Tip #430 - Little Gestures, Big Rewards
Dear Tip of the Weeker,
Your biggest competitive advantage against the price and selection of the big box stores and the super-convenience of internet stores is the real, personal relationships you can build with your customers.
You are a real person, not just a brand. You actually know your customers by name. You live in their community. You are a friend and neighbor.
Small personal gestures can cement your relationship with your customers. Use your local knowledge and find ways to connect...
- Scan the newspapers every day for news about your customers - articles about them, promotions at work, their kid on the honor roll, a mention about a charity they support. Clip the newspaper and send it with a quick note of congratulations.
- Watch the obituaries. Send a sympathy card if someone close to your customer has died. They may never say anything about it to you, but trust me they WILL know that you noticed and cared.
- Watch the birth section of the paper. New babies and grandbabies are a great time to send a note of joy and congratulations!
- If you hear that a customer is sick, send a get well card - maybe even a care package.
And those are just a few of the possibilities. These kinds of little gestures don't take a lot of time and they don't cost much. All it takes is commitment, caring, and keeping your eyes open.
Is it worth it?
The big box stores can NEVER beat you at this game. Small personal gestures mean a lot. They engender loyalty and ensure repeat business in ways that a few bucks off never can!
