| Satisfying customers is good for business
When business owner Alison Palic heard marketing guru Dana Werdmuller speak, one thing stuck in her mind: An unhappy customer will tell seven to 11 people about the bad experience. Palic, who had brought her 6-month-old baby to the talk, knew it was true. She belongs to a group of moms that evaluates places to eat — and some don't warrant a return visit. She had noticed how employees at Safeway, Borders and Starbucks — all with corporate ownership — are now trying to make sure customers are satisfied. A physical therapist and certified Pilates instructor, Palic said she plans to do the same at her business, Synergy, downtown. An unhappy customer will cost you money. Werdmuller, who was invited to speak by the Downtown Association, explained why: 65 percent of a company's business comes from existing customers.91 percent of unhappy customers will never again buy from a company that has displeased them.It costs five times more to attract a new customer than to satisfy an existing customer.
On The Market
FOR BABY JOGGER
The Baby Jogger Co., inventor of the original three-wheeled jogging stroller, has developed two new bike trailers for toting around your toddler or your gear: The Switchback Bike Trailer/Jogger and the Tailwind Bike Trailer.
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Local mom leaves baby alone in car in front of Sheriff's Department
A young mother will be spending this weekend behind bars, charged with leaving her six-month-old baby alone in a car. It's the second such incident this week, but this time, the crime happened right in front of the Sheriff's department and this time, authorities say drugs may have played a part. While no one answered at the Elsanor residence where Penny Hume told authorities she lives, the 21-year-old mother is spending this night at the Baldwin County Correction Center. This, after deputies say Hume left her 6-month-old baby boy unattended in the back of a 1997 Oldsmobile parked in front of the Baldwin County Sheriff's Department Friday afternoon. Ironically, Hume was there to bail out her boyfriend, who was being held on a DUI charge. While she was inside, an alert deputy spotted the baby strapped in his car seat outside.
Here are our reasons why Wichita's a great place to have a baby
Wichita is among the top 20 best cities in America to have a baby, according to a recent report by Fit Pregnancy magazine. The magazine looked at a number of factors -- cost of living, breast-feeding success rates, birth and health risks, the number of stroller-friendly parks and more. Wichita was No. 19. According to the report, Boston is the best place in the U.S. to have a baby. Rounding out the top five were San Francisco; Minneapolis; Portland, Ore.; and Omaha. For the complete list and detailed findings for each city, go to www.fitpregnancy.com/bestcities2007. Among the factors lifting Wichita to its No. 19 rank were our free-flowing rush-hour traffic (it "takes pressure off parents rushing to day care at the end of the day," the magazine noted), affordable housing, prevalent car-seat-check stations, and the fact that babies here are 11 percent less likely than average to be born prematurely.
King Festival's Fun Brought Out The Crowds
PLANT CITY - The parade at the 21st annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Cultural Festival highlighted the five day event promoting diversity and cultural heritage of the community. Organized by the Improvement League of Plant City, the festival included music, a step show, parade and other activities. People of all ages lined both sides of Dr. Martin L. King Jr. Boulevard for the Jan. 13 parade. Some came pulling strollers and wagons, and others made sure to have bags for the candy and beads. "I like watching the big old floats and everyone throwing the candy and beads. Lollipops are the best," said Keiondria McCormick, 10. The parade followed its usual 1.2-mile route that ended at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center. In the past, the Improvement League charged an entry fee for participants in the parade.
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