The Golden Rule, "do unto others as you would have them do unto you," may seem self-evident in the way we try to conduct our personal lives. Yet this axiom is assuming new importance as a guiding principle in the world of retail. Companies of all sizes realize that their strongest selling point can sometimes boil down to treating customers as they would like to be treated - or better.
The growing significance of meeting - or exceeding - customer demands for quality service has special implications for small businesses. It is in this arena that small companies can, in the least expensive way, set themselves apart from the competition.
Small businesses which put heavy emphasis on customer service are more likely to survive and succeed than competitors who emphasized such advantages as lower prices or type of product.
See also Helpful Service Ideas For Retailers.