by Lea Strickland | Oct 2, 2025 | Business Growth, Customer Relationships, Small Business
Customer retention is the backbone of sustainable growth for small businesses. Keeping existing customers engaged is not only more cost-effective than acquiring new ones, but it also boosts profitability—studies show that a 5% increase in retention can lift profits by...
by Lea Strickland | Apr 16, 2025 | Business Articles, Capability, Operations, Small Business, Start-up
The first year of business is exhilarating and overwhelming at the same time. You’re excited about the potential and eager to prove your idea’s worth. You may also be simultaneously anxious to be your boss and scared of leading the organization; your money...
by Lea Strickland | Aug 8, 2016 | Business Articles, Competitiveness, Customer Relationships
Customer Disservice – How About a Hello and a Smile I am constantly amazed at how businesses invest so much time, money, and effort in getting customers to walk through the door of their business, literally, and when the customer arrives, the greeting is often less...
by Lea Strickland | May 6, 2016 | Business Articles, Competitiveness, Customer, Customer Relationships, Marketing, Sales and Business Development
There is nothing and I mean nothing that frustrates me, ticks me off, and causes me to stop using a product faster than dealing with the people on the “customer service” lines of businesses. I don’t know about you, but whenever I have an issue and call one of those...
by Lea Strickland | Jan 29, 2016 | Business Articles, Business Growth, Customer, Customer Relationships, Small Business, Strategy
This week a service provider demonstrated to me how important I was to her and her business. Let me share the story. I arrived for my appointment 20 minutes early and made myself comfortable on a bench outside her office suite. I could see through the glass wall that...
