ingram grew up in northern Colorado and absolutely loves the community. It is important for her to be involved, and she enjoys being a Loveland Chamber of Commerce Ambassador and participating in organizations such as Realities for Children, Business Women’s Network of Fort Collins, Fort Collins Board of Realtors and many more. She strives to be an enthusiastic source of information on the flooring industry and the local community. Katie enjoys helping others achieve their goals and perform at their best, and is always eager to take on a new task or challenge. She enjoys spending time with her family, her fiancé, and Niko, their Siberian Husky puppy. Katie and her fiancé are new home owners and enjoy doing all the little things to make their house a home. Their families are Loveland residents and they feel lucky to have them close by.
“We’re very pleased to have found these two new team members to help us better serve our commercial and residential customers in the area,” said Monica Graham, owner of Graham’s Carpet Network. “They fit in great and are already making a positive impact.”
About Graham’s Carpet Network
Graham’s Carpet Network operates on the principle that there’s no place like your own home or office to make important decisions about the floor and window coverings that are best for your environment. Consultants bring a pallet of personalized colorful samples right to your home or office, so you can select from a wide variety of carpeting, vinyl, hardwood, natural stone, ceramic tile, area rugs and laminates, as well as designer blinds, shutters and shades, right in the rooms where the materials will be installed and enjoyed. Graham’s Carpet Network’s low overhead and volume buying power help ensure that clients receive superior flooring and window fashion values, along with high-quality, professional installation by trained craftsmen dedicated to providing “Red Carpet Service.”
Scott & Monica Graham opened Graham’s Carpet Network to serve the northern Front Range in 2003. They are graduates of Carpet Network College and are Hunter Douglas Certified Professional Installers. Their business has been honored by the Loveland Chamber of Commerce as multi-year nominees for ‘Business of the Year.’ The Grahams work hard to be the most convenient, knowledgeable, professional and informative resource for residential and commercial consumers of carpet and related products in northern Colorado and southern Wyoming. They strive to provide their customers with the most pleasant and professional shopping experience, acting as advocates and establishing relationships to help ensure repeat customers and referrals.
For more information, call (970) 612-0214, visit www.grahamscarpetnetwork.com, or email graham@grahamscarpetnetwork.com. You can also find them on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Grahams-Carpet-Network/144560548949001) and Twitter (http://twitter.com/designdivacn), or connect on LinkedIn (http://www.linkedin.com/in/monicagraham).
Why didn’t Cinemark just apologize?
Posted on | January 17, 2012 | 1 Comment
A few days ago there was information on social media that a Loveland, Colorado man was missing, and his family was reaching out to the local community to help find him. He was in poor physical health, and they were concerned that he suffered some sort of medical incident – perhaps a stroke – that left him unable to return to his car (which was found parked outside a theater in Fort Collins), or to lose some cognitive ability and wander off.
That was January 9. On January 14, 66-year-old George DeGrazio’s body was discovered in a public restroom at a movie theater in Fort Collins. The Larimer County coroner’s report suggests that he passed of a heart attack on the day he went missing. Which means his body was in the restroom, behind a locked door, for five full days — while theater employees served thousands of theater patrons, showed dozens of movies and collected thousands of dollars for tickets and concessions. What ultimately alerted them to his presence was the scent of his decomposing body.
I think it is important to note that this wasn’t a big, main restroom off the main lobby with a long row of sinks, urinals and stalls that sees huge amounts of traffic. It was a small satellite restroom with one sink and one toilet and a door that locks from the inside.
But still . . . it seems odd, at the very least, that a public restroom facility would go unchecked — and uncleaned — for five straight days.
Now, compounding that issue/image problem for the theater, it seems that the management of the Cinemark movie complex at Timberline and Harmony in Fort Collins, Colorado, has failed to apologize to the DeGrazio family for allowing George’s body to go undetected for the duration of a work week. This, according to a family member who appeared in a story that aired on the Denver NBC affiliate last night.
Here’s a link to the 9News story:
http://www.9news.com/news/article/242761/188/Family-asks-for-answers-after-body-found-in-movie-theater
It astounds me that Cinemark would not have immediately issued a personal apology to this family. One can only theorize as to why they did not. Were they embarrassed? Likely. Were they concerned with some sort of liability? No doubt. Were the local employees scared more about their jobs than anything else? I’m betting that. Were they truly clueless that mis-handling this could blow up in their face and generate bad publicity on a national — international — scale? It would seem so.
No matter what it is that they were afraid, concerned, embarrassed or ignorant of, there is simply no excuse for failing to take the simple, empathetic, human step of issuing a heartfelt apology to the family. One that should have been offered even if no one on the planet realized what had happened — let alone when all of northern Colorado was looking for this man, and when it was clear that the entire nation, and beyond, was soon to read about this in the weird news section of their favorite print or web news outlet.
