The Realise Group

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NEW - FALSE 'www.exercise-group.com' Website

We have recently been made aware of a SCAM emailer called Tom Flory/Harper Moss (and other names in some instances) falsely using the content of our website and representing themselves as a business called "Exercise Group". This SCAM involves a person/persons asking for details such as bank account number, license number, etc, to be emailed to a yahoo or excersise-group.com email address. The SCAMER has set up a false website address at www.exercise-group.com (previously www.therealjsegroup.com) with a false fax and phone number with a recorded message asking you to leave a phone number and email if interested in working for us. The phone and fax number on this false website are not ours.

This SCAM and previous SCAMS have been reported and currently being investigated by The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and the Victorian Police Fraud Squad.

Under the SCAM WATCH section of the ACCC site SCAMS such as these and others that have been reported are listed alongside tips on how you can protect yourself from falling victim to such SCAMS. www.scamwatch.gov.au

Please be assured that we are working with the ACCC, our lawyers and police to do all we can possible to put a stop to this scam.

Should you have any information as to the identity or whereabouts of this person please register your concerns in relation to this SCAM direct with the ACCC's  SCAMWATCH at www.scamwatch.gov.au

Posted 31 December 2012 by Jason Cook0comment

News

Aussie Shoppers Rude Staff Bugbear

A recent Australian survey undertaken by Synovate Research has found that rude staff is the most loathed thing about the Australian shopping experience.  24% of those asked, stated that bad-mannered or pushy staff put them off shopping and a further 22% complained about staff who 'just couldn't be bothered'.  One shopper said; "The service in Australian shops is awful.  Often the shop assistants are talking to each other or completely ignore customers or there just aren't enough to assist."

There were also calls for separate shopping times for children and teenagers, and in some cases, calls for all children and teenagers not to be allowed in shops at weekends or in the afternoons!

A recent Realise Group survey of over 35,000 mystery shops conducted between July 2009 and 2010 also showed that just over 15% of shoppers felt that shop assistants were not making customer service their first priority.

These types of surveys and feedback can give Australian retailers a good feel for what they need to consider when better understanding their own customers experiences or creating future ones that keep their customers coming back.

"Creating a customer experience that keeps customers coming back requires an understanding of what is actually happening rather than what you think is happening at the coal face of your business", says Kate Gorman, Business Development Manager.  "As a business grows it becomes increasingly difficult to know exactly what it is your customers are experiencing particularly if you have stores that are a long way away from management staff.  If staff are pushy or bad-mannered most customers will walk away and never come back.  Very few let you know of their experience."

"At The Realise Group we work with many of Australia's leading retailers, small and large, to better understand their customer experience by pulling from the many tools we have to check on what's actually happening in your stores" says Gorman.

 

Posted 5 December 2011 by Jason Cook0comment

News

Champagne shopping to make us feel a bit special

Herald Sun Article, 22nd Nov, 2011 www.heraldsun.com.au

SILVER-service shopping is being rolled out to stimulate Christmas spending.

Attendances at special events offering exclusive mass discounts, free product samples and glasses of sparkling wine, music and entertainment are growing in a trend dubbed "experience shopping".

The premium events - open to all - are an extension of more elite previews and sales traditionally limited to retailers' most loyal clients.

Customer service expert Katie Miles, managing director of The Realise Group, said consumers increasingly wanted to feel valued.

"The frequency of shopping centre VIP and special events has grown from once a year to a few times a year compared with four or five years ago," Ms Miles said.

"The appeal for consumers is getting a whole lot of bargains in one day in an atmosphere that is fun and leaves them feeling a bit special."

Ms Miles said the events helped centres promote their brand, and encouraged customers to spend more time on site and less time online.

Westfield Doncaster is holding its first Christmas shopping event today after successful autumn/winter and spring/summer fashion extravaganzas in the past two years.

Westfield Victorian regional general manager John Warne said the centre wanted to create an exciting and social experience.

"It will also give customers a chance to shop stress-free ahead of this Christmas rush," he said.

Dancer Danijela Hrastov, 27, and two friends are capitalising with a girls' night out at the centre.

"I'm looking forward to it. I want to get some of my presents shopping done and dusted instead of battling Christmas crowds later," Ms Hrastov said.

"I also want to pick up some specials because I usually always pay full price when I shop, I'm a bit hopeless like that."

Other major events in the lead-up to the festive season include Myer's Christmas shopping night at stores statewide from 5pm tonight, and Chadstone shopping centre's "VIP party" from 9am-midnight tomorrow.

Chadstone's senior marketing manager, Mardi Ashkine, said more than 90,000 people were expected to attend. 

Posted 22 November 2011 by Katie Miles0comment