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I need to tell you a little story, but first you need to know a background fact about Flexible Solutions:

We are a very pet friendly company. Our head office has 2 dogs who make sure we are always in high spirits and our Accounting Office has anywhere between 2 and 4 dogs and a cat! All of these pets are very friendly and usually very well behaved.

After hours, however, sometimes we like to have a little play time. At my office, we have one very large dog named Buckley, and one quite small guy named Finnigan. Every now and then we encourage a tug of war session between them (which is very humorous) or a game of tag.

During these times, they tend to forget their inside voices, and things can get a little bit loud.

The other day, about half an hour after we shut down for the evening we got a phone call. Now, technically, we were closed. But I am a bit of a keener, so I answered anyway. Never let a chance for customer service slip you by!

Just as I answered, however, a very exciting game of tag ensued and all of a sudden I was surrounded by very vocal dogs! I couldn't hear a word from the other end of the phone. Of course, I quickly ran into another office to take the call in a more appropriate environment. I was so embarrassed and incredibly apologetic!

Did the customer lose faith in us as a company? Did they hang up out of frustration? Am I forever branded as the “dog girl?” Not in the least! (Well, possibly the last one...)

In fact, my new customer loved it! We spent a good few minutes discussing our pets and furry friends and he kept telling me how much it meant to hear that we are a pet friendly company. It actually raised the bar for us!

This isn't the first time our office has attracted new business thanks to our “Floor Managers.” Multiple times each day passersby stop by the window to coo at Buckley and Finnigan and many come in when they otherwise wouldn't have.

Do I detect a sales tactic?

We are in a family industry, being part of the pool business, and many families out there include and are very much defined by their four-legged additions. Does your store attract families of all varieties? Have you ever considered welcoming pets into your premises?

Now, I definitely don't want you bringing in a kennel full of dogs and saying “Monique told me to!” But it just may be a strategic move to start promoting a “Bring your pet shopping” day, or have a store mascot come welcome visitors every now and then. You might just be able to encourage new shoppers into your store with a nice, wet kiss!

For all of you who will not get the chance to stop by our Head Office to meet Buckley and Finnigan, I have posted their pictures and job descriptions on our Facebook Page. You can meet them here: http://www.facebook.com/LiquidPoolCovers. You will have to “Like” our page first, but then just check out our Photo section. I warn you though, you may just fall in love!

If you bring your pets to work, share your pictures and stories on my Page too. Better yet, post them here! After all, they're part of the family, right?