It seems certain to me that this incident will change the daily operating procedure at this particular Cinemark facility, and probably at all of the chain’s locations — which is wise. And that should also serve to take away the need to ever apologize to a deceased patron’s family for neglecting to realize they’d been unwittingly hosting a corpse for an extended period of time. But Cinemark should get itself in the habit of empathizing with its patrons asap, and start with a genuine apology to the DeGrazios immediately.
Tags: apology > bad PR > bad public relations > crisis communications > insensitivity
Office Depot deal this week, etc.
Posted on | December 12, 2011 | No Comments
Popped into Office Depot today to pick up a couple of things — needed ink for my Kodak printer and a new cordless phone setup that is more compatible with our new Vonage service than we had before.
I was feeling a deal coming on, because I had a coupon/card for $10 or $15 off purchases of $50 or $75. I also had a rewards card from a prior purchase. But first, they have a current promotion going on that gives you batteries for “free,” in the sense that when you purchase a 20-pack of AA of AAA batteries, they then send you a rewards debit card to spend there that is equal to the price you pay for the batteries.
So, my experience and a couple of lessons learned:
-It seems like 3:30 to 3:00 was a huge rush today here locally, on the roads and in Office Depot. They went from one checker, who had some sort of complicated transaction, to a 2nd, who also had a slow check out process, to a third, where I was, also not too fast. Finally they sent some people in line to the copy center. I don’t know if it was a process problem, a technology problem, the nature of our individual transactions, or an issue of staff/training, but it was nice for them to add more checkers, although frustrating when each one they added seemed to bog down in succession.
-You can’t use the $10/$15 off purchase cards on technology/software/consumer electronics – they are only good for office supplies, ink, etc. Just FYI. Read the fine print on the back of each card/coupon.
-I wish Office Depot formatted its receipts in a clearer way. Instead of an item and a price, and then the discounts, they do some sort of math and take the discount/reward card off in various chunks from the items you purchase. You need to know the original price of each one, and what your discount/credit totals are, to tell if your items were rung up correctly.
-Confession: I bought the extended warranty on the phone system I bought. I know. I never, ever do that; but this time it seemed to make some sense. The system has four cordless phones, each with a battery. The extended warranty, at around $15, is two years of coverage for anything going wrong with any of the phones, including batteries. Have you priced rechargeable batteries for cordless phones lately? I plan to make sure that between months 20 and 24, if they have not already gone bad, that I use that policy to replace the batteries in each phone.
HR, benefits and the myth of “unlimited PTO”
Posted on | December 11, 2011 | 4 Comments
One of my clients is an early-stage tech company doing some important and industry-leading work in its field. They are currently hiring, and have openings for some pretty smart people. They are also competing with some well-known companies seeking similar talent — talent that is in-demand and relatively scarce even in the current market of 8 to 9 percent unemployment.
They’re re-thinking the organization and messaging on the company’s website — including some very dry, boring, standard language that now exists on their “Careers” page.
In a discussion with their HR person, who is looking to do a better job with that page, and their overall recruiting efforts, it came up that at least one of the area’s hot companies notes on its careers page that it offers employees “unlimited paid time off.” There is language that follows that suggests that this means “within reason” and as approved by the department/manager.
In further discussions with my client’s HR director, though, it became clear that this offer might help with recruitment; but in practice, it poses challenges for both the company and its employees. This was further confirmed when she met up and discussed the realities of unlimited PTO with an HR person from the company making that offer.
The insider shared that, in reality, that policy leads to employees actually taking *less* time off that they might under different policies. Why? Several reasons.
Primarily, because the vagueness of “unlimited (within reason)” leaves employees and their managers unclear on what is really acceptable. That leads employees to take fewer days, and different managers with different takes on what is reasonable.
You can certainly understand the concern of employees, given the economic situation and the fact that there are lots of people seeking jobs, and lots of companies looking to keep costs down. Anyone not clearly indispensable to their organization is likely at risk, and anyone truly taking advantage of “unlimited” time off is perhaps calling undue attention to themselves. Some who take time may generate resentment among others who don’t, or who have managers who are not as free about approving time off.
As a result, the firm is re-evaluating how it educates its managers on what is acceptable when it comes to time off, and looking at the policy as a whole to see if they might need to change it.
Have you worked at a company that offers “unlimited paid time off?”
Have you, as an employer, offered unlimited time off?
Have you, as an HR person, managed a workplace with unlimited time off?
What sorts of challenges did it present? What sort of policies helped to make the policy consistent and manageable for everyone?
