Scott Sanfilippo's Blog

Good grief Alice Fay! The holiday emails are already starting and we’re not even done eating the Halloween candy. Word on the street is that the big online retailers are pulling out all the stops to woo in the holiday shoppers. Target recently announced that they are going to match… Read More "“It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.” Or, “Holiday Email Marketing Has Started. Have You?”"

My mother always said, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, keep your mouth shut.” Too bad I never listened to her. I think I still have the welts from the wooden spoon to prove it. One of the great things about living in America (in case you’re struggling… Read More "“Free Speech + Chick-Fil-A = Goodbye.” Or, “It’s Just Chicken.”"

I was sitting at home watching re-runs of Wonder Woman when I asked myself, “Should I post the picture of me drinking Jägerbombs with scantily clad Latvian prostitutes on Facebook?” I pondered it for a moment, then decided they would be better suited for Twitter. With the advent of social… Read More "“Remember Anthony Weiner.” Or, “Five Tips to Prevent Social Media Embarrassment.”"

Customers are taking their experiences online and sharing them with the world, and online review sites like Citysearch, Yelp and TripAdvisor are making it much easier for them to do. Every business wants their page on these sites to be filled with positive reviews, but the only way that this… Read More "4 Ways to Earn Positive Reviews"

It’s Customer Service Week. The one week a year where businesses feed their customer service reps endless amounts of candy, load them up with cheap tchotchkes bearing the company logo and reminding them there is no “I” in “team.” Now don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against rewarding team members… Read More "“Hip! Hip! Horray! Customer Service Week Starts Today!” Or, “How to Provide Great Service All Year.”"

I hate the phone. Chances are if you call me, you’re going to get voice mail. Don’t take it personally, I just find the phone to be an annoyance. I hate voicemail. If you leave me a message on voice mail, I’m not going to listen to it either. That’s… Read More "“Has Your eCommerce Store Gone Mobile Yet?” Or, “Don’t Leave Me A Message. Please.”"

I was sitting at the bar enjoying a bowl of chili and a Gin Ricky at one of my favorite watering holes, Taboo in Palm Beach, when the topic of conversation turned to television. “My husband can’t stand the fact that I’m addicted to reality TV.” She was looking for… Read More "“A Lesson in Reality.” Or, “Living Life in the Minority.”"

Everyone loves a deal. Whether it be free shipping, BOGO, a percentage off or a free copy of the Kama Sutra with any order over $100, deals are a major influence in a shopper’s decision to hit the “checkout” button. For me, the one that provides the ultimate stimulation, is… Read More "“Using Promotions to Drive eCommerce Store Sales.” Or, “Here’s $300. Kick Your Sales Up a Notch With It.”"

I remember my first trip to Michigan. No it wasn’t for the annual Tulip Festival in Holland or to visit Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland in Frankenmuth where since 1945 it’s Christmas every day of the year. I, along with my business partner Joe Palko, were visiting one of our very first… Read More "“See What Good Customer Service Will Get Ya?” Or, “Congratulations to SafetyGlassesUSA.com!”"

I’m getting really tired of receiving poor customer service. Am I alone in this? I don’t think so. I recently bought a Gucci watch and needed to have additional links put in the band. After speaking with the local jeweler, I was told that since it was a new purchase,… Read More "“What Happened to Customer Service?” Or, “Give Me a Happy Ending. Please!”"