Giving people precise instructions on how to behave when a shopper is close by risks making grumpy workers even grumpier. Target’s new customer service programme could backfire in three ways https://t.co/CieA3egnwE ...

Core Insights - FirstEnergy Corp. has been recognized by Forbes as one of America's Most Trusted Companies and America's Best Companies for 2026, reflecting its commitment to operational excellence, customer service, and positive workplace culture [1][2] Recognition and Evaluation - Forbes' America's Most Trusted Companies list is based on an independent survey evaluating companies on transparency, ethical practices, and reliability, with FirstEnergy being among the top 300 out of 2,000 eligible businesses [3] - The America's Best Companies list highlights organizations excelling in employee satisfaction, customer experience, and financial strength, with FirstEnergy being selected as one of the top 500 companies based on over 60 measures across 11 categories [4] Investment and Community Engagement - In 2025, FirstEnergy plans to invest $5.5 million to modernize its power grid as part of its $28 billion Energize365 investment program aimed at enhancing reliability and reducing outages [5] - The FirstEnergy Foundation contributed over $5.5 million to local programs across its service area, and employees have volunteered more than 40,000 hours to support community initiatives [6] Company Overview - FirstEnergy Corp. serves over six million customers across six states and operates approximately 24,000 miles of transmission lines, emphasizing integrity, safety, reliability, and operational excellence [7]

Williams-Sonoma (NYSE:WSM) Q3 2026 Earnings Call November 19, 2025 10:00 AM ET Speaker1Welcome to the Williams-Sonoma Third Quarter Fiscal 2025 Earnings Conference Call. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode. A question-and-answer session will follow the conclusion of the prepared remarks. I would now like to turn the call over to Jeremy Brooks, Chief Accounting Officer and Head of Investor Relations. Please go ahead.Speaker0Good morning, and thank you for joining our Third Quarter Earnin ...

Giving people precise instructions on how to behave when a shopper is close by risks making grumpy workers even grumpier. Target’s new customer service programme could backfire in three ways https://t.co/2zqTILc5ze ...

Working at McDonald’s is actually admirable.Working any customer service job in today’s current state of society is admirable. ...

Giving people precise instructions on how to behave when a shopper is close by risks making grumpy workers even grumpier. Target’s new customer service programme could backfire in three ways https://t.co/zFkBNW9quK ...

If a shopper comes within ten feet of a Target employee, staff are meant to “smile, make eye contact, wave” and so on.The intentions of this policy are spot-on. But high-quality service requires judgment, not rules https://t.co/HxTkGnRO3k ...

Target has a new directive for store employees: If a shopper comes within 10 feet of you, then make sure you smile, make eye contact and greet or wave. If they come closer — within four feet — ask whether they need help or how their day is going. https://t.co/C8oyrECjKr ...

How Two Silicon Valley A-Listers Became Billionaires By Remaking Customer Service With AI https://t.co/JhH80W9ox1 ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The third quarter revenue was $839.6 million, a decrease of 0.3% compared to the previous year, reflecting the macroeconomic landscape [12][18] - The adjusted operating ratio increased to 87.6%, up from 85.1% a year ago, primarily due to a decrease in adjusted cost per shipment [18] - The diluted earnings per share were $3.22, down from $3.46 in the same quarter last year, while adjusted diluted earnings per share were $2.81 [18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The ramping markets, consisting of 39 terminals opened since early 2022, improved their operating ratio by over 100 basis points compared to the second quarter, now operating at a sub-95 [4][5] - Shipments per workday decreased by 1.9% year-over-year but improved by 3.2% sequentially [8][12] - The cargo claims ratio was 0.54%, marking the fourth consecutive quarter below 0.6%, indicating strong service performance [7] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company experienced a 3% sequential increase in shipments, but a 4.8% decrease compared to the third quarter of 2024 [9] - The fuel surcharge revenue increased by 2.1%, accounting for 15.2% of total revenue compared to 14.8% a year ago [12] - The overall freight market has shown softer trends in 2025, impacting shipment volumes [8][19] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on customer service, network optimization, and cost control, with an emphasis on expanding its national footprint to enhance customer relationships [4][5] - A general rate increase of 5.9% was implemented on October 1, impacting approximately 25% of operating revenue [11] - The company aims to leverage its investments in network expansion to become a significant player in the less-than-truckload (LTL) industry [20][21] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that the economic backdrop remains uncertain, but the company is well-positioned to adapt and leverage its network investments [20][21] - The company anticipates that the current market conditions are in the early stages of realizing its full potential, with expectations for improved performance as the market stabilizes [21] - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to maintain high service levels while managing costs effectively [19][20] Other Important Information - The company recorded a $14.5 million net operating expense reduction from a gain on real estate disposal and impairment [2] - Salaries, wages, and benefits increased by 0.7% year-over-year, driven by higher employee-related costs [13] - Accident claims and insurance expenses rose by 22.5% year-over-year, primarily due to existing claims development and inflation [17] Q&A Session Summary Question: Trends in October regarding tonnage and shipments - Management reported that shipments in October are down around 3.5%, with tonnage down about 4%, indicating a softer start to the month compared to expectations [24][25] Question: Updates on new terminals and their performance - Management highlighted that the new terminals are showing improved productivity and cost efficiency, with expectations for continued improvement as they mature [32][34] Question: Pricing environment and yield metrics - Management noted that the pricing environment remains disciplined, with a focus on maintaining yield metrics despite challenges in the market [40][41] Question: Network optimization efforts - Management discussed ongoing network optimization initiatives, emphasizing the importance of AI tools in improving operational efficiency [48][50] Question: Capacity and technology investments - Management indicated that the company has ample capacity across its network and continues to invest in technology to drive efficiencies [63][64] Question: Growth opportunities in a down year - Management expressed confidence in the ability to grow share-of-wallet with existing customers, even in a challenging economic environment [90][91]