Have we become a society where customers are not welcome?

We break, we cry, you break, you buy! No food, drinks, or smoking. No skateboards or rollerblades allowed. No cell phones please. Wow, how inviting. And how about, only applicants being considered for an interview will be contacted! Ok, I actually understand that one, as candidates mass applying for jobs don’t even remember what they applied for, let alone which companies they applied to.

On the employers’ side, one publicized ad may draw upwards of 1000 applicants, with perhaps none or very few who are qualified to actually do the job. At my staffing agency, we interview and place candidates all day long; we screen applicants for a living and we don’t have time to contact everyone who sends in a resume! Many applicants are outside of our city, province, or country, so we cannot consider all of them. But, we do accept all applicants, regardless of anything! We want tons of phone calls and resumes. We want great employers to hire candidates from us, and we want as many choices of candidates for our clients as possible. We don’t have a sign on our door that turns people away!

I wonder how those stores are doing that turn people away before they walk in to browse. I wonder if store owners realize that someone walking by with a coffee and a pocket full of cash will continue walking past a door that clearly shows a sign with a coffee cup and a red line through it. On the flip side, I have seen door fronts with a real dog, big and hairy, lying across the entrance, inviting dog people in! I walk past those doors, because I am allergic to animals, sadly! But, I wonder how many other people may be afraid of dogs, or have the same allergy, and cannot go inside to spend money.

Have we become a society where customers are not welcome? A community where people are uninvited through signs and ads? Do I have to remind business owners, employers, and managers about what we experienced during the boom, when the unemployment rate was down near three percent? Do I need to remind people about the recession we just wiggled our way out of? Have we learned anything at all in the last five years about service and the importance of attracting and retaining customers and employees? How about putting up a sign that says ‘All Customers Welcome’? Or, ‘All Applicants Welcome’? Come in, call us, ask us questions, give us your resume, and show us your interest in our company!

Are businesses inadvertently turning valuable candidates and customers away, perhaps only thinking about short term damages or time restraints? Think about THAT while sipping your coffee today.