As many of you have already noticed there has been a slight change at the Plant Center counter this year. After many years of dedicated service and taking with him an impeccable reputation, Jimmy decided to retire. Not seeing Jimmy when you first walked in may have come as a shock, but I do hope to fill his shoes and provide the same level of service as he did.

A little bit about me:
My name is David (yes, one of the many that work here – we currently have 5 ‘Daves’), and have been with Christensen’s for almost 10 years now. I started on the receiving crew and was quickly moved up to Crew Leader. After that, I made a brief stop in Hardscape yard operations. A few years ago, I was moved into Sales at the Plant Center (and began writing for Sticks & Stones!). For the past few years, I took a liking to the Counter and tried to learn as much from Jimmy as I could. I was lucky enough to be asked if I wanted to take over the position and jumped at the chance. Which brings us to this year.

Again, I am extremely open to any suggestions you may have as far as things you’d like to see brought into the store. Whether that be tools, fertilizer, or whatever you may like to see. I am here to better serve you.

While I am a new face in Customer Service, I have been a team member of Christensen’s for almost 8 years now. I have worn many hats during my time here. I began my journey with Receiving and Deliveries and then onto Hardscape Yard Operations which then lead to Customer Service. While I was excited about the promotion and eager to start a new position, as with starting anything new, there’s always a learning curve. Along with the changes at work, I started a new hobby, competitive shooting, that taught me many things I could apply to my new position. Here are some of the lessons I’ve learned from simultaneously taking on these two new endeavors.

My biggest takeaway has been holding myself accountable in different situations. I’m only as successful as I make myself. While I am on a customer service ‘team’, taking care of customers is a very individualized activity. Like shooting, I personally need to ensure the success of my customers’ visit, just as I ensure the score I receive when in competition. My preparation and attention to detail need to be top-notch each time I go into the yard to pull material. I need to be sure that I have the correct paperwork, the right plants, the healthiest plants and the best substitutions during our current availability challenges.  As I go onto the course for shooting, I know that my preparation will make a difference in my score. Knowing the course, having reloads ready and planned, and being in the right gear all are important factors.

In both activities, speed and precision are key. It won’t make a difference to you, our customer, how fast I was able to load your order if I didn’t get it correct. So, while I strive to get you back to your job site as quickly as possible, I always need to be aware of my precision.

Other lessons I’ve picked up include simple things like removing small distractions and focusing on the task at hand. Communication, adaptability, active listening, and the ability to work out any problems that might arise are dominant attributes in forming customer relationships.

It can be easy to become frustrated and discouraged when starting new endeavors. The idea of “new” is scary for many people. Personal and professional accountability can help ease some of those worries. The implementation of these essential qualities greatly assisted to curb some of the difficulties and challenges I found may arise. With my first year in customer service behind me, I can confidently say most of the worries I had were unfounded. I couldn’t have asked for a better year with Christensen's. As I aim my sights at the year ahead, I know that it will be a good year with my strategies ready to go.