Building « checking out and checking in

Posts filed under 'Building'

Flush The Recession & Plunge Into Forgotten Spaces

From Behind Closed Doors, Writers Direct Their Expertise to the Topic as
BATHROOM BLOGFEST 2009 Welcomes Its First Sponsor

Kinnelon, NJ – The 2009 Bathroom Blogfest, now in its fourth year, brings together 20 bloggers from the U.S., Canada, the UK and India posting on some aspect of the theme: “Flush the Recession and Plunge Into Forgotten Spaces.” A blogfest gathers writers who direct their posts around a single subject while making the subject relevant to their readers. Between October 26 and 28, these experts in marketing, customer experience and service, public relations, library sciences, life, retail—toilets and bathrooms—will call attention to improving the overall bathroom experience.

“Kaboom, the Blogfest’s first sponsor, will play a part in some of the blogs,” said Christine Whittemore, who manages the Blogfest. “The brand is adventuresome and innovative, volunteering to take its chances with this social networking experience,” said the chief simplifier of Simple Marketing Now, Kinnelon, N.J. “Kaboom has sent its cleaning products to nine writers whom we expect to report on their findings. Some may also add Kaboom giveaways/contests to their coverage.”

Along with a sponsor, Whittemore added to this year’s initiative a Facebook Fan Page and way to keep up via Twitter @BathroomBlogfes. In addition, to monitor the conversation, photos and posts, look for the tag #ladiesrooms09 on flickr, del.icio.us, Technorati, Twitter and Google.

The Bathroom Blogfest began in 2006 as the brainchild of Stephanie Weaver, Experienceology author and consultant, and Susan Abbott, a business consultant and consumer researcher in Toronto. “They wanted to generate awareness for bloggers passionate about the customer experience at a time when blogging was more experimental. The Bathroom Blogfest created a forum for focusing on spaces that are not a subject of conversation, which they should be,” added Whittemore.

Whittemore believes that today’s bloggers do it because it’s fun and they feel strongly about sharing their ideas for better bathroom experiences. She observes that retailers ignore the bathroom as a possible selling space and that most ignore it altogether. One of the bloggers added that it’s a way for her to potentially create more impact than she might with a single post while it introduces her readers to both a new subject and community of bloggers.

For more information about the blogfest visit http://www.BathroomBlogfest.com or contact Whittemore at cbwhittemore AT SimpleMarketingNow DOT com. For information about Kaboom, visit http://KaboomKaboom.com.

Participating bloggers for the Bathroom Blogfest ’09 include:

• Susan Abbott at Customer Experience Crossroads
• Reshma Anand at Qualitative Research Blog
• Shannon Bilby at From the Floors Up
• Shannon Bilby and Brad Millner at My Big Bob’s Blog
• Laurence Borel at Blog Till You Drop
• Jeanne Byington at The Importance of Earnest Service
• Becky Carroll at Customers Rock!
• Leslie Clagett at KB Culture
• Katie Clark at Practical Katie
• Iris Shreve Garrott at Checking In and Checking Out
• Julie at Julie’s Cleaning Secrets Blog
• Marianna Hayes at Results Revolution
• Maria Palma at People To People Service
• Professor Toilet at Professor Toilet’s Blog
• David Reich at My 2 Cents
• Bethany Richmond at The Carpet and Rug Institute Blog
• Carolyn Townes at Becoming a Woman of Purpose
• Stephanie Weaver at Experienceology
• C.B. Whittemore at Flooring The Consumer and Simple Marketing Blog
• Linda Wright at Lindaloo.com: Build Better Business with Better Bathrooms

1 comment October 19, 2009

Bathroom Blogfest 2008 Best Tips

After a whole week of celebrating Bathroom Blogfest ‘08, it is now time to take action!

Clean Up by marinegirl / Rebecca Weeks Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike

After following the posts of my fellow members of this year’s official, Bathroom Blogfest Community, there seem to be many different methods as well as attitudes toward considering ‘Cleaning Up Forgotten Spaces Around Us’. What an amazing array of ideas they have shared.

But after much thought, I have decided that probably the best tip is to not get yourself into a mess to begin with. How much work do we create for ourselves just because we didn’t plan ahead?

Even something as simple as remembering to put the chocolate pudding on the top shelf might be something we shouldn’t forget.

Put Chocolate Pudding on the Top Shelf !! photo by RIPizzo / RI Pizzo Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works

Bathroom Blogfest 2008 has inspired me to wash it, dust it, sweep it, paint it, get rid of it, reorganize what is left and refresh myself all over again. Please make sure to visit all the other bloggers who shared their best tips!

Bathroom Blogfest

Susan Abbott at Customer Experience Crossroads
Katia Adams at Transcultural Marketing
Shannon Bilby at Floor Talk!
Laurence Borel at Blog Till You Drop
Jo Brown and the blogging team at Kohler Talk
Lisbeth Calandrino at Lisbeth Calandrino
Sara Cantor at The Curious Shopper
Becky Carroll at Customers Rock!
Katie Clark at Practical Katie
Iris Shreve Garrott at Circulating
Ann Handley at Annarchy
Marianna Hayes at Results Revolution
Elizabeth Hise and C.B. Whittemore at The Carpetology Blog
Maria Palma at Customers Are Always
Sandra Renshaw at Purple Wren
Kate Rutter at Adaptive Path
Claudia Schiepers at Life and its little pleasures
Carolyn Townes at Becoming a Woman of Purpose
Stephanie Weaver at Experienceology
C.B. Whittemore at Flooring The Consumer

2 comments November 1, 2008

When You Care Enough to Clean the Very Best

Does your business hire a housekeeper? Maybe you employ a maintenance crew. Does anyone still have janitors?

