Showing posts with label Retail Store Management. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Retail Store Management. Show all posts

Monday, February 18, 2013

Do not Make This Business Mistake!

Many businesses, both in the Internet business and offline business, whether successful that later business can thrive;-and instead they ended up bankrupt, never made a business mistake. Those who are successful are successful then learn from his mistakes. Instead they are bankrupt, did not have time to immediately correct the mistakes that they have created.
So, in this post summarized business lessons from the mistakes made.

1. Far from consumers. Sometimes when a person has begun to be successful, they are getting away from the consumer. Yet when it started happening, fall means the business started. Because you do not know what the needs and desires of consumers is growing. And it's like letting "your business is digging her own grave".

2. Lack of focus
. Many businesses who then lay the loss of focus. They do not focus on its core business. So then it is not the core business of developing and it is so screwed up that designed the original business concept.

3. Mistakes on recruitment. Other businesses are errors in HR recruitment. When you do not get the right people for the kind of work that should be addressed. This will obviously affect the performance of the company you build.

4. Obsessed. One mistake that many business people are too obsessed done to make the business was growing very fast and great. As a result, there is little that then there desperate to borrow loans to expand the branch up here everywhere. Though new business for the rest of corn.
In my opinion, the initial goal is to build a business that generates profits, so someday become a big business. Because of these advantages, the business can thrive and be great.

5. Financial mistakes. Poor financial management can be the cause of a roll mat business. Financial uncontrolled causing joints crippled business one by one.

6. Do not have the vision and strategy. When a business owner does not have the vision and strategy of how to grow the business, that means it's time the business will be going nowhere, stuck, and not going anywhere.

When you start to build a business, would you want a successful business. Therefore businesses learn from mistakes ever made is important. So that you do not need to go through the mistakes others have made, and you do not need to make the business ruins.

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Customer is not Target, but Friend

Sales will be hard to do when the salesperson is overly aggressive offer products like hunting prey. All traditional salesmanship based on persuasion method, namely to persuade people, as the main thing. Because it usually emphasizes pad salesmanship training techniques to identify target markets, and approached to find out what is needed and not desperate to be handed a wide selection of sale.

Also learn about denial or objection that may appear to be prepared answers. The theory is based on a belief: "If no objection, then the customer is ready to close the sale." Spin selling is to avoid the objection. Because, if there's an objection, the actual psychological denial will arise. Through this approach the customer pattern is not a target but a friend, if possible customers are not pressured to buy , but aided by a trusted friend.

In 4-D bridge harry Potter, Walt Disney World, Florida, I was fascinated and carried away to "another world" for three minutes. Although very brief, but it was long, and I was out. Outside there was a special counter selling many magical wands of the characters in the story of Harry Potter. The guards just asking simply, I fit the character which one? He never sold it to me, also never offer a discount on the magic stick that costs U.S. $ 25. I do not know the character details respective roles in the Harry Potter story, but with a spontaneous, I replied that I liked the character of Harry Potter. The assistant it says: "Wow, that is you, man! This magic stick reflect your character if you put it at living room. "A statement from a friend who seemed wants to help me reflect on my dream character.

I ended up buying the expensive rod and still comply with the seller. I put the magic wand in the living room. Thus a stick for U.S. $ 25 becomes expensive again because I do not buy a piece of wood, but a symbol character. Greater is after I make a selection and pay; the seller wrapped it and handed it to the rapid style of a friend while saying congratulations. "Congratulation man, you are the character now!" It turns out I'd love to hear greetings like this than a thank you.

Do not think that it applies only to small items and retail sales. The principle is the same if you want to sell big ticket items, such as cars, houses, and even insurance. You are not being herded, but helping a friend through a transparent conversation. When the decision has been taken, the next is a bigger moral obligation to continue to show that the choices made are not wrong!

