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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Coldwater Creek service ranks high

Compiled from staff and wire reports The Spokesman-Review

Coldwater Creek Inc. placed alongside Nordstrom in a nationwide survey of the best retailers for customer service.

Nordstrom took first place in the national poll, which was conducted by the NRF Foundation, an arm of the National Retail Federation, and American Express Co.

Coldwater Creek placed second.

More than 8,600 consumers were polled for the survey. They were asked an open-ended question: “What retailer delivers the best customer service?” Other top 10 winners included Marshall Field’s, Kohl’s, REI, JC Penney, Best Buy and Eddie Bauer.

“Retailers know that consumers spend more time and money in a store when they have a pleasant shopping experience,” said John Theiss, vice president of retail industries for American Express.

In smaller categories, Coldwater Creek ranked first in the specialty apparel category; Nordstrom ranked first for department stores; and Wal-Mart ranked first for discount chains.

“When you’re mentioned in the same breath as Nordstrom for customer service, it’s always a good feeling,” said David Gunter, Coldwater Creek’s spokesman.

Coldwater Creek sells women’s clothing and gifts. The company is headquartered in Sandpoint, with retail stores across the country.

Hayden substation opening ceremony today

Kootenai Electric Cooperative’s new Hayden substation will begin operations today, following a ceremony at 11 a.m.

The substation on Huetter Road, just south of Hayden Avenue, was built to address increased demand for electricity in the area between Coeur d’Alene and Rathdrum, the cooperative said in a news release.

The substation, which cost $2.5 million, has the capability to power approximately 4,000 residences and can be expanded to address future growth, the release said.

The cooperative serves more than 20,000 customers in North Idaho.

Program would certify downloadable software

New York An anti-spyware initiative backed by Internet portals Yahoo and AOL would certify downloadable software as consumer-friendly and noninvasive.

Under the program, to be announced today, developers that want to obtain certification for their downloads would also have to prove their products can be easily removed from computers once installed.

TRUSTe, an organization that already certifies and monitors Web site privacy and e-mail practices for businesses, will rely on testing by two outside labs for the vetting. It would not name the labs.

Developers earning TRUSTe’s certification will not be permitted to promote that fact, said its executive director, Fran Maier. Rather, TRUSTe will issue a “white list” of trusted programs that partners Yahoo Inc., America Online Inc., CNET Networks Inc. and other Web publishers may use in determining whose software they wish to ally with or distribute.

The Trusted Download Program is to begin early next year.

TRUSTe may suspend or revoke certifications for violations.