Customer service has always been a top priority for us at Baudville. As the place for daily recognition, we're known for our quick and friendly service delivered both over the phone and the Internet.

Today, we're proud to announce that we have received an EXCELLENT rating from STELLAService, an independent, third-party company that rates the customer service performance of online stores.

STELLAService evaluates companies on every attribute of the online shopping experience from ease of website navigation to interaction with company customer service representatives. STELLAService experienced all of Baudville’s customer service while “under cover” to make an objective decision about the company’s service.

As the recipient of an EXCELLENT rating, we are eligible to display the STELLAService seal on the company website as a trustmark that objectively and credibly communicates our commitment to quality customer service. You can see the seal on Baudville.com now! The STELLAService criteria are so rigorous, only half of all companies that apply receive a rating seal. 

Brad Darooge, our President and CEO is also honored to display the rating: "We are very excited to receive this service designation from STELLAService. Baudville has always made customer service our number one priority, and we’re proud to have STELLAService acknowledge our efforts with the EXCELLENT seal."

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Cori is Baudville's in-house Recognitionista (she's officially a Certified Recognition Professional, too)  and a member of the Millennial generation. Get her employee recognition tips and special discounts by liking Baudville on Facebook.

Whew, six weeks into my internship and I am just getting into the Baudville groove! I got my name plate on my cubicle and can finally clear a paper jam in the printer. But I am constantly experiencing new things about Baudville every day. For example do you know how we actually recognize our employees and co-workers?

Last week was a busy week of recognition for the whole company. We had baby showers, birthdays (mine!), casual days, and an entire company meeting. I‘ve never experienced so much celebrating with my co-workers before and who knew it would be such a blast!

I attended my first entire company meeting last week. I know what you are thinking right now, a “dull” meeting cannot include recognition. Absolutely it can and the best part, the meeting becomes exciting! Everyone gathered in a huge room located in our distribution center. Our CEO, Brad Darooge, gave us some encouragement for the upcoming six months and recognized us for achieving goals in the first half of the year.

Next, Cindy, the Human Resources Manager talked about how our Health and Fitness challenge is going thus far. (For those who don’t know, currently we have undergone a “friendly,” 10 week, Health and Fitness competition here at Baudville). On the first day of the competition we all received t-shirts displaying our work out pride. We received new water bottles to stay hydrated. Finally, she opened the floor for employees to share personal Health and Fitness goals. It was a great way for the whole company to encourage and praise people for a job well done.  

Since the whole company got together, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity for a mini competition. We were given plastic bags, scotch tape, string, and tissue paper. With these random elements we had to cushion an egg so that when it dropped it didn’t splatter everywhere. Whoever kept the yolk in their egg won points for their Health and Fitness challenge team. The absurd concoctions caused a lot of laughter and conversation in the days after.

I also found out this week that birthdays are a huge deal at Baudville. At the beginning of the month, birthday cards get passed from cubicle to cubicle and are filled with special notes or drawings. Then on your birthday, you receive your card with a little present inside. Lastly, you have to choose where your birthday lunch is going to be so co-workers can take you out to celebrate.

These are just some ways we have been recognizing co-workers lately and having fun here at Baudville. Other companies have been doing a great job recognizing as well. Tell me about some big or little ways you’ve recognized your employees or co-workers lately!

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Kendra is the newest Baudvillian. She is currently an advertising intellectual at Grand Valley State University, and is ecstatic about the change of atmosphere as Baudville’s web marketing intern. Watch out because this young professional just touched down at Baudville.

I don’t know about you, but I dread first days. Did I wear an appropriate outfit? Where do I sit at lunch? What parking spot isn’t claimed already? I calmed the butterflies in my stomach with a deep breath and pulled the glass door towards me entering the world of Baudville for my first day as the new Web Marketing Intern.