Friday, February 15, 2013

Basic Attitudes In Serving Customer

Each employee must provide services by placing himself as a consultant to all customer that comes into the store. The attitude of an employee is a reflection of the company's attitude towards its customers. If the employee is bad in terms of customer service, then the corporate image is also bad in the eyes of customers. So, it is important to communicate to the employees about the good service to customers.
In general, the basic attitude of good service to the customer are:

1. relax
This means :
- Use non-formal language, according to the character of the customer being served.
- Show a confident attitude
- Able to create a fun and friendly atmosphere

2. Prioritize services to customers than other activities.

3. Do not obtrude.

4. Required to provide information on:
- self-identity
- product advantage
- ongoing promotion

5. Always show an attitude ready to serve any time.
Things that are considered not show a service attitude is:

- Receive or play Telephone / Mobile in the store floor
- Indifference
- Joking and huddle with fellow employees
- Relying on the product display,door, display window, etc
- Stand idly Attitudes

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Importance of Point Of Purchase (POP) In Retail Business

When we went shopping for food, clothes or a car, we will be given many choices, and too much choice. Are we going to choose a brand familiar to us, or we take the challenge to try a new brand?

With so many choices faced by consumers, then they will be very easy to become overwhelmed, and they tend to give in to the decision making process by buying products that are already known rather than try something new! But even if we wanted to try a new product, customers do not even know where to start. Too many POP materials and communications issued by the maker of brands talk about the features of their products and completely forgot to talk to the benefits - in a product. Benefit-driven communication is the best way to talk to customers. Is the brand more efficiently? Providing time-saving or cost-effective?

At the store, merchandising and point-of-sale (POS) is a very important thing to make a connection with the customer to encourage impulse sales. To catch the eye of consumers, brand owners and retailers need to constantly create innovative Point Of Purchase (POP) in the store to attract attention. Without attracting attention and communication, many consumers often overlook new products or specials and consequently buy products that are familiar and already trusted.

Business retailers want to ensure that their brand is in stores and available to consumers. Here are the things to watch out for doing that:

Packaging: This is the most important brand POP. This is the part that will continue to work everywhere: on the shelf, in a store, in the kitchen, at home, anywhere. It's all about originality! A brand needs to have a unique character and personality and more importantly talk about the benefits.

POP: Using a unique visual elements and colors that describe a brand in order to attract customers. Creating effective POP on shelves, cell phones, coupons, or digital media are some tactics that can be used.

Check Out Displays: Using Check Out Displays in the store is an effective tactic to make the brand stand out. While consumers wait in line, strategy shelf "one brand" can create astonishing effects. And certainly will increase impulse buying customers.

Floor Graphics, Floor Stand, Floor or display: Usually placed in front of the store. It is an effective and creative way to direct consumers to a product! Reforming certain artistic products coupled with attractive graphic images will provide a significant effect on sales.

Effective POP can make consumers out of their routine, and this can affect the behavior of their shopping and their purchase decision. All retail businesses should be sure to do it right. However, so many cost spent for advertising, if consumers do not find them on the shelves, there will be no sale.

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Conventional Stores and E-Commerce

Seems that the most successful businesses today is to have a web site, for web businesses can pass geographic area. On the web, where its market share is global, then local businesses can experience a slump and suffered heavy losses.

An example is the retail business. These businesses provide the products that are sold retail to meet the needs of consumers. By using the website to sell products and to introduce his store brand, an online retail store can get target market globally. Online Retail is commonly referred to as e-commerce.

E-Commerce provides several advantages not shared by conventional stores. These benefits are in addition to obtaining a broad market, e-commerce can reduce spending because of shop space rental costs. Besides e-commerce enables consumers to buy their products, because they do not have to move from house to buy an item he needs.

In fact, if the site owner does not want to deal with inventory and stock the product, affiliate system can be used to generate income. Affiliate system allows site owners to sign up for the program with the results of other companies. An affiliate program allows site owners to offer products or services of other companies and get a commission from the sales generated from the site owner's site.

In short, if you run a business that operates locally and also maintains a web site, then you will gain a double advantage, that is expanding its market to global markets without leaving loyal customers for your conventional stores.

