Focusing on Colleyville, Grapevine, Keller, Southlake, Trophy Club and Westlake (Sources: NCTCOG, 2000 U.S. Census and City of Grapevine)

Spotlight on Grapevine

Grapevine is the largest of the six communities with a 2006 Population of 45,600, or 33 percent of this market.

According to the 2000 Census:

1. Residents are fairly young, with only 6.2 percent aged 62 or older as of 2000.
2. Residents are well-educated with 43.2 percent of all residents aged 25 plus holding a bachelors degree or higher.
3. Families dominate as 72.4 percent of all households are family households.
4. As of 2000, 73.3 percent of all housing units had been built since 1980
5. Eighty-five and half (85.5) percent speak English only at home.

Five largest employers within Grapevine: DFW International Airport, Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center, G/CISD, UPS and Baylor Medical Center.

In 2004, 272 new small businesses began operating in Grapevine.

Findings from customer service research conducted by Richard Gerson, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Institute, indicate the number one thing people wanted from someone they did business with was to be listened to.

Here are some ways to gather information from your customers that demonstrates you’re listening to them!

1. Establish advisory groups, customer councils or board of directors, especially involving your best customers
2. Conduct focus groups
3. Use after-purchase surveys
4. Ask employees for feedback based on interactions with customers
5. Use customer suggestion box
6. Undertake formal written surveys sent via mail, email, fax, telephone, or within a newsletter or promotional piece
7. Conduct personal interviews over the phone or in-person
8. If you distribute a newsletter, ask for customer comments
9. Seek follow-up to customer complaints after problems are solved
10. Hire mystery shoppers, especially retailers.