I was greeted by a friendly face, an enthusiastic hand shake, and a welcome on board. After the brief encounter I was whisked away by Kim, the person whom I would be annoying the next couple of months with my endless questions. First stop, my cubicle. I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw that the cubicle is larger than a lot of bathrooms I’ve seen! While I was being introduced to the employees who surround me, I marveled at how colorful and full of personality everyone’s cubicles were and contemplated what I can put in mine. Then off I was to tour the company, where I met Jeff in purchasing and determined my outfit was fine but slightly awkward, because he was basically wearing the same outfit!

Lunch already, I thought as Katherine and Kim asked me where I wanted to go. Company’s treat! At lunch I learned more about Baudville and even better, more about Kim and Katherine, two out of many tremendous co-workers. After a full belly it was back to the daily grind for me. Well kinda. I let Kim and Katherine tackle some work while I headed off to Human Resources to fill out paper work and learn about the history of Baudville. One of the forms included questions like what my favorite food, restaurants and hobbies were, so Baudville could get to know ME better!

A half-an-hour later it was 5 o’clock and time to go. On my first day, I met about 90% of the company. Now I know all the wonderful employees and don’t have to worry if I already introduced myself. I even had a great time filling out paperwork with Human Resources and going over the company handbook step by step. Other companies have told me to read the handbook on my own time. Cindy actually took time to make me feel welcomed and comfortable with the Baudville ways. Another plus, I was able to join the health and fitness competition late. A team took me in right away and I received an awesome free tee shirt. (Something every college student wants!) The cherry on top, lunch was on Baudville and restaurant of my choice.  My first day at Baudville wasn’t so bad… actually, can I do it again!

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Kendra is the newest Baudvillian. She is currently an advertising intellectual at Grand Valley State University, and is ecstatic about the change of atmosphere as Baudville’s web marketing intern. Watch out because this young professional just touched down at Baudville.

Very. All it takes is one look at the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey to see that work and work related activities dominate our time. If we spend so much time at work, shouldn’t it be enjoyable?

In his recent Examiner.com article, Robert Morris expressed his opinion that work is often too tedious and co-workers so insufferable that work cannot always be pleasant.

We would suggest otherwise. Bring some positive mojo into the office to spice up the culture and add a little fun to your day. Even the most boring tasks can be fun when your teammates are cheering you on and express their appreciation for a job well done.

We always strive for fun at Baudville. This past Monday, our new catalog with over 250 new products began arriving in customer inboxes. To pump up the company about this exciting milestone, a team of dedicated employees arrived super early at work – on a MONDAY, no less – and transformed the parking lot with colorful and festive chalk art.

If that’s not fun at work, then we don’t know what is.

The Baudville Chalk Artists pose in front of some of their work.

We’ve all seen them. The Employee of the Month plaques hung with pride for all to see in retail stores, restaurants and offices alike. The plaque is displayed to demonstrate the priority the organization places on its people. After all, people are our greatest assets.

But what message does it send when that plaque is hanging empty and covered in dust? A recent article by Pam Sievers explored this topic.

What I enjoyed most about Sievers take on the neglected program was the strategy she outlined for having employee recognition at all:

“The most important reason is to "align behaviors with the goals making your organization successful". Yes, you are recognizing employees who are helping the organization meet their goals.”

Work days now are more jam-packed and go by faster than ever before; employees have more work, more pressure and less time. As a result, recognition often falls by the wayside. Plus, when employees are cramming so much into one day, how can managers properly recognize their contributions to company goals when a program only allows for one award once a month?

Infrequent recognition won’t reinforce the behaviors you see occurring on a daily basis, and it’s hard to maintain momentum behind a program that only gets publicized once a month. Supporting a monthly program with a daily recognition program can keep energy going around recognition and prevent dust from collecting too thickly.

All it takes is a small hand written note or a token of appreciation. It doesn't have to be anything big. Fun certificates are another great way to communicate with employees: “What you’re doing matters, and you’re doing a great job.”

Today, recognition is more than just a pat on the back. It’s a means of giving feedback to employees about the job they’re doing. Now that’s something to recognize.