United Linen Blog

The New Billboard Is Up!

I thought this new billboard turned out very well.  It's helping us celebrate 75 years in the linen business.  I'll have some video for you to look at soon.  

This is the first time we have used a QR Code on one of our billboards and I can see us doing more of this.  The QR Code in the picture above should be big enough to scan with your smartphone.  You can get the Microsoft Tag iPhone app at http://gettag.mobi  

Many thanks to Keleher Outdoor Advertising for getting this billboard put up so fast.

To find out more about United Linen & Uniform Services, click here.

To find out more about QR Codes, click here.

A Big #ThankYou from Mat Saddoris, President/Owner of United Linen

"...golden moments drenched in a muddy mess" - Dealing With Customer Complaints

       How cool is Feedback?  How cool is it when a customer takes the time to let you know what’s going on with your business?

 It’s very cool.  After all, it’s only after receiving feedback that a business can seize the opportunity to improve.

 Some Feedback falls in the Atta-boy category, some fall in the “oops we have a problem” category, and others fall in the “flaming” category.

 I‘m not talking about the “flaming” comments.  That’s a blog post in itself.

 And I’m not talking about the comments that tell you how great you are…although those are nice.

 What I am referring to is the second category, the “Oops we have a problem” category.

When customers take the time to tell you their problem with your product or service, it’s like a golden moment veiled in a muddy mess. 

So few customers tell their service providers they have a problem.  I’ve had lunch with people who complained about the meal, but when the owner of the restaurant came over to ask how everything was, no one complained…they all said “Fine.”  I felt sorry for the guy.  If we noticed a problem with the food, probably several other patrons have or will as well.  Wouldn’t you want to know?

And when customers do tell a business about a problem, few believe there will be anything done.

So when you have a complaint come your way, rejoice.  It’s an opportunity to make your business better and delight more customers and generate awesome word of mouth. Here are our steps at United Linen for dealing with complaints.

1. respond quickly
2. apologize
3. don’t offer some lame excuse of try to justify (the customer doesn’t care)
4. fix the problem
5. follow-up with the customer and let them know it’s handled.

 

What about you?  Do you have a step we didn’t list?  When do you complain?

 

 

 

 

 

 

United Linen TV: That's How You Do That

A quick look at the Awesome people that make up the Production Dept. at United Linen & Uniform Services.

Let us know what you think. The comments are all yours.

 

United Linen TV: Introducing Robin Black

In this video series, we help you meet the people who make up United Linen & Uniform Services. Introducing Robin Black, changing the world one napkin at a time for 25 years.



 

United Linen Service Schedule Back To Normal After 4th

United Linen's service schedule is back to normal after the 4th of July holiday. 

We hope you had a great time celebrating America's Independence Day and if you had to work, thanks for being there and for doing such a great job. 

Now it's back to work and back to changing the world...one napkin at a time.

Students Prepare for ProStart Student Invitational

In this interview, Michael Yip, Culinary Arts Instructor for Tulsa Technology Center talks about the students preparing for the 2009 ProStart Student Invitational.  The competition is Feb 26, 27th in Norman, OK. 

Are You Listening?

 

We are always interested in hearing what our customers have to say and to that end, we have set up a number of platforms to connect with our customers, including:

• Phone  800-259-6808
• Fax   918-336-0413
• through our Customer Service Reps
• Invoice notices
• pocket stuffers
• website  www.unitedlinen.com
• Facebook  www.facebook.com
• Twitter  www.twitter.com/unitedlinen
• Viddler  www.viddler.com/UnitedLinen/videos/

Businesses like us are quickly becoming aware of the importance of using all the tools available to keep their ear to the ground and find out what customers are saying and doing.  Ben McConnell at Society for Word Of Mouth shares an interesting video from Fox Business that illustrates this point well.  In this video Scott Monty, head of social media for Ford, talks about how Ford Motor Company is using social media tools to stay in touch with their customers.

Is your business using social media tools to connect with your customers?

Holding The Megaphone For Your Customer

  It's always nice when customers have good things to say about your business.  We have been blessed with a great group of people who use our products and services and who don't mind sharing their thoughts and experiences.  We've even added a link to our website and dedicated it to the positive things our customers have to say about our business... 

http://www.unitedlinen.com/testimonials.html

Customer testimonials are a great way to help add credibility, and show other businesses that it's OK to try your products and services.  Whether you print or video the testimonials, post customer quotes on your website or hang pictures of customers on the wall of your restaurant, testimonials are a great way to amplify what your customers are already saying. 

Of course the product or service has to deliver, solve and satisfy the problem you had to begin with or people begin testifying alright, but in reverse of what's considered a good testimonial.

Your customers, our customers...they've all got something to say about our products and services.  The question is, are you and I listening and are we helping those who have something good to say, say it?