No matter what you call your clean-up crew, they have to truly care about what they do.

Clean-up crew by Xanboozled / xan latta Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike

Hands-down, the very best housekeeper we ever had at work was a retired school janitor. She took everything personal. It mattered to her that the windows were finger-print free and that the bathrooms smelled of citrus cleaner no matter what time of day you visited.

Outside trash receptacles were not just emptied but cleaned daily. Ashcans were swiped to a shine and no butts were left to linger at curbside either.

Oh! the joy of dispensers always fully stocked with soap and toilet paper. You know what I mean? Surely you do if you have ever visited a ladies room to find only a shred remaining on the roll of TP.

It is wonderful to have lovely designed facilities but more heavenly to find them immaculately clean. Thanks to those housekeepers, maintenance crews, and janitors who care enough to make a sparkling difference that can be seen!

Follow this year’s official, Bathroom Blogfest Community as we celebrate Bathroom Blogfest ‘08 – Cleaning Up Forgotten Spaces Around Us! Consider the customer experience and all of those forgotten spaces that need cleaning up, including the bathrooms.

Bathroom Blogfest

1 comment October 30, 2008

Hidden Behind Forgotten Customer Spaces

Photo by canonsnapper / Michael Summers - Creative Commons Attribution * Noncommercial * No Derivative Works * Some rights reserved - Artwork by British graffiti artist Banksy

We have all done it in response to a quick phone call alert saying, “thought we would just drop by for a moment,” or at the unexpected sound of a car pulling into the driveway. Stash the dirty dishes in the oven! Shut the door on today’s unmade beds and tomorrow’s dry-cleaning drop-offs. Thank the heavens, as you make quick sashaying spritzes, for fabreze©.

Just by sweeping your not-ready-for-prime-time messes under the carpet, you may not always rest assured that what is hidden remains concealed. Somehow we always get caught when company surprisingly stops by with our hair down. The trick is to not be caught with your pants down too.

Good company comes to see us because they want to. Great customers come to see us because, not only do we offer what they want and need, they enjoy visiting us as well.

Remember that businesses too need to clean up their forgotten customer spaces. Could that mean forgotten spaces for customers or spaces for forgotten customers…??

Perhaps, they are but one and the same. One could be as important, if not more, than the other.

Do you truly know who your possible customers are and what they really want, need and expect from you. Is access to your products and services inviting and welcoming too? Who have you forgotten and what simple convenience are you not providing? How dare we let these forgotten customers get swept under the rug.

Join us this week as we celebrate Bathroom Blogfest ‘08 – Cleaning Up Forgotten Spaces Around Us! Consider the customer experience and all of those forgotten spaces that need cleaning up, including the bathrooms.

This year’s official Bathroom Blogfest Community:

Bathroom Blogfest

3 comments October 26, 2008

The Public Library Potty Experience

Bathroom Blogfest logo, originally uploaded by circulating.

Just what does National Kitchen and Bath Month have to do with libraries…?? It is the perfect opportunity to showcase our exceptional library customer service via our public restroom facilities…!!

Come on now… you KNOW that “Do you have a bathroom?” is one of the most frequently asked questions we librarians are privileged to answer.

That alone should remind us to provide excellent service for our “users” (lol… pun intended). But do we consider our bathrooms when promoting library service? Do any of our patrons say “I can hold it until we get to the library!” just because they love the ladies room?

As part of Bathroom Blogfest, Helene, Katie, and I, at the least, are planning to join in as “bloggers from around the globe write about the importance of bathrooms in the customer experience with photographs of great and terrible bathrooms.” The blogfest runs from October 28 to November 2 this year.

Wanna help us out? Just tag your photos on flickr.com with library and ladiesrooms to share your stories of the public library potty experience!

Add comment October 8, 2007

Wayne Onkst to Lead Kentucky Librarians

Known for his dedication to youth services, love for genealogy and historical document preservation, and successful library building projects, Wayne Onkst, Kenton County Public Library Director, has been named to take over as Kentucky State Librarian/Commissioner.

He succeeds James Nelson, whose recent retirement coincided with the 100th anniversary of the Kentucky Library Association.

Following rumors throughout the state yesterday, this writer found the news made official by The Kentucky Post.

Of extreme interest to the world of Library 2.0, Kenton County Public Library has developed under Wayne’s leadership as a premier Kentucky public library.

Their content managed website has drawn rave reviews. They blog. They flickr. They feed. Their presence online has been appreciated by Library Stuff and David Lee King.

As Kenton County Public Library’s vision, preserving yesterday, enriching today, inspiring tomorrow, catapults Wayne Onkst into his new role, Kentuckian’s and library professionals everywhere can expect libraries to continue to build community far and wide.

October 5, 2006