Friday, January 4, 2013

Definition of Consumer Involvement

Each time make decisions or purchases, consumers first consider. Sometimes took long time to decided on the merits, more or less, or the pros and cons. Well it actually the process of engagement between something which we think to ourselves, and its often called "consumer involvement".

Some marketing experts expressed definition of consumer involvement as follows:

Customers involvement defined by the Engel, Blackwell, and Miniard as the perceived level of personal interest or interest generated by the stimulus in a specific situation. Involvement is best understood as a function of people, objects and situations.

Pride and Ferrell revealed that the level of consumer involvement is the reason why consumers are motivated to find a particular product and brand information.

Peter and Olson confirmed that involvement is a motivational state that drives and directs the behavior of consumers when making decisions.

Each consumer has an underlying motivation in the form of needs and values. While involvement will arise when the object (product, service or promotional messages) can help to meet the perceived needs, goals and values that were important. Meeting these needs is perceived to be varied or not the same from one situation to others.

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Corporate Values As a Component of Strategic Thinking

In March 2002, Fortune magazine named Wal-Mart as the largest company in the world. Now this global retailer has about more than 3,000 outlets across America, and more than 1,000 retail outlets in any types of retail store (discount stores, supermarkets, department stores) in foreign country. Wal-Mart is the first service and trade company that won a position as the world's largest companies. Wal-Mart is an example of the triumph. Sales in 1973 of approximately U.S. $ 1 billion per year. And 20 years later, the company could generate that much revenue in just one week only. Previously the company has also been cited as the "Retailer of the Century" by Discount Store News magazine, one of "The Most Admired Companies in America" by Fortune magazine, and "100 best companies to work for" by the Financial Times.

All these achievements are not created in an instant. Sam Walton, founder of Wal-Mart, has for many years apply some principles key to his shop called with 10 values of Sam Walton. When asked what makes Wal-Mart can be a huge successful business, their executives said that this company is making the values of Sam Walton as their main source of competitiveness.

The story above is an inspiration that you can bring the values of working in your shop. Just select a few key values that you want to be a priority. Here are some of key value that can be highlighted in your store:

1. Ethics
Your store operates honestly, both to customers and employees. For example, all employees of the store shall refund the excess payment to the customer, you do not sell products that have expired, not cheating in the use of weights, etc..

2. Environment
Your store will care for the environment (nature and society), because you realize that the development of your store depends on the warmth of your relationship with the environment.

These values are different from the vision and mission that can be embedded or notified verbally. These values should really be felt by all parties involved in the store, and applied consistently. Direct example and your behavior as a store owner will determine the success of the realization of these values.

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Simplify your Store Management with Software for Retail Stores

The development of retail business is no longer just on improving the availability and quality of goods only. There is a recent trend that consumers will demand better service excellence and integrated with technology, particularly the internet. Nowadays almost all retail businesses have a classy official website where all the information about the merchandise they can be accessed easily by the customer. For some customers, the less useful it was for them when their time is used only for window shopping to a store or boutique that ultimately did not get the things we want because its stock is up.

Smart customers an increasing number of today's more like doing online browsing in advance to get the kind of things they want from the store or clothing boutique there. Of phenomena specific software applications become indispensable retail stores. For what retail software is needed if we are able to upload our merchandise by hand? Again the smart customer we discussed not only want to see what kind of stuff but they did a survey and market observation. They need information on the number of existing and possible stock acquired discount if they buy 4 items at the same time for example. Benefits else can we can use in addition to making the customer retail software easy to find stuff and get info about the availability?

The process of manually update the number of items will be spending half your employees shift in vain to make them sit down at the computer to update the stock of goods. Now there is retail software that will automatically create a list of your items automatically update whenever there is no purchase orders online or manual cash. In addition to saving time, this automatic update system will release information in 'real time' to consumers so that there will be no complaints from consumers who have access to your store website and see there is a "ready stock" for the things he wanted was after he came straight to the shop Your stuff is not there and it was only due to delays in updates the number of stock items.

