Behind The Counter

September 27, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

In the most straightforward terms, an exit interview is simply a means of determining the reasons why a departing employee has decided to leave an organization:

• Find out why the person is leaving
• Remind the employee of his or her confidentiality obligations
• Get feedback on company operations and policies to spot any needed areas of improvement

Exit interviews should be structured to elicit frank responses. How can you do that? For starters, don't conduct exit interviews on an employee's last day. In fact, don't conduct interviews at all until after employees have left the job.

How can you be sure they will participate onc...Read More

September 26, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (2)

I understand how important it is to get customer’s in the mood to shop during the holidays—how the white lights and garlands decorated in the window, the cold weather, the coat rack at the front door, and the cheery music get customer’s in the mood for the holidays and more importantly—in the mood to shop. But hold on a minute—Halloween isn’t for another month. It drives me batty when I see stores decorating as early as this and I’m sure it does others too. We usually start decorating the store the Tuesday or Wednesday before Thanksgiving and take it down by the 5^th or 6^th of January. When do you start your holiday decorating?

September 24, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

Many employers attempt to test prospective employees (and employees already on staff) for drug and alcohol use. An employer may face legal difficulties if it chooses to test only certain applicants for a position.  In other words, an employer cannot pick and choose which applicants it will test for drugs or alcohol.  The employer must treat all applicants for the same job in a similar manner. Although increasing in popularity among

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) makes it illegal for any employer to test a prospective employee without first making a conditional offer of employment. The ADA also says you can't discriminate against prospective employees on the basis of past drug-related problems. Then again, you may refuse to hire candidates if you have reason to believe they will return to substance abuse or endanger the safety and health of your workers.

September 23, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

Indesign’s October 2008 issue received 28 responses regarding…Which lab do you use most often for diamond certification? From those respondents here were the percentages:

• GIA 64%
• AGS 14%
• AGA 7%
• GGL 7%
• EGL 4%

September 22, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

Like many new stores, I didn’t have the funds to invest in a line of eternity bands or even a few for show. They sit around—not turning—because they have to fit perfectly and of course most cannot be sized. I haven’t had many customers ask for them either—but then again my mom says, “If you don’t have at least a couple to show they’ll think you can’t make them or even order them and will buy else where.” So—I’ve been thinking of investing in Overnight’s eternity ring program. They set you up with a 5-10 eternity ring styles set with CZ’s for only a few hundred dollars. Have any of you ordered a starter kit like this from Overnight or other companies? Is it worth it?