The atmosphere must be free of any offensively fishy odors, and the counterperson or point-of-sale material has to speak to them.

I also envision a special menu-item display case devoted strictly to chef-created daily specials, with a counterperson able to explain them in the manner of a more traditional waiter.

The counterperson asks a few questions about how the DVD is to be titled, the tape is sent to us through Kodak, we produce the DVD, and the original tape and DVD are delivered back to the store for pick up by the customer."

I asked the counterperson if they served Granita Latte's and was told no, but that any of their freshly made espresso drinks tasted great over ice.

In some cases, the brief discussion with a counterperson or teller may be the critical last line of defense against feelings of loneliness.

Starting with Stuart White, our Six Forks manager, to each counterperson, salesperson and driver—everyone has bought in and it's driving remarkable results,” said Dan Walker, CEO of Walker Auto Parts.

In a full-service department, signs can help customers narrow down their choices while they're waiting for an available counter-person, and as I said before, in a self-serve situation, the sign is the counterperson. Signs should contain all the necessary information, including the name, country, or region of origin; the type of milk (cow, sheep, goat); whether the cheese is made from raw milk or is pasteurized; and the price per pound (or other unit of sale).