Hi,

I’d like to recommend a rigorous customer centric training program for small business owners and operators on the island. This program should include greeting customers, anticipating customer needs, signage, phrases to use when responding to and questioning customers. I’m not saying to loose authenticity but the way you interact with customers can mean repeat business or negative reviews. Maybe it can be held in community centers across the island. During a recent visit home, I was very appalled at how I was being spoken to although I was a paying customer. This happened on numerous occasions. The way small businesses treat blacks vs whites was eye opening I did not expect this experience at all. As soon as a white visitors appeared the accent changed, they spoke more clearly, and customer service became top notch. They should be treating everyone the same including locals. I saw a lady speak to a local so poorly while he was paying her and he had to tell her to please check the money, she didn’t even check the money he was giving her before she started yelling at him.

Submitted by Melissa Holder