Service sells!

I just had the pleasure of visiting a restaurant in Albany, Oregon. In fact, many people from all around the U.S. travel to visit this restaurant. The experience was incredible! Here's what struck my guests and me:

• The waiter was a hoot. He knew all about the food and how to make us taste it just telling us about it. He also made it fun by paying just the right amount of attention to us with a dash of humor.
• The atmosphere was beautiful. Little alcoves made the seating cozy and each guest felt like the experience was private to them.
• The food was exceptional. Here we were, in a small town, and yet the food was cooked by chefs who could have been cooking for royalty.

What can we learn from this experience that can help us deliver service that sells like that? Be good at what you do, pay attention to the small details, create an environment that invites, and deliver more than what people expect. And lastly, make sure that each customer encounter with your business - from the receptionist who answers the phone, your website, the sales people, staff, and management - all show excellence.