Alec's Shoes is one of New England's most successful independent shoe stores, offering athletic footwear, men's and women's casual and dress shoes, and a wide range of accessories.

But the store is known for much more than its inventory. In fact, it's the exceptional customer service provided by the twenty-plus staff members that satisfies patrons and keeps them coming back time after time.

While this might seem like a simple approach, the store's high level of customer service truly stands out. The floor reps are consultative, and focus on every aspect of how each pair of shoes will be used before making recommendations. They almost always offer each customer two to three choices, and customers who ask for size suggestions get both feet measured!

"Statistically, nearly twenty percent of American adults wear shoes that are the wrong size," store owner John Koutsos explained. "And few people have two feet of the same size. By measuring each customer's actual size, both in length and width, and by considering the variation in size between their left and right foot as well as their hosiery preferences, we're able to give them the best possible fit for both comfort and application."

Regardless of what type of business we're in, gauging our customers' and prospects' needs requires more than a "one-size-fits-all" approach too. Here are a few proven best practices:

1. Never assume the customer knows everything necessary to make the right choice. Most know considerably less than we know about the products and services we provide; and while we may each have a number of "in-the-know" regular or long-term clients who are familiar with what we do, there are still application-related or other nuances that warrant our attention. The best practice is to always ask clarifying questions with respect to each situation, and to go the extra mile toward accurately assessing all the circumstances associated with each situation and each customer's needs.
2. Focus on what each customer or prospect is trying to accomplish rather than on what service or product type they are "looking for." By asking open-ended questions that relate to each customer's situation or how they plan to use our products and services, we should be able to assess all of their needs, which might include a basic or customized approach, various products, options and accessories, or possibly a specialized solution about which they were unaware.
3. Look beyond product and service needs for other hidden needs. The more we learn about our customers and prospects, the easier it becomes to structure the most appealing proposals. In many instances, there are issues with respect to company policies, structure, affiliations, specialties, and buying practices that might make a difference in how we'd like to configure our offer. In other cases, there might be personal needs to consider, such as a need to satisfy a demanding boss, a special need for service response guarantees, or the need to feel secure about a supplier's competitive position or reputation (an important issue to the buyer who has been "burned" in the past by a less-than-reputable competitor).
4. Develop a consistent method of uncovering these basic and not-so-basic needs. Creating a standard list of items to cover, questions to ask and options to present is one good way to develop a dependable and thorough approach. Many have also found that using this type of resource allows them to pay closer attention to each customer or prospect. In some cases, this extra focus will enable us to discover the "little things" that, when addressed, result in closing the sale or in long-term customer loyalty.
5. Take an extra minute to double-check established needs, specifications and expectations. Sixty-seconds of prudence at the start can often save hours after-the-fact should there be extenuating circumstances or a misunderstanding about features, billing issues or other special requirements. A few final clarifying questions can even make the difference in getting the business, as most customers like to buy from those who show their interest and professionalism.