Last night I asked Pete to answer my business phone when it rang at about 7:30 p.m., which he did. He talked to a woman named Ada from Connecticut and after they hung up, she sent this email to us:
“I am writing in response to the the outstanding customer service I received this evening. I called regarding a beautiful bag that I saw from Instyle Magazine that I was able to order after speaking to the gentleman [Pete] at the number provided. Now a days great customer service is very hard to come across; I truly appreciate the service I received this evening. This bag is my first purchase with your company but after today I hope to be a life long customer of your products. May you and your wife have continued success. Thank you once again!”
– Ada from Connecticut
I should ask Pete to answer the phone more often :) Thanks, Ada!!!
I’m devoting this post to SCORE, which is made up of mostly retired small business owners/entrepeneurs who now donate their time and expertise to counsel new small businesses. I have used SCORE’S counseling services twice. The first was about 2 years ago when I first really started pulling the idea for Jeanne Beatrice together. I brought a pile of baskets to their office and pitched my business idea to them. They gave me the green light with the caveat that it would be important to keep costs down. Very valuable advice and I left with much more confidence about my business idea. Then second was about 1 year ago when I was trying to get a handle on costs, wholesale pricing, retail pricing, etc . . . once again, their advice was invaluable. I am grateful to have had SCORE to turn to and would guess I’ll turn to them again at some point! THANK YOU SCORE!!!
These baskets are made by members of the Maata N Tudu Association in Northern Ghana. Each Basket is 15 inches in diameter and costs $45 at Gifts with Humanity. And no, I’m not worried about referring my customers to another website that sells baskets! I want to help other small businesses like mine.