Once cleared to enter the store , customers who enter see the new and safer Karavel Shoes . Rick and his team devised an entirely new system of operating within the store . Through ingenuity , hard work and long hours , a casual , open space to browse shoes became one-way traffic walkways and personal fitting stations .
Using PVC pipes and detachable fabric for easy cleaning , they created booths for customers to try on shoes with a store associate . This innovation ended up being a win-win for Karavel ; these fitting stations created a sense of security for customers , while also highlighting the individual attention and customer service they were receiving .
“ Customers want to feel comfortable walking into a store , and that ’ s what I think BBB offers ,” Rick said . “ It offers the consumer a place to go to see who is a legitimate retailer and if they have any problems . And , if they ’ ve had any problems , if they take care of them .”
Accredited businesses have been standing out during the pandemic and web traffic to BBB . org is up roughly 35 % from the same time last year .* BBB ’ s reputation has proven to be valuable and Accredited Businesses , like Karavel Shoes , are living up to the Standards of Trust .
What Karavel showcased is exactly what we believe our Accredited Businesses represent : embodying integrity and setting the standard for marketplace trust . Karavel ’ s swift response and ability to showcase their values during the pandemic instilled confidence in their customers . Karavel , however , wasn ’ t looking to be praised . What they did , Rick believes , is what needed to be done . Rick concluded our interview with powerful parting advice ,
“ You cannot put your head in the sand and say everything is great when it isn ’ t . And we ’ re finding out that the sooner you address the issues , the better our country will be and the world will be .”
To see the full interview with Rick , head to our Facebook page .
* According to BBB analytics comparing July 2019 and July 2020 .
“ We don ’ t sell footwear ,” Rick explains . “ What we sell is service , and with service , you have to have trust .”
Building trust has been instrumental to the success of businesses during the pandemic , which is what makes BBB so valuable as an organization .
BBB TRUST TALK 19