NARS grows through loyal customers and employees

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Beginning in August 2008, the company hired a staff of over 100 agents who help the company's call center clients while working from their home.

The Fortune 500 companies that use National Asset Recovery Services Inc. for their call center applications do so because they recognize the impact that excellent customer contact can have on their business.

But the rapidly growing company hopes that prospective employees will recognize what a good place to work NARS is. The NARS Cape Girardeau facility, at 2102 William St. in the old Sears building, offers perks such as an on-site deli, an Internet cafe and a fitness room to its more than 500 workers.

For employees with children, the company offers a day care facility on site, eliminating the need to go out of the way to drop off or pick up the kids on the way to and from work.

"NARS is a great place to work and we offer very competitive wages and excellent benefits," said David Owenby, senior vice president of operations for the Chesterfield, Mo.-based company.

"We are in the business of 'people'" Owenby continued. "People who provide a service to other people. NARS is driven by the needs of our clients and must be flexible at all times."

NARS believes that a positive work environment and happy employees result in employees with a better attitude.

"Our most successful people are those committed to the 'whatever it takes' positive attitude," Owenby said.

One of the ways that NARS tries to recruit and retain good employees is its At Home Agent program. Beginning in August 2008, the company hired a staff of more than 100 agents who help the company's call center clients while working from their home. Most AHA agents work from 25 to 30 hours per week with a flexible schedule, based on the needs of the client. The company plans to expand its At Home Agent base this year.

NARS offers its clients both inbound and outbound call center services. NARS agents handle such functions as collections, order processing, technical support, reservations, subscriptions, membership renewals, customer contacts and help desk operations.

Since its beginnings in 1993, NARS has grown to employ more than 3,000 service professionals. In addition to the Cape Girardeau and Chesterfield operations, NARS also has international call centers in Montego Bay, Jamaica and Panama City, Panama. Last year Inc. Magazine listed NARS as one of the fastest growing companies in the St. Louis area.

NARS got its start in Cape Girardeau on January 4, 2007. Extensive renovations have been made to the 40,000-square-foot building in order to accommodate its more than 500 employees.

The NARS Cape Girardeau call center project was the recipient of the 2008 Governor's Community Project of the Year. Awarded each year at the Governor's Economic Development Conference, the honor goes to the community that uses innovative methods to overcome challenges and achieve a successful outcome.

The company and its employees are very active in fundraising efforts to support a number of local charities. "Our employees have participated in many charitable endeavors and enjoy holding fun contests to raise money for these charities," said spokeswoman Christine Cervellere.