Is customer service a thing of the past? Definitely not. Today I want to talk about my friend Ann, customer service extraordinaire and my favourite sales person in the ladies wear section at Sears in the Pine Centre Mall. In my book Ann is the Sears Fashion Lady. Ann has always been fashionable and style-conscious and she loves it when things match. Ann is a senior, so that also gives us a special connection.
I noticed Ann many years ago and like many of her regular customers we are on a first name basis. Ann now picks out my clothes because when I pick out something she tells me, "No Kathy that looks too old for you, or that colour does not suit you." You just can not beat that for service.
Ann has years of experience in customer service, a good sense of humour and great enthusiasm for each and every one of her customers. She makes you feel good about yourself as she dresses you in the latest casual weekend fashions or fashions for the career oriented and dressy shopper.
Ann said, "I joined the ladies-wear department at Sears just for seasonal work at Christmas and 17 years later I am still there. I love the job and I love the company. I had no idea that I would enjoy retail work as much as I do. I sell a good quality product and our customer service level of expectation makes us stand out in the retail market. I know many of my customers on a first name basis and over the years I have met their children and now their grandchildren. When one of my regulars is absent I miss them and I start to inquire about them. In fact I have a few husbands who ask me to pick out gift items for their wives. I know this works because the husbands keep coming back and the wives never return anything.
We have something for everyone so come on in and allow me to help you find those perfect items for your wardrobe. I value all of my customers and I make them the purpose of my work."
Ann was born at home in Zeballos, B.C. in 1942. Ann has asked me to let you do the math to figure out her age. Zeballos is a village located on the northwest coast of Vancouver Island. Zeballos was first populated in the early 1930s because of mining. Gold was discovered in the surrounding hills and by the time Ann was born the gold rush was well over and most of the miners had gone off to fight in the war.
As the years went by Ann travelled and lived in many interesting places. She moved to Prince George in 1963 and says Prince George is her home. Ann and her husband have three grandchildren. Ann's favourite past time is her grandchildren.
She loves having the grandchildren as often as possible and enjoys taking them places and reading to them. She is semi-retired so you will have to catch her at the store on the weekend.
