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":"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","iv":"624155cdad3ba91b0bc3478a526196d3","s":"5f7b9fa5fe2503b1"}
Share your thoughts. Click here