Graham’s Carpet Network Joins the Fight against Breast Cancer through Facebook Campaign
Posted on | October 24, 2011 | 1 Comment
Loveland, CO, October 24, 2011 — Graham’s Carpet Network is asking the community to join the fight against breast cancer and participate in a Facebook campaign aimed at promoting disease prevention and awareness. Mohawk, the world’s largest flooring manufacturer and a leading supplier of Graham’s Carpet Network flooring, is using Facebook to help raise money for breast cancer research. For every new person who likes the Mohawk Facebook page during the month of October, Mohawk will donate $1 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure® on that person’s behalf.
“October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month and we want to do our part,” explained Monica Graham, of Graham’s Carpet Network. “We’re a local business that cares about our customers and our community. Partnering with Mohawk just seemed like a fun way we could all work together and make a big difference in the fight against this terrible disease.”
Graham says it’s rare to meet someone who hasn’t been touched by breast cancer in one way or another, and statistics show that’s no exaggeration. According to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, breast cancer claims at least 40,000 lives annually in the U.S. More than 200,000 American women are diagnosed with the disease each year.
“These are our mothers, daughters, sisters, friends and neighbors,” added Graham. “With just a few clicks of a computer mouse, you can help Mohawk give these women a second chance at life. It really is that easy.”
If you would like Mohawk to donate $1 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure on your behalf, visit www.Facebook.com/MohawkFlooring and “Like” the Mohawk Facebook page. Be sure to visit this website today, as the Mohawk Facebook fundraising campaign ends Monday, Oct. 31.
About Graham’s Carpet Network
Graham’s Carpet Network is a locally owned retail and commercial flooring store serving the Northern Colorado and Southern Wyoming communities for more than 9 years. “We’re YOUR traveling floor and window covering store.” We understand that each customer is unique and believe in finding flooring solutions that are tailored to the individual’s specific needs. When you shop with Graham’s Carpet Network, you can expect our excellent Red Carpet Service. Our friendly design associates and project managers are experts in all aspects of flooring, including product, style, design and installation. Additionally our installers are outstanding local craftsmen. We’re here to help with many projects such as tile and natural stone, hardwood and hardwood refinishing, laminate, carpet, vinyl, area rugs, even countertops and window coverings.
About Mohawk
Mohawk is a leading supplier of flooring for both residential and commercial applications. Mohawk offers a complete selection of carpet, hardwood, ceramic tile, laminate, stone, vinyl, rugs and other home and business products. These products are marketed under the premier brands in the industry, which include Mohawk, Karastan, Columbia, Century, Dal-Tile, American Olean, Quick-Step, Lees, Bigelow and Durkan. Mohawk’s unique merchandising and marketing assist our customers in creating the consumers’ dream. Mohawk provides a premium level of service with its own trucking fleet and over 250 local distribution locations.
About Susan G. Komen for the Cure®
Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure and launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure® and Komen 3-Day for the Cure®, we have invested more than $1.9 billion to fulfill our promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. For more information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, breast health or breast cancer, visit komen.org or call 1-877 GO KOMEN.
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Tags: breast cancer > campaign > donatino > facebook > public relations > social media
Popeye’s misses the mark
Posted on | October 19, 2011 | No Comments
I sometimes stop in to the Popeye’s Chicken along the local interstate highway — not the healthiest of food, but tasty and not your typical option around here. I ducked in earlier this week for a quick snack on the way back from a client meeting.
I was greeted by some signage on the door. The first was that a specially promoted product that had been touted in a national TV ad campaign (and which I had in mind when deciding to stop there) was such a hit that they ran out. This was not a temporary sign, it was a full-color, corporately created piece.
Another sign advertised a “crawfish fest” – but with small language at the bottom noting that it was “coming soon.” A third noted that they wanted to hear from you to get feedback on your experience there, and that you could win an ipod for taking the time to share. You may or may not have or use an ipod, but my take on that is that it is a piece of technology that is perhaps on the decline – and that is added on to my being greeted by not one but two different items that I *can’t currently order or enjoy* on this visit to this establishment.
I got to the counter and it took some time for me to be greeted – it seems they had a rush just prior, and everyone was scrambling around preparing the orders that were just taken. No big deal.
A young man did then greet me and take my order — nuggets, 5 count, honey mustard sauce and a side of red beans and rice. Gave him my debit card. He’s swiped it and given me my total. He notes to the kitchen that he needs an order of nuggets. The manager, now done preparing orders, rather brusquely tells us both that they are out of nuggets. How do you run out of nuggets? No idea, unless that is the same as the other product named on the door that they are out of.
