Retail
February 12, 2021
For most consumers, customer service is an important consideration when shopping, second only to price. Image credit: Kustomer
By Katie Tamola
Brands are being urged to prioritize excellent customer service and safety procedures to ensure continued sales and consumer loyalty.
{"ct":"84K9TWsz69wxZnk00VShy6FA41WPQDvc8uY7ryz3nm\/lrFCDIieB4nGe8Eoegox77acVOFtGcmwvgc2frVKB6ldTtM9Clufxf4zDFppj4I1J9UiH6zdVyGtGQHng0JMfwcuvm\/RTbBYddaO+StUHg5zdiBUSBo01YOfy8sTdl7yVVVA+HFm00xHHERC0sxzqxIRCOTlzA8Pv5wK79e33OMIwDpgAdci3dFPSRLux0UQXDsgUHRnX3Krsn3baFOvGg2q+\/z6zz8egn4pB1jNeGluitW+rPpzM2Xmto5q8TbTevHvQ9RSB7nAhcBUDOhkoim5ne+UZB3BjubbZu0aIyjF8FcPc3YrbZVNIy9mDZGNxJIgSA6ff78oI\/HD2tyzYTvfC7ZRM3VUb0EpmRY3FeLjvp4RgwS9Y\/hSGUXe3ke\/7jua6qK46IEHH\/doF\/eL83FfC00mulDTLaeYrm26zBR6xtuqfjrSAmQoBn8MVZ3S8+6f\/EqxBhSBBcaIoyEbEw6WywRi1N\/wxTwZYWyiewrQU8BkpA99948K\/wxTG9c0bdoulZSeTYCCHegAg9XJPlwdJfsNylIq2rQ1ACtezea8SqKDO04Wv7\/SHTDzHKzlKUatLttEHROHSARsuu+oq4MDiXIpMPIiivghxzsy2tXUw\/Ya7cI3EA1U1uDG+3bCzr2KXwkK69v3r9QAId3CplVGUyXyKaQ+GGcv8Bwo6p8ffOj16wmG7hFwnvPbmn5Xl5kNP746wEP55xWzsT6ZSZEdU+Gr8kuJitcxBahvghId2DPezvIqciNbTtPpeGWKVPDIOEmzYMFwCX0npn\/Xr7eA+BAzjP05vOfM93C4UXX6aEc8ghm\/uKcVfMwqOLwDwOlPV7gJeYWPG8TVXS62bIZG2RBoUnqiBEsuCwZgaXkf6P9PG\/JWtVZ\/eRWzWFnHP\/aWlgx3NgQpMxy80LtcB6GC8rvlgsNpj+KQKz1CF6YTMC9wnoGPJAIRqQuTyyIdOrs+AAATy1AB5XxGqHo0PTQqD0dg0wXr5aPqc\/C0aHs81lrTzGn7FLZUaZCYkWtpN1qwE\/W+AgWQfnn5lABzj03UvtnvwQLavhvQwOwQa7beZt3L1G9BB9QRgBCy1vlCcC1YmU0q6OFIrpGoHzH1qEFZsbDeRbDEv\/G0+osFfJgkQ76uW7WAsIqhtg2k7\/lBXfrFnA5XuMwZ\/wYh05P26plvlVwYa4kD816ppReKX80RU1ZHNVachyZkh7qjtWEsNST+Ee4b9rVhTqouP8t79XE\/MsjJmptVgARhBYAemk7OALFCtjniAARcDD\/\/rnunZnDa7teqH9e1Z4XJXhwrc5nM7Hton5mNmPtMM2UXVjX3cfXFcbfOiSwnFR+OEV1CrHzVdYFPZiI2kPWUQieWxysuJbUGZxYgSQiBbvmACMtJNC9E4aoQR9JI5xvHccJf8+Ns1+2MUHo6STrNxDBFUmobRkyQZwoqLPrmeSXMytks\/67\/OPCXegz1KSKVU+CrfMr969DV3byrHRnYSNU\/P8F0QsL\/VRSBtACuU7uCe9JqoViy98KlV3sIQdBqHw9VkiJFFJolvvXOXwNTwjsz1A4rwEwLhx+IX7TKA3BXDwFZt7IPxpf4BZZS3HYr5A2P81OXmvs6\/fgsUM7qKfduNDwgO+8ffNDpCEyjMAKLlNsplfP4MshDFBwLmWRrDu+YO1wR0efvGCGAvEheIMNa1hsLpAcQHMuvA291p7WzS2jIxqLmN9BuNuMAo0mDUceoevrA79lidK4lgo7MpSnNIXGHd5M3naEMPUZSCo7V3TyLOat6ccSyIffJt\/qWtSXhp\/5txYzuPkdmpynvk1j6sDXjAvb1YtsZM6ZplIULbWwSiZzQ2m924Pjsb5aK0KfgVtA94LEK34WhA8PuuiGnaw1pl4XKGcvmPq0rJcg9W3PoIFQaXK1z8viT0B35n1R9GUjB0B1PD2NAYOJQ48nxx6AIXFvND0NQe\/D1WK5EasNA4uA5poioMxR1+k4Ekeh\/Ms1WUZA2h5xpdND1ywoUNZgoT8MtEb8dN7JXVLdRlm03FDLVleIK4t4y9DzwFswQH2KTi8\/gKlrLLd\/hx4AFDTo89Ryq6VQdMjmMvz69BT2MAD5oJhjemg73RZpE3945DkMm2\/EDyKtuogjPmnnXtVt7j0GxvuGN+1cEVkO3RHUj5LreU7sdVPzniK\/1CTwIQO40vhGtnBnxgrRgykciQ1SsShNY8q4mpVXs5j+w7sILj7nPs1rjBLLX2l4C099F37J\/+G669bNdIq6OJwrdEd63qbs8L4Nnauig85THZTgz7RFJ88sou0f4nmJBc5eb8eEwO32+AXn5LaOmITbF3wh27N5S\/kbyhdipgvzXj96JbwiZj\/3aT+vOffWomkyFOytzwMZ4XY58YvnY\/BaQRZOkWGqXpmJGba+J3j0ROaKmfruy5lapp7drZLHoCEqT8acatT1Oby7rqAFxhbh2L8s+Tek2Rat3tr5xf95ZdQudA90eLhuWY7bX\/olygb306kemgjvtJzPUTtNJzxJ6eTF3dhgkwbhn8AW099gOIPcabQvG3hhdntq8wiKHOlAkY94on1+VorTAohM3vb3i3plJ\/SprF51VsS3Yt7\/1onUe+mno2WLom84oCXqjOK03gKaqF+XmYrgt1HC\/B9ATXSvwjyPg1fh\/VE2srRCSItX\/5y3MQboNVG+5BEVJ4msDUSASPet0dddb59ln1Q\/OdcZVQlJ48EfUUnKlM5Wdrym9hlSrz8BJwP79NeJCqdBUA11mnkUhQ+7wvVdcKnMFpSZOK1GtbbqvIrmTNYHvO5NoG+NcZG+ZaT7m8+HOeALMDJwQ1CmcShlshPxtlqsNZIxwDn\/zhue5VYvgpTF0LCrSDNQtROdqhlUJWvDJxkFD12nfMkieH41PYwyybVgqEEftASyHPFD9L\/8rvKs1p8gnlxgXfFhiftTdNJIojhGZloKLpbvSUgQ0xUB+TXMeCaNul5CztWG4XC\/9iMtNpyiyJ7Qyky73ae141s0jZP9tyFT1eyaIw2TMXt7dos4a9\/Eao0218NHt2KWoKCDuTY12TtITzUr5MiLlLcXNPXfYkIfiJnYrj+jtqEFj7cxLWGAVlIXMHCBm\/\/IR3Hc4\/9cD4