Best Business Deals.

June is only weeks away so have you consider conducting a customer stocktake of what you are doing in your business? Have you considered that the way that you conduct your business could be crucial to improving sales? Maybe it is time that you set aside some time to look at the processes and in particular what happens when the customer walks in the door? Is it a positive experience? Is it the best experience that you and your staff can give every time?

I went shopping recently in a big new Westfield that I had not shopped in for many years. In every boutique I was approached by a staff member and acknowledged immediately! How refreshing to be greeted with a smile “How are you today”,” Can I help you with anything” “Are you alright just browsing or do you want a hand?” Even shops where it was pretty obvious that I was not their ideal customer, that is their store was patently “cool and happening” and I was not, they still made me feel welcome and comfortable. What happens in your store, café or business? Do you make everyone feel like they could buy something in your store?

I had a similar experience at a dress shop recently – it was early and the shop assistant was vacuuming but after welcoming me she turned off the vacuum and proceeded to fit me out from top to shoes for a wedding I was attending. She made it a pleasure to shop and more importantly for her, very easy for me to spend my money in her boutique!

What happens when someone trys to buy something from you? Once you have defined what it is you do currently, work out what you would prefer your customers’ experience of your business to be. Look around you and model your and your staffs behaviour on only positive retail experiences. Sit down with your staff and define for them what positive behaviour you expect. Role play situations to make sure that they understand how important they are in the scheme of things. Any business can and should do a stocktake of their customer experience and everyone can make improvements that will mean the difference between making a sale or not!

Make shopping in your business an absolute delight for your customers and they will keep coming back. It’s not too late to make 2010 the best retail experience ever for you and your customers!

Annette Wetherill
Mt Eliza Marketing
“Bringing your ideas to life!”
www.mtelizamarketing.com.au
0409 962 449
Fixed Price Marketing Plans