From Publishers Weekly
This love letter to Enterprise Rent-A-Car is also a comprehensive case study on how a company grows from an idea into a multibillion-dollar corporation within its founder's lifetime. But just as the company's first "We Pick You Up" commercial was aimed at both company insiders and consumers, this book has the feel of an internal communication on the company's 50th anniversary. Despite excessive enthusiasm and a somewhat repetitive writing style, Kazanjian (The Market Masters, etc.) does offer insight into how a company can succeed by remaining focused on motivating employees to satisfy customers completely. Drawing on examples from Enterprise's history, he emphasizes that focusing on customer satisfaction must permeate every aspect of operations. While Kazanjian's themes are not revolutionary, he convinces that helping employees improve service to customers attracts more customers, so the company and its profit-sharing employees prosper. (Jan.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
Advance acclaim for Exceeding Customer Expectations:
“Classy people create classy companies, and there is no more classy—or successful—company than Enterprise Rent-A-Car.”
—Warren Buffett, Chairman and CEO, Berkshire Hathaway
“I loved this book and learned from it as well. It’s essential reading for every business manager and a powerful example that if you create value for your customers, your business will flourish and all your stakeholders will benefit.”
—Anne Mulcahy, Chairman and CEO, Xerox Corporation
“In a world where management styles come and go, the Enterprise philosophy remains timeless. Exceeding Customer Expectations is a firsthand look at the company that has been writing the book on customer service for the last 50 years.”
—Ken Chenault, Chairman and CEO, American Express
“Exceeding Customer Expectations provides an entertaining and insightful look into the customer-centered culture and strategies that drive the continuing success of a remarkable business.”
—J.D. Power IV, Executive Vice President, J.D. Power and Associates, co-author Satisfaction: How Every Great Company Listens to the Voice of the Customer
“Want to learn how to grow your business into an economic juggernaut by moving beyond customer satisfaction—all the way to loyalty? Then read this book because there is no better case study than Enterprise Rent-A-Car.”
—Fred Reichheld, author, The Ultimate Question: Driving Good Profits and True Growth
“Classy people create classy companies, and there is no more classy—or successful—company than Enterprise Rent-A-Car.”
—Warren Buffett, Chairman and CEO, Berkshire Hathaway
“I loved this book and learned from it as well. It’s essential reading for every business manager and a powerful example that if you create value for your customers, your business will flourish and all your stakeholders will benefit.”
—Anne Mulcahy, Chairman and CEO, Xerox Corporation
“In a world where management styles come and go, the Enterprise philosophy remains timeless. Exceeding Customer Expectations is a firsthand look at the company that has been writing the book on customer service for the last 50 years.”
—Ken Chenault, Chairman and CEO, American Express
“Exceeding Customer Expectations provides an entertaining and insightful look into the customer-centered culture and strategies that drive the continuing success of a remarkable business.”
—J.D. Power IV, Executive Vice President, J.D. Power and Associates, co-author Satisfaction: How Every Great Company Listens to the Voice of the Customer
“Want to learn how to grow your business into an economic juggernaut by moving beyond customer satisfaction—all the way to loyalty? Then read this book because there is no better case study than Enterprise Rent-A-Car.”
—Fred Reichheld, author, The Ultimate Question: Driving Good Profits and True Growth
Book Description
What’s the secret to wowing your customers while maintaining a loyal and dedicated workforce? No one knows better than Enterprise, the nationnation’s #1 car rental company, Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Drawing upon the secrets time-tested strategies that have propelledhelped Enterprise grow from a single location in St. Louis car dealership into a $9 billion global powerhouse, EXCEEDING CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS reveals how to:
Actively seek out unsatisfied customers and quickly turn them into loyal fans commit to improving their experience
Hire smart people and at the bottom, and train them from the ground up
ImplementDevelop methods to reduce costs and add value for your customers in every interaction.
Grow your business by rewarding employees with financial incentives, developing strong partnerships, and focusing on the long term; willing customer loyalty is like running a marathon, not a 100-yard dash
Thrive during tough economic times by bringing new advantages to the market
Cultivate a fun and friendly workplace where teamwork rules
In EXCEEDING CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS, noted business author Kirk Kazanjian reveals how your company can consistently outperform and outsmart the competition by following a simple philosophy espoused by Enterprise founder Jack Taylor: “Take care of your customers and employees first, and the profits will follow.” Winning customer loyalty is like running a marathon—not a 100-yard dash. By mastering this principle, Enterprise has earned not only record profits, but also received numerous awards for customer service and gainedearned an enviable reputation as one of the world’s best companies to work for, won countless customer service awards, and enjoyed a nearly unbroken streak of record profits .
EXCEEDING CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS imparts timeless lessons on satisfying both customers and employees that you can put to use right away, no matter what your business or industry.
Actively seek out unsatisfied customers and quickly turn them into loyal fans commit to improving their experience
Hire smart people and at the bottom, and train them from the ground up
ImplementDevelop methods to reduce costs and add value for your customers in every interaction.
Grow your business by rewarding employees with financial incentives, developing strong partnerships, and focusing on the long term; willing customer loyalty is like running a marathon, not a 100-yard dash
Thrive during tough economic times by bringing new advantages to the market
Cultivate a fun and friendly workplace where teamwork rules
In EXCEEDING CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS, noted business author Kirk Kazanjian reveals how your company can consistently outperform and outsmart the competition by following a simple philosophy espoused by Enterprise founder Jack Taylor: “Take care of your customers and employees first, and the profits will follow.” Winning customer loyalty is like running a marathon—not a 100-yard dash. By mastering this principle, Enterprise has earned not only record profits, but also received numerous awards for customer service and gainedearned an enviable reputation as one of the world’s best companies to work for, won countless customer service awards, and enjoyed a nearly unbroken streak of record profits .
EXCEEDING CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS imparts timeless lessons on satisfying both customers and employees that you can put to use right away, no matter what your business or industry.
About the Author
About the Author
KIRK KAZANJIAN is an expert on business, finance, marketing, and customer service. He’s the bestselling author of more than a dozen business and personal finance books, is frequently interviewed by the media, and has appeared on CNBC, CNNfn, Bloomberg, and many other radio and television stations across the country. He lives in Los Angeles, California.
KIRK KAZANJIAN is an expert on business, finance, marketing, and customer service. He’s the bestselling author of more than a dozen business and personal finance books, is frequently interviewed by the media, and has appeared on CNBC, CNNfn, Bloomberg, and many other radio and television stations across the country. He lives in Los Angeles, California.
From AudioFile
The story of how a family-owned business bucked trends in the car rental business to create a shop that is obsessive about customer satisfaction is inspirational. Starting as a Cadillac salesman, founder Jack Taylor was relentless in serving customers and developing employee initiative. The story of how he applied these values to a variety of businesses is full of pleasing anecdotes and lessons that anyone in customer service will enjoy. Alan Sklar tells this narrative like he owns it, diving so fully into the emotions of this company's story that you'd think he was a family member or part owner. With this enthusiasm guiding the performance, listeners can overlook some of the confusing quotes and stay connected to the broader lessons in this uplifting success story. T.W. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine
