Theresa Alacante has been making fine, hand-made ceramic tiles for upscale clients for more than twelve years. After she graduated with her Masters in Fine Arts from UC Davis, she taught art in the public school system. During her free time, she designed and crafted fine hand-made ceramic tiles.

Over time, her reputation grew. Many upscale designers began specifying her work on major construction and design projects. Soon, Theresa realized that she had to make a choice. In order to meet demand, she gave up teaching to launch her business full time.

As a new business owner, Theresa attempted to perform all of the tasks her growing business demanded. She kept a cordless telephone on her glazing table and juggled purchasing, inventory management, and customer orders herself. A friend helped her launch a website, and later a printed catalog that was sent to designers around the state.

Soon, she found that she had as little time to concentrate on her art as she did when she was teaching. Because she works from a home studio, Theresa was reluctant to hire regular clerical employees, which would have subjected her to rigorous health, labor, and safety regulations that did not otherwise apply to her as a small, home-based business owner.

In order to cope, Theresa hired a telephone answering service. Within days, she rolled over her 800 number, so that all of her catalog and website orders could be accepted along with her routine telephone calls from a central location. Thanks to the sophisticated call scripting, callers are greeted by professionally trained operators who could quickly and competently answer questions regarding product selection, shipping, and order status.

Then her work was featured in a national designers trade publication; Theresa's business was inundated with requests for her catalog. Within six months of the publication of the feature, Theresa's 800 telephone number was flooded with more than 7,000 calls (more than 50 per day)!

"There is just no way we could have every coped with the office work," Theresa said. "Jake [Theresa's husband] and I were up to our ears in orders. It was all we could do to keep our supplies coming in on time and shipping the orders. If someone had told me a year ago how much this would have grown, I'd have never believed it. But thanks my answering service, it's happened, and we just couldn't be happier!"

Learn more about telephone answering services and discover how the might be able to help you.