Your customer is struggling with high gas and food prices. He’s stuck in a high-rate mortgage and his home has been on the market for over a year. His wife just lost her job. Health care costs are up, too. Trust me, your profits are the last thing on his mind.
How can you help? To quote Field of Dreams, “ease his pain.”
Easing a customer’s pain isn’t just about offering discounts. Little touches, like added convenience or extra value, go a long way toward keeping customers during a rough economy. Here’s a list of ways to give your customer a little help without breaking the bank.
- Offer extended hours to accommodate busy schedules
- Create an after-hours, closed-doors VIP shopping session
- Partner with a neighboring restaurant for a “lunch & learn” seminar
- Add value with free delivery, installation or an extended warranty
- Turn your “informational” website into an e-commerce site – sell products online
- Diversify: provide ancillary services so clients don’t have to hire additional vendors
- Make sure your Website is simple to navigate
Even if your customer can’t make a purchase now, he’ll be more likely to bring you business when the economy picks up and he’s back on his feet.