Wednesday, May 27, 2009

One Customer at a Time...

So Target responded to my email. It was a really lame attempt at trying to appease me without really commiting to change or take action. I work in customer service (for the time being) and I KNOW how to empathize or show appropriate emotional response to a customers issue. Epic Fail. She was basically like blah blah blah yeah yeah yeah whatever i know we suck i will forward this to the buyer in your area. Oh so its one person who is sucking at their job. In the meantime my sister Jessica gave me a Target giftcard for my birthday last week. Well I normally love Target...so I guess I will get some shoes for our impromptu cruise in July. (Notice I said nothing about getting back down to a size 14...Im not committed right now so Im not even going to go there)



I must take a minute to vent. Work has been crazy lately. You all know that I am an over achiever on the inside. And even though my job is kinda lame I still like to be great at what I do. I mean yes. I come to work and take phone calls from T-Mobile customers who are complaining about something more often than nought but i still want to be a top rep. Lately my motivation just hasnt been there. I really need to figure out how to transition to whatever it is that im going to do next.



Im starting a new blog on top of this one. It will be call something along the lines of "Homie do you know me..." and ode to my job. I kind of want to write a book to help people be better customers! Not a book to teach people how to be better customer service reps or better servers or sales associates...but a book to teach people how to be better customers. I mean if we are all better customers wouldnt everyone be alot nicer?



Case and point. I just got blasted by a customer. Then the next call comes in one second later. Im trying to be nice but my feelings are really hurt so I rub off on you and you rub off on the next person. But if my original jerk faced customer had been a little nicer...then I would have been alot nicer and so on and so forth.



Just an idea. Im just sick of jerk faces.



Enough of my rant.



Points to Remember from this post: Homie Do You Know Me is coming & We need to be better customers

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Attention Target Shoppers

I wrote this letter to Target after going in there on my birthday and leaving with 2 t-shirts. I am this close to changing them from my go-to place to the place I wont go-to...I swear! I sent this email today!


Just when I thought that the plus sized merchandise in your Madison and Hendersonville Tennessee locations was getting a little better, it got WORSE. Is the plus sized woman not an important sector of the market to you all. Do you not want our business...or are we only allowed to buy homegoods and shoes from Target stores.

I have complained about this before (submitted the form before). It seems to me that you are missing out on a big chunk of money that Lane Bryant and JcPenney scooping up. I hope that your response to that last statement was not, "fine well shop there then." Its crazy that you have so many cute fun flirty items for smaller women but for plus sized women you have very little. Well we are here too...we are mothers...daughters...wives...girlfriends...single and ready to mingle just like those who are sized 0 - 18. We want to go into the store and have the option of trying on a garment or ordering it online. We want to be able to stop into target on Thursday after work or the gym or whatever and pick up a cute tee and new pair of jeans. What do we not like skinny jeans because we arent skinny? They are flattering with a tunic you know. Old Navy got some and I bought them in every wash...even white because lord knows fashion forward trendy clothing is hard to come by for us curvy chicks. Trust me. I live in Tennessee and have this conversation all the time with my coworkers and friends. We have to spend more money to look decent...and lane bryant just doesnt have enough variety.

Im not just trying to be annoying. I wrote the same letter to JcPenney seven months ago. It was followed up by a phone call and many emails asking me what i thought they were doing right and wrong and what I think my plus sized counterparts would like to see. And I have seen such great strides. I only hope you take a look at everything you are selling to everyone else and do a little bit more IN STORE along those lines for plus sized women. We need color...we like to wear more than black blue and brown. We are not afraid of different materials...I mean jersey knit is nice and all but we like dresses and shirts made of cotton as well...can we please have some selection when it comes to jean cut. I mean I am not a mom and I dont want mom jeans nor do I only want a choice of one wash in my bootcut denim jeans. DRESSES DRESSES DRESSES. Would it kill you to sell a Maxi dress in the store for plus sized women. Even Walmart has caught on to that one and has a huge variety of them. Every store that sells plus sized clothing is selling a maxi dress. and they are all selling out. Why do you have a bunch of them in smaller sizes and none in plus sizes. Even the store in Brentwood Tennessee is lacking.