U8shoyjV15CNU+9y9XR2WRj7KkiLNTiFJ3y6\/d+57jD3oaVvF+3ZLRFTqN+TH13pvs92gctDxooMk4JlOnTu8n+S89pq2v5Tt+G3o9qhU0Y4iqCKVIGnHoWlXVB\/FzuqN2C1eG3ovbvtDRcj\/HF2KTGnLeVuyu5X3pxiwTh1nCjTRdOQyCVhN1NSHEyF8vldA+zbNv8PJSRwCi8Hxqig\/mLMuXgipK4knTNjabE5mRWppe34N1EXDA\/Va3sBeUGi4JSQ8JOUrxDY2Hu+K5L\/YLucj5da858DubDkewQGQ2LDkC2fbRT5lZ0BFR\/a55fXURZimlBAThwYunJtf79z7N8XYuyycXn4hPC5aNyfo70aId1ObQbMHTnUKhoMdox7o0VJFUrCQmocbgNawLZJqlTh+BOEvM2kG+LtUC8mobz01NDFUWNI+sc98D\/CGBY12\/5yC10LS0rEnhEHMIK\/mVNAdqpIjvzl90BiOGc0u0A6J5S9SiK8DeJXFilnKSoN88RgA7FheJt9y1PEQSaSc1yZ10MEsX61h+KN7cBSNKW76LW\/nGkNK4LpLl2KG4\/H\/WhAJ\/dNnbsSEy00zrwAIDwM2BUXECfHORKQk1aV7nLBg9rgTDrXPHn8qdwY4IFm4+jSQcwqG+VxSCIU+T8RffpmKMJf5zaK7d9RX6QWldXxKB7o2EQtbwbJdtGvSCrX3MVcYz5\/ZLmB15WraeqdrhqcaP7Tj1PnwtFarAE0mElSAP+MdK6ez7\/nnSGSw3bO+HJYvQWKDmnklDKwoElCPHFemx5m1OThIXYmC0bHa1JPnX0v62Qh9XQh6DwOX8IHI0yRzXQXX9sPtbtT1s\/55XdepiyWplBWFAYq+d\/YxCYJ5ixHgooZkboGFmgVIaGFVXBON1YPB15k0KgsPAFjSNoo8P1Jfg\/u6Qd1sfcVcNfle4V59dilPV9sNtYb5matkSYNQOaZ2E\/s1OoRryo9C6TygmZWCnRsefmRKhT1TODwN4oGFXYZ1zTo42Czt7leNsFsLhEgHSZV\/HgLtV77cd3mNQtLg9M9JM3ZhwV4Zvnz7y+l6Sht5NozHK6LKG2oL9Ljzaf9pGq91TL4CZq0i6fSnsgaavCJYtH5Al9utZmUXOPJIF9MKW7AMe2WOxwYqT1kqbZEZew1JMHbVz3yZ4AVIrt6aq\/8B5RRu0EfD7f+nMQ4pXK2UmMV00ngWFMceM6fJbh8BPqvSpwtgAGLTZ7JLs6ZckEZiVRHnskSB7LJRw\/75EB\/DeaYRvxF1Ico0MgynzhatVe1wD2VWzcHEMTikVOccDiu\/XJo7O1ZAlnrW36Gmr7g6d8YWsYEOmtrrOgitSsgrNe+kg7S9YYx3EfSXcK+zAmVeOd5fmYNojYxQBDK1wA7dpV6EsgMk9mAxaM2SRyYJpNLIq+kOkPqVAHRW+WbAbXESUWmhCJf84ThHuy3SQGRWnK9HVxqTDUMVEI6Z6XN8YLApfVcM0aRPf97CnlrdMzJydxdVhuqdm054XysMtGBjtVCXX\/ZVv0gAp27XfQdZHyijbD5FWHgArWaC\/g17gg172qZHWqWlf2wja7cGqHWx5tq7d70TqcgLKANgERVw9ob0lbBBmW+x40qXVZqp81sWwICCGdbqAod3u3iiY3eDgCXUy0EZlnVf0ZVPbWJt9YCLKJmNdNzTEnyPxxpXL2FgTBQdhjAw6sYIJnJ1usdV50pMaQco\/kocQS6Eiqz0cbdUOiaPgw+9hSQGrtSpZk+37qCXbdoWydrnWF5Mni7WmatkJH6mARqbFLo8TSrlkgv0u5XqpRVQJ8ZBBLwPakyNPc1tbjxiYpNnhr3ZeoeVk0T4uUvhwCeZ6I\/5dkHcrCdEMRWDj0oaxGeF\/PrBxFsG8ENLF2NeWamXEe3OU9cMv9BYfJwhSzgZzM04rHNXVMXCbBXdKt+eY4tqx3hkoySv97wbfGIpHjDWgUP3hLbsxFaF5He81m6TcwEku0QhVGq\/OnIPq3i1j9av2Yw0\/TZdNseyTvBBZFs+pHlQ53f+Crqkja1Rc+cxpJeDpU8PplzktwT1LCOL6slwQFlqIYXIRvQkeJlkfx54WQVTWRKI3d8i1xgHGNolzjdI4uzAlC+yfeaeoCgtU4SDKeSoPxfYxT9476QTz4\/m\/t4L1YW90YXXBE4nww3mQAYWNNCxUIFWzqaTNaWecCx2UwvYQH5Ik8yEpno0YLzZPoGhetoowuTLn1fdxhVOg+\/fLtoAGeakxrVcmppflB3MRm5ZLh0JZxS4JeJEolTuy0WDB6vq\/NCY1s2VFrFfMuBpUHRA5+etiDNkNRs2\/6uQtSATGUvFuETPXrZ+g+47iAUrJpPwHn6fLfYWOXvZYw\/ZvMP1\/pwx23MG2\/BSn\/QuQt2WOT4WfPkSNtNnRxlPRHyRZwNMOpu0Khv6GAvJ9AvUpdUeBEkv1ZDc8r1w3jbyWuM8Vy4L5qKglzqloJvFCzP8lbyPXwmtZ\/I8idYg0eNjWOoyJrWcLMVRWASTtvOXgljHPP9sdD0Jf4EAeR0Qbof8NYjf+K0R+tv\/ly3H7CsxcCs2oAG8HqLmpLvrHv87yudInXdtHzej86RWbjIsQBqvFAsaZuuxL4UWafHeDEDw022eEXIt5dQbXJNbybe1LqOz5joU5E98WtmjYcgqWLe54i5JNFRTshaHAK8FLNU97OBwcq6vkM50sjtUh6+ZKwD2tIOFkQhQaMrP9RHFCwD6qYxa9hs490EHe4giWw55Tc0q3b\/9oATdrQiLg+6ti0Pf1ZQWFXSeoeJCizy6eLdwbpUOP+ME9y40rBAubwGj7Z4rIwi3iO9SF+mOoSRIH+Vq6ayj8G1s3TsRCX7at6aLeLQZqRtruR4EaWmzzrXEsJhDgus7Oyr2wvXnu+B\/ArGEZOAN5QOYmyR3Vo\/rzJT112HeWrqOD4KVl\/jU1xVZLgWxABX2uvNL+kK6NZ1QgI+Uxi2DiCE2UqMl5yp4izFMz6gO5+n6ij73DgCLsVE\/oKMMLXg56dDerNBooKI4yvXyrA5cTda68+1HVWxbLLJEJVmD5LrPaqv066zCzrXWVNsj8x5hGm20QVWq7y48zFyz0KHs6xhSRQ5UsS\/PkR2hgdFm7RRlLdLLZF4u+r1QXds4Z95MF\/hqMHdxUnGE9iDOWFgtBClerYRBYvdGkdAGV3DJe5b8LAYOl0bPurB4vvpkCGK4wvLdmtujnK64tGGW5QTdm6mE4WBqrZ7VM0VGXFUWxMv2w9VDLe7tPu51ONIrrhXhdiQBibOwZ6NsNHUKJXbqWUgwil8OOy2nEcyb9UH3rtElgJW1blqHQqyKNwU1YsFv2Hj11xghWKDj41S85k0uLkLDa5HdMv338sB1m88KZova7o19qYla4pwrggqG97L0b5nd8aDu2Y4qxbqtlD2eSlFFQyP9DP\/AdY6faMQnZ4m5K54TNFoLCTq1rMR5M5Qvw3+AgibqCrkl1QKwdzMw1a8z8l1ZMfA132KeBnxFJBCEfs2Bth8yGYgJQkMiUbSgq\/msM\/l7Swx5j+E8hVf6bRRu53yDAz\/uCyTZ6BsL1eK6nAh1y9lkcokCwJ9hm3PD2DiZrBRC+Ul0cM+sqH7Igf7icrlDfLwPIpqScLxszhkMJZ\/Gf4TolE43jLb39DVe3Vf6MFuQyLfH\/\/3sNVmSjQhY9SaOwj4FrnYq7LRCiPwcuJcTaYBtMWTDEs31MEtQ5tqvapmOKuYx6cjKxED9qrMpV7oxC+Fhwldc35eyClb3Ksxmla7pO71kzGuFi2o7jNp6nsLl19IEhJ\/LHwqMWA\/+pJHrKNenw2KcHEtAJx4cRzaPy1mSUjT+QVzUXPiQuUrxuJ+YHBnrvP7xmDbJQJCrFvnZJU6+ifpPetHpumDbk3MNvot8Mu7TL9yvKfT5\/0LdBu2KU3uHeDDlpy0rfrsxbsOm6+2Kn2RVWgS5irhDiK3h4xlqbC5dMKw2Ixaz9nfBFX1uQe\/iXZ0c0HpIBdh3h87ov9cjY4zt6K0ovxhFGNv7IhRnmNuJC4N+5Gd23pFncMhu1o6BXOqq8NHfIMf+TVB2H+THjcMG6vM3OfspbgIq31NnEBDQhaBeN7s4GkzjJUjrKJTBraT94ud++G1k4qzWkjR5VF\/Pd\/l1Pmj8uXR16NTfNRldbvaPkAKRO\/vzUiJg39O\/495ijQGn5K17hUQ\/NUlCi25aQ\/6ZGl1drh1IIxu4DbUd7snsjaK1Bw\/Ug83wNY7wWGPtgu2nv3tG7464UaOJyOa3XuvSWvsqAD0+cDStOobkvpWJZzYWcEwOhMIVQ1dxPpeS\/6kgW5GL+YqS4W6tVx6g9Biq79+2UEt0hlMSeUJd5uU+YkgjqDyklGflm\/CrQL4cVclqnVCItjt5b6pwPATW90ynqBzPxaGL\/rdQJqpSJU9xd54KTCJLbCp+6tK7ed+5cLtFafnwvxh4ziXoHi2QSLKglVDnqW\/UOYgErUmwugc1gr5lgvvA+FyKsKyo2Fc4av3hLqt8ySbYLrvOpdYnJSCBZjlZE\/L+1SZ2ugQ1dsxAgr0t9UGZWZGcwKSVa9I703\/UfYE4qjuG\/9MFy1w+5M648Lkz7Kca7qch9XT+xNcPy4eUagjc36V4RoYympdZz\/KfMiiIOCInpdSiLuOq4vobD7hzTowlvRj8qgLApCuFYkUY\/JYpBn2nZBFFCxf5WMQDlPXo2v9lX7R47awGcLc7saA2brupAfybchm5mCT9xw4OXdn5teXiEMA5bqpSYQiwQZ6i++nkQgDO65ghTHyeTtJyc7nR7ta59PVpNJNgwz+WHdAN2TCtEK9PmrGRLBprsiVXj8Q2qsaEu0w++hZjpH6da5h6P9lVD0tHi0GxfxdVVanRcGW7y1ukf8a5knzv+PNWrOZUKH67rpXg+Hq\/nb03CBpAzIBcMiCDwQiHa67P\/C6UTIL3s\/kr6\/h50Z25RnxplQ0rKb5+viYSWAWBYzbYqGAkepefVWz9WkjJUP2GlcnOVxaRvGweEjjGBuGn4jS3GVmcYlxWeLasBs\/hXcTyXNrv08++s8Dswv6WCug0BLeqvJar2radfQRra\/bZDmBXLU3gMqc0Vt\/m0ZEd7sHyCQpkEOySCWg5B26dUP7sogSumbrR\/\/JRQuhC+wD6Z1x+jMw8ASZPSG7ACx48V9nf3fAHBpPQjHbucoaZkPk5DEQqKGXxwTd+PTHu6mhkDdaVkAXOFfVAvAUYbF4rRlC7lfJoJSGX9Lb0z+Pp+r2aadUXRmL8qPg7GYfpROLE\/+mNW19aVXYu9Et\/aRXAkb1tETgHS7ZnYPyb234s2fBBe0KJAdRIoPNWPE2qvBCcYA3ytur8CHJuIPTxNMggqgSy4\/44Ts33nGtHItinEY+B0HEvzB9n7EqPV1EOyB+Wxhb9WuXmN7mc1ngjBfqOJRzMj0i3D8RqdpBxiwP4qcy8L692moq4w+ZwEo\/4WC\/EaXy2ovcJG+JSj7UNUeXlvJtPx+G0bciv2WF\/lpH5HZYfcWVPmbTt4DypLnHBzx+QPF62ogwXNspXXACIl+BEpW3sCEjcCrguSH4hEtNjeMPL1KllbHIw3mCMBapQTPLsztJQTUBPWJrM4AqpZjdIFSrEQPCTxmD9o7g9L8Ze7usz1Z+Wh9AId71\/RX+aJVoN6OJ+2ilVL2MJvFSTPKvKSXcyzb4LVFJes9TLTjuCDzJQJ60U2Y6t+Me43xvW9KbHeoEimaD8RYzJrbJFN090RoDBe5b6MxJMyacvLoaxjyKbhLMQw65W+8vpJeVJvRLqhsooUe3OfPFMvGGaaN5oUl\/G2BkpWqCzxatQf8g78HXuiZRf5IRKPGMPW7p3IbvNCJbtRx+MTfrRuX1CIjrqfBH121rxB40Xo6ZluClACFXCLV0npSYUEvUJNeMiU9eH6vmlzQgxmQIHslW6htzw339TwB89zBa9RSf5thm86AfdNH+6PhZAGCiH9BLjaweH4fh\/C0y2glxPU\/6uz1JfQ0lm4TTB7xsu+I1VNn5RiTVjiRsk5cvA1ASlMvBdEvUQt8ako4445QCa4W4eQgVnKWC9lp6ErGWW5GvqUyOjcjdCINw92Y4RpIOvpYUYyRjssYhJOCHy7HXwmWIo3T2Ifm9sZqKY\/jayE5v6IEVgWEC4qst1Jf8fwHPzUEH2DwPNAG7zD8wFKIFC91lMtTxJV+wD0g92hi\/uN1u8qZmqEArZlxrKKTaQsUVka68FwLhLSbV3qxJYjSEJUmrowMS6vll5yOzS36Y32sbBQJOybAPXGcT6rhqBQSEHeJkmxL1ul2kdH1DLkADTZmIgV7fVj4YOs8kb9chF5EyD7+2pJ19opwN95wCtnKByk+BXwK53arpPHXr2\/EB3H+rw3Uw4ueNg\/MgyilGCJpyS6ajHiv+r3AIEuZ6iubesaGw0C7QMwRks54ZX9JgP+c4HN0lpzRs\/pafiYzadFuokwDLpJExulGhzPAx0ATr9LqFS34TpwbA6SkmoYK394PjrlUbQoyUcyfuUBmCGLEptpcITrDEZaEns2ig0pFobUt7FXmIRAzxSaOaAi9HEt4c0GiXa0RaRb6QwrKHbHTVOslPHlT2FXnRaGVCsSEfWcrpR7iucUu+FsTPr24cE4lT\/XCLmXeOKXLAjzhuANkNoy+PTQZJydR7j18tYpxRECWFudrgrvP9CLwS42rmLuqEXNxlubn4nVtzicfj9vNGeOUx\/MV+dnhXS+yQwG7T52cQW4uN2yKEGvlUg+3Thj4EA5LZB\/2COU4a1ol4Exu5qrta\/lAu\/lguTrxoDRU0d728AUxTvO7qB8fPeWiPa4r9ObaWPYA5u\/jREQ==","iv":"12671afcc1d0383becc3136e32459bad","s":"a9e0c35d425e1b3b"}
Share your thoughts. Click here