SBAM (Sourire, Bonjour, Au revoir et Merci)

English translation: meet and greet

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

French term or phrase:	SBAM (Sourire, Bonjour, Au revoir et Merci)
English translation:	meet and greet
Entered by:	Irene McClure

15:11 Jul 22, 2008

French to English translations [PRO]
Bus/Financial - Finance (general)

French term or phrase: SBAM (Sourire, Bonjour, Au revoir et Merci)

This acronym crops up as a heading in a text about a bank's approach to welcoming customers into their branches. A little internet research suggests that the acronym SBAM is in quite regular use in the business world (this was news to me).

The meaning is clear enough, but can anyone think of a snappy way to render it? Is there perhaps a corresponding English acronym?

Andy Bliss KudoZ activity Questions: 1 (none open) Answers: 33
Local time: 13:05

meet 'n' greet

Explanation:
It's not word for word, but it what is often used in commercial settings for greeting the customer at the door and welcoming them into the premises. All kinds of receptionists, door staff and other front of house jobs are classed as 'meet and greet' jobs.

See eg

http://www.showroomtoday.com/articles/article-tewart.html
"Sales people have been traditionally taught to walk directly up to people, stick out their hand, aggressively give a firm handshake, exchange names, and welcome them to the dealership. Let's review potential difficulties with the traditional meet and greet approaches and how to improve them."

http://webport.cgc.maricopa.edu/published/c/on/cont_ed/home/...
"You'll quickly move on to basic expressions, everyday questions, how to meet and greet customers, numbers, and how to tell date and time. Important customer service material such as sales assistance and directions, basic financing, money, payments, applications, will be covered in addition to automotive terminology, service, and repairs."

http://www.adeccousa.com/JobSeekers/JobSearch/Pages/JobDetai...
"Candidate would be responsible for handling, directing, screening all incoming and inter-office calls. Meet and greet all visitors, facilitate deliveries from couriers, delivery services and regular mail."

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2008-07-22 16:46:07 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Further to Vicky's note, I wanted to add a few examples of banks using the term:

http://news.cnet.com/Take-a-trip-to-the-bank-of-the-future/2...
"Bank cards could be fitted with RFID chips that would allow banks to react faster when important customers visit the branch--for example, by sending someone to meet and greet them as in the scenario above."

http://www.qmgroup.com/pdf/QmGroup HSBC Matchmaker® Case Stu...
"The solution used to address HSBC’s needs was Qm Group’s Matchmaker® system which allows the bank to: Reinforce a professional meet and greet process – where the customers’ requirements are filtered on arrival and they are given a precise guide to waiting time before an adviser will be available"

And the term has even been turned into a job-title!

http://www.priorbank.by/e/retail/meeter-greeter/
"Meeter-Greeter is a modern approach to customer services. In contrast to passive consultation Meeter-Greeter shows initiative and actively seeks to help you. He/she provides the customer with all requested information, advises on certain issues, and can assists in completing any required documentation. The Meeter-Greeter can also help the customer to find the appropriate bank specialist."

http://www.simplyhired.com/job-id/fat2pamkus/meeter-greeter-...

Selected response from:

Irene McClure
Local time: 13:05

Grading comment

In the end I was spoilt for choice, but I think Irene's suggestion is probably the most natural equivalent of the French, and the most commonly used, even though it's not an acronym!

I did however manage to slip Vicky's imaginative suggestion into the body of the text explaining the acronym - I only wish I could share the kudoz points...

Thank you to everyone.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

3 +4

meet 'n' greet

Irene McClure

3 +2

SMILES

Sheila Wilson

3 +1

Smile, Hi, Thanks and Bye

Vicky James

Have a nice day!!

Lucy Hill

2 +1

SBTYM

rkillings

2 +1

good old fashined courtesy

Jonathan MacKerron

SHBT (Smile, Hello, Bye and Thanks)

kashew

Discussion entries: 6

Answers

7 mins confidence:

SHBT (Smile, Hello, Bye and Thanks)

Explanation:
I just love making up acronyms and anagrams - Kashew for example.

kashew
France
Local time: 13:05
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 48

12 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

Smile, Hi, Thanks and Bye

Explanation:

Just to make it rhyme, and also because wouldn't you normally say "Thank you, goodbye", as opposed to "Goodbye, thank you"?

Vicky James
United Kingdom
Local time: 12:05
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 8

1 hr confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

SMILES

Explanation:
Here's one that is already used by a very big company.

'SMILES’ aide-mémoire, which acted as a prompt for living the XXXX values. ‘S’ for ‘smile at the customer’, ‘M’ for ‘make contact’ (say hello), ‘I’ for ‘information’ (offer correct information), ‘L’ for ‘listen’ (to what the customer has to say), ‘E’ for ‘end it well’ (say ‘is there anything else?’ or ‘goodbye’), and ‘S’ for ‘said it, now do it’ (follow through your promise).
http://www.theecologist.org/pages/archive_detail.asp?content...

I don't know if it would fit your context, but it's a possible

Sheila Wilson
Spain
Local time: 12:05
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 19

49 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +4

meet 'n' greet

Irene McClure
Local time: 13:05
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 8

Grading comment

3 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

SBTYM

Explanation:
Slam, bam, thank you, ma'am.<g>

rkillings
United States
Local time: 04:05
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 1140

17 hrs confidence:

Have a nice day!!

Explanation:
The classic American approach

Lucy Hill
United Kingdom
Local time: 12:05
Native speaker of:

English

2 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

good old fashined courtesy

Explanation:
in so many words

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 17 hrs (2008-07-23 08:59:46 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

customer is king

Jonathan MacKerron
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 47

Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:

ProZ.com term search

Search millions of term translations

SBAM (Sourire, Bonjour, Au revoir et Merci)

English translation: meet and greet

Answers

KudoZ™ translation help

Your current localization setting

Select a language

SBAM (Sourire, Bonjour, Au revoir et Merci)

English translation: meet and greet

Answers

KudoZ™ translation help

You have native languages that can be verified

Your current localization setting

Select a language