Young man sheepishly notes to me that he did not know that. She suggests the chicken strips — and I observe that the small strips meal is still $2 more than the large (9 count) nuggets meal. I switch my order to the small strips meal. Counter lad voids the transaction, as it was all but done — and I ask, would it have been that hard to just complete the transaction and give me the same order, with strips instead of nuggets?
So I already have to get out my card again — and, holy short-term memory, Batman! — he has to go through the entire order process from two minutes prior again. Spicy or not? What flavor dipping sauce? What side? Repeat after me . . . .
So, predictably, I get my order and the beans and rice are good, the biscuit tasty, got the right dipping sauce — but, a first for me, parts of the strips are dry and leathery.
My receipt gave me the chance once I got home to tell them about my experience, and I did — in a way that I thought was measured and fair. This was not really an awful visit/experience, but the several small disappointments I encountered, and the missed opportunities they had to address them, certainly made it a less-than-satisfactory encounter with the Popeye’s brand, one that I have long been a fan/patron/supporter of.
I’ve not yet heard back from the company based on the online feedback I provided, and I don’t necessarily expect to — and if I don’t, it will be just one more small disappointment added to the several others from Monday afternoon.
But what can you expect, I suppose, from a fast food joint? Except that the news has covered a number of long-time, established eating chains (like Friendly’s, which recently filed bankruptcy, or Ground Round and others) that are on their way out or already have faded from existence — and I would expect that those organizations did not find themselves in that state as a result of paying relentless attention to details and customer service . . . .
I’ll certainly be back to give them at least one more chance, as I like their food as a change of pace — maybe by the time I return, they will have crawfish, along with nuggets and the rest of the items promised on their menu.
Playday for the Raptors Children’s Festival
Posted on | September 14, 2011 | No Comments
Playday for the Raptors Children’s Festival
Saturday, Sept 17th
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m
Edora Park
Fort Collins, Colorado
Come out for a fun day jam packed with entertainment and birds of prey.
There will be a silent auction, a “paint a suncatcher” table, a giant chalk mural, a Foodies Culinary School owl mask activity and other arts & crafts. TimFoolery, the magician, will perform, as well as The Best Face Painters. Enjoy a climbing wall, giant inflatable slide, Kidzfit jump castle and Crackerjack the storyteller & Colorado Eagle mascot Slapshot.
Enjoy games for the whole family (geared to 5-13 year olds), including a cupcake walk game, bean bag toss, pinata, egg-and-spoon race, fire brigade relay, scavenger hunt, water balloon toss, ring toss, tug of war, sack races and more! There will be great game prizes and door prizes donated by our sponsors, including Elitch Gardens, Boondocks Fun Center, Denver’s Wilderness Experience, Carmike Theatres, Fort Fun, Christy Sports, Cinemark Theatres, Chippers Lanes, Pump It Up, Weld Family Chiropractic and more!
Adults are sure to be interested in silent auction items, including: Ft Collins Hilton Overnight Stay in deluxe king suite & breakfast for two, Denver Broncos Autographed John Elway Print, Ft Collins Hilton High Tea for four, Ranch-Way Feeds Bag of Dog Food and pooper-scooper, Ranch-Way Feeds Bag of Bird Seed, Nordy’s BBQ gift certificates and other items.
Bring a blanket and enjoy a picnic in beautiful Edora Park. Bring a gift for the Rocky Mountain Raptor Wish Tree (http://www.playdayfortheraptors.com/Raptor_Wish_Tree.html). Festival food, ice-cold drinks and more than 30 exhibitors that serve families, kids and parents will be there. Free general admission with affordable game and activity tickets.
This fun event is a benefit for the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program (http://www.rmrp.org) of Fort Collins. It will help the organization continue its rescue, medical care, rehabilitation and public education efforts to give injured, sick and orphaned eagles, owls, falcons and hawks a second chance at freedom. Last year they had an 88% release rate!
Come on out and play! It promises to be a HOOT!
The event is still looking for additional volunteer help, as well.
Contact:
Georgia Evans
Georgia@playdayfortheraptors.com
970-663-7492
www.playdayfortheraptors.com
Or find our group on Meetup.com: http://www.meetup.com/PlaydayForTheRaptors-A-Family-Playday/
Event Sponsors include TRI 102.5, Northern Colorado 5, Westwind Graphics, Home State Bank, Hilton Fort Collins, International Black Belt Academy, City of Fort Collins Fort Fund, Weld Family Chiropractic, Big Grins, Fort Collins Nursery, Pepsico, Comedy Magic by Tim Foolery, Wild Birds Unlimited Nature Shop, Foodies Culinary Academy, Fort Fun, CrackerJack the Rocky Mountain Storyteller, Chipper’s Lanes and GK Gymnastics, and many others.