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| Philip Read Public Relations Specialist 757-427-7923 |
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| Lillian Vernon Website |
Lilly's Kids Website |
Build-a-Stocking.com Website |
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Virginia Beach, Va.—As “shopping days” become fewer, many of us turn from crowded malls to buzzing telephone lines to simplify our Christmas, Chanukah and Kwanzaa-giving needs. Toni Cicero, Vice President of Customer Care for catalog-giant Lillian Vernon, offers these “Ten Easy Steps to Faster, Easier Catalog Ordering”:
1) A little advance research pays off! Sizes, favorite colors and even the correct spelling of names can be crucial. “More than half the merchandise we sell is personalized, and doing your homework pays off with accurate monograms,” says Cicero. “Plus, many catalog companies offer callers items at additional discounts; the more you know about preferences, the better prepared you’ll be to take advantage of last-minute deals!”
2) Keep a pen handy for jotting down your order number, order date, shipping times and any changes you make while ordering.
3) If you delay ordering until the last possible minute, try to have several different items in mind for each recipient in case first choices are not available. “I don’t know of any catalog company that doesn’t want to satisfy customers, but despite every effort, demand may cause backorders, especially as the holidays draw near,” says Cicero “A little flexibility never hurts—and it often goes a long way in speeding the order process.”
4) Have your credit card ready! “You’re sure to lose your lead in the shopping race if you have to fumble for your card at the finish!” she says.
5) Never place an order while driving a car! Pull over— it will save time and lives!
6) If you are placing an order by cordless phone or cell phone, make sure you have a strong signal before you call. “It’s frustrating to customers and representatives if a call drops in the middle of an order and the record cannot be retrieved,” says Cicero.
7) Avoid Mondays, oftentimes the busiest day for ordering.
8) If you tear out catalog pages, remember to keep the back cover and/or the order form. According to Cicero, “These often contain helpful information such as customer numbers, discount codes and, most importantly, the customer address currently on file.
9) Make sure you confirm the correct billing address and zip code for your order, as well as addresses for any gift recipients you are shipping to. Cicero observes, “It’s surprising how many people don’t know or understand the impact of where they live based on the post office’s standards—or who have to put an agent on hold while they call the gift recipient to verify an address!”
10) If possible, find a quiet spot to place your order. “You may not always be able to steal away from blaring TVs, rowdy kids or noisy pets, but your order will be processed faster and more accurately if both you and the representative can understand one another,” Cicero says. She adds that excess background noise interferes with sensitive voice-recognition systems designed to expedite ordering.
About Lillian Vernon Corporation
Lillian Vernon Corporation is a leading American catalog merchant and online retailer that sells household, organizational, children’s and fashion accessory products. A pioneer in customized merchandise, Lillian Vernon offers 14 different kinds of personalization and personalizes 5.3 million products a year. With one of the largest personalization departments in America, Lillian Vernon offers a wide variety of products that allow customers to make a personal statement at a low cost. In business since 1951, the company publishes two catalog titles: Lillian Vernon and Lilly’s Kids. Lillian Vernon’s corporate headquarters and distribution center are located in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Lillian Vernon has been owned by Sun Capital Partners, Inc. since 2006.
About Sun Capital Partners, Inc.
Sun Capital Partners, Inc. is a leading private investment firm focused on leveraged buyouts, equity, debt, and other investments in market-leading companies that can benefit from its in-house operating professionals and experience. Sun Capital affiliates have invested in and managed more than 140 companies worldwide with combined sales in excess of $33.0 billion since Sun Capital’s inception in 1995. Sun Capital has offices in Boca Raton, Los Angeles, and New York, and affiliates with offices in London, Tokyo, and Shenzhen, China.
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