A choice, a better selection. Just do better. Goodness gracious. I guarantee you...if you dedicate the space, energy and extra material to the plus size consumer you will not be disappointed. As hard as it is for plus sized women to find clothing if you invest in us...trust me we will invest our hard earn money in you and your products. Not just clothing but other things as well.

Scenario: I am going to dinner with my husband...and I want to get a new outfit. Some jeans, a top, maybe some sexy heels. I go to target and find the top and shoes but decide I dont want to get jeans today. Instead I buy some cute jewelry and a new handbag. I also stop by the mens section and pick up some argyle dress socks and a button down for my husband to wear. I realize we need toilet paper and while Im walking to the checkout I see that you have some really nice trailmix and chocolate truffles so I grab those as well. I head to the checkout happy as can be. When my husband asks about my outfit during dinner I tell him about my finds a target. When he gets ready to buy electronics and our patio furniture he doesnt bother going anywhere else he gets it from Target. I tell my friends when I post my pictures on facebook that target is the place to go. So they will go to and shop because they can get everything in one place!

How much money did I spend in one trip to Target in this scenario and how much revenue have I generated by telling everyone else about my great Target finds! Ok here's another question. what if Target is not on anyones lips or in anyones ears, not on anyones facebook or twitter, not on anyones back. What if I get tired of being disappointed and stop going to target at all because I know they will never have what I am looking for. Right.

I will be watching. And if nothing comes of this letter, then it will be a shame. I am currently employed by T-mobile and I know for a fact that we listen to our customers. I know how to sell and I know how to make each customer experience differentiated from any other they have ever had. I know what creates buzz....but more than that...you need to build loyalty to your brand. And you are missing out on a huge section of the market because you refuse to make a few changes.

I have said a mouthful. I know. But I just couldnt go another minute with out taking a few moments of my day to share with you something that was really weighing heavily on my heart. I feel alot better now. I cant wait to see if anything comes of this email!

Signing Off!

Erica Clay

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Happy Birthday To Me

So I was born 29 years ago on may 19! Yes I'm twenty-nine...can you believe it. I still look the same....I haven't changed since I was like 19. Okay so I am reaching a little.

Today was great. Thanks to my wonderful Hubby! He picked me up from work early...and we went to Pancake Pantry. I really wanted to take pictures but as we all know my camera broke over six months ago and I am so terrible at making decisions I could not figure out what I wanted to buy. I mean I have been researching cameras since my old friend the exilim broke. Still didn't buy one...I wanted one like I couldn't go buy one at any time. But I didn't know what I wanted.

SOOOOO ANYWAYS. Went to Pancake Pantry. Hands down best pancakes in Nashville (besides Q's which he makes from scratch). Then we went to the movies to see Angels and Demons...I really liked it and I think its better than DaVinci Code. Loved the twist at the end even though it was kinda predictable. After that we went to Marble Slab...I got a new mix of course. Banana ice cream with brownie and caramel mix ins. Well it made me sick so my trip to Target had to be cut short.

So we get home and Q kept saying...I really wanted to buy you a bag. But they were like three hundred dollars. I was like huh...I had a great day its cool. I turn the corner and there is a HUGE balloon attached to a bag. I start getting butterflies and I'm like....Say it isn't what I think it is!

MY BABY GOT ME A NEW CAMERA. I am so hype right now. I did my hair...even though i was going to wear a ponytail tomorrow...so that I will be new camera worthy!

He totally surprised me last year...and man he did it again this year. He is getting better and better every day! I love him so much!

Thanks for all the birthday wishes!

Friday, May 1, 2009

Im So Excited

Diane is getting married. Im super excited about that. I wont be able to go but Im glad she will get to join the ranks or married women who love every minute of it! Like I always say...I think marriage gets a bad wrap! I love being in love with my best friend! You are going to have so much fun this month Diane.

We went to Olive Garden tonight. I know...but it was really good. I said I was trying different NON CHAIN restaurants but Olive Garden is just across the street! So convenient!

We also went to see Wolverine. It was weak. That's all the space I'm going to waste talking about it. Love X-Men...could've waited for this movie to come out on DVD.

I only have a one day weekend which sucks. But oh well. I have only been working five hours days for the past two weeks. So I'm not going to complain.

Just wanted to drop in for an update. Are you on twitter. If so FOLLOW ME!!!

Smooches!