Publisher's Note
Commentary by Scot Giambalvo
My Annual Ode To Customer Service
Here it is the holiday season and once again I’m reminded of how everyone
puts on a “happy face” and acts nice to everyone else for a few weeks.
I want to take a few minutes to thank those people who represent “great
customer service” year round, and encourage you, our readers, to take care
of them as they have faithfully taken care of us, their customers.
First, and probably the most patient, would be the staff of Wray’s Music
on Market Street in Lemoyne. Particularly, I would like to thank Jason in
Pro Audio and Johnathan in Keyboards for all their time and efforts in
“dealing with me.” Although no one’s ever called me a difficult customer
to my face, I’m sure I fall into that category, and neither of these two
fellows ever lost the smiles on their faces. Here’s wishing a great retail
season to them!
Next is Jeffrey VanBoskirk, owner of the Arthur Murray Dance Studio (also)
in Lemoyne . Jeffrey is the epitome of a business man who makes his
customers happy. You can’t help but enjoy a conversation with him, and if
you’re not careful he’ll have you out on the parquet cuttin’ a rug in just
minutes. If you can’t think of that perfect gift, forget the dining gift
certificate and give that special someone a few lessons at Arthur Murray,
they’ll always remember the great time they had.
Last, but not least, has to be Tom Scott, owner of Scott’s Grille in
downtown Harrisburg. (Now before every other restaurant owner and good
friend roasts me for this, Tom has a special place in MODE’s heart.) You
see, Tom was the very first advertiser to “sign up” with MODE. He’s also
one of the few that has been in every single one of our 98 issues. Besides
the fact that he takes care of his friends, you’ll never meet a more
agreeable and charming business owner. (I’m sure it’s his wife Amy keeping
him in line, but who am I to say?) Anyway, Tommy has earned a place in
Harrisburg history for successfully pleasing every type of customer from
the stuffy stogie-smoking politicians to the family of four with those
nasty Entertainment Book coupons. Both Gloria, my boss/wife, and I send
only the best to him and his outstanding staff. Cheers!
There’s so many more people I could plug right now, and you all know who
you are, and I’m sure all of you will let me know, in the next few days.
But the point is that no one who knows these few people would ever
disagree with me. They ARE what makes a pleasurable business experience.
From retail to service to dining, these are your hinge pins.
And so I move on to the 2001 Business Expo hosted by the Harrisburg
Regional Chamber of Commerce. Condensed to one day, Thursday, November
15th, it’s sure to be remarkably different than in any previous years. The
staff and volunteers that have organized this year’s incarnation chose to
rewrite the book on how to produce a successful business fair. First, by
renaming it to an “expo,” a clearly more appropriate label. Second, by
rolling all the events into one day, scheduled intelligently so every
category of business person—from manager to owner to entrepreneur—would be
able to attend the sessions they needed, when still having ample time to
stroll the exhibit room floor.
MODE Weekly will be at the Business Expo, as in previous years, taking
pictures of all of you crazy readers, so if you see us out and about, let
us know you want to be pictured in the paper, and if the tip is big
enough, consider it done! (Huge grin!)
Take care, be well, let me know your thoughts, and enjoy this issue.
Scot Giambalvo
P.S. I’d like to pay a bit of praise to Ron Kamionka, owner and manager of
5:01 Downtown and the soon-to-open Eclipse Nightclub for his vision in
developing these tandem establishments. I toured the “under major
renovation” Eclipse and I have to say: If you had ever been in the Vault,
cherish those memories because its GONE baby, and what’s going in will
blow your mind! Goodbye boring downtown, and good luck Ron. |
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