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Technical Aspects of Online Store

Strategies involving the Internet can not avoid technology. The good news, along with the development of technology, all the things that smelled technically have experienced significant growth. That is, even a newbie can learn to use the technology without much difficulty.

Some of the technical aspects of building and operating online stores:

Selection of hosting and servers. This one is very often discussed topic, but also often misunderstood. Many beginners are seeking for cheap hosting because they are all the same. Not so. Cheap hosting only intended for personal websites that are not important whether it will have problems for many hours in a month.

Buying cheap hosting for your site is the same as opening your fancy shop with stalls lined paper. No one will respond to you seriously. If your site is slow, often down and troubled, visitors will go away. Each incident will exacerbate the image, reducing sales and bring complicated issues.
Quality hosting does not have to be expensive. Only by 10 to 20 dollars a month you can buy hosting for small and medium quality.

Content management software and shopping cart. The right choice will avoid endless frustration. The number of options available is often confusing. And depending on a software house for this important decision was not wise.

If you can not decide, try to use the content management application first. The process does not have to be difficult from the beginning. When I build an online store first of all, everything is just text and images. Booking through SMS and email. This method is fast and you can instantly accept orders. But for the long term, this process is not the most optimal and comfortable for customers.

Efficient online store consists of a shopping cart / virtual trolley that can be used by customers electronically. Acceptance of the order and confirmation of payment can be done easily and automatically without your intervention. Of course, customer support is required if there are additional questions from prospects before they buy.

Design an attractive site. Not only interesting, but usable. This means that a visitor should be able to easily use. This aspect greatly affects the number of visitors who stayed on your site and then buy. Templates and themes of good design is not overrun with dozens of boxes and images. A professional designer will know how to create a layout view that works fine, but as the owner of the store you who decides what should and should not need to be displayed.

If you want to save money, there's no harm in choosing an existing template. Maybe with a little modification. Design changes can be made at a later date after you get feedback directly or indirectly from the visitors and buyers. In fact, I do not know any of the online stores that do not change

Friday, November 30, 2012

Online Store Marketing Strategies

There is one thing you should know. Market their products through Facebook seem easy. Sign up an account is also free. But here's the thing less noticed by the owner of the online store. They assume because others do it, that's the right way.

Facebook policy strictly prohibits registration other than individual or personal account. If you do, your account may be deleted at any time. Tagging pictures of random products and add people to your friends list without knowing them in person often ends with sanctions blocking. This can all be avoided if you plan a marketing strategy first.

Here are some long-term strategies that have been proven in the field:

Search engine. Competition can be fierce, but every product is different occasions to get a good ranking in the search results. Today, because of the large market share and penetration among Internet users, Google is the only search engine that should be given more attention when you target the organic search results.
How natural it takes time to get the grades you want. Alternatively, you can buy ads that will be displayed on the sponsor-top and right side of the search results-to reach a particular prospect.

Search engine strategy is one of the most popular. Why? Since most Internet users use it to find all kinds of information, including the products they want. The results showed this method ranks first in the list of favorite strategy of micro, small, medium and large.

Users also proven search engine will open up the wallet to purchase products or services. Although it takes time and effort, this strategy is most crowded visitors ogled for business owners that will be obtained is complimentary.

If you choose the path of pay, Google offers a system of pay per click advertising, or pay per click. Costs incurred could explode if not careful in execution. This strategy is recommended only for those who know what they are doing. Usually those who are experienced and know the value of a customer they can use this channel effectively. This method can also be used to conduct experiments on a product because you can drive traffic quickly.

Email marketing. If done correctly, email marketing is potential. Unlike the other strategies, email can explore and deepen customer relationships and open communication that can only be done gradually. A marketer must have realized the importance of this approach. A customer who has a special relationship with you will be a customer forever.

The website is useful as a medium, but visitors who come rarely go back unless they really want what you are offering. Even if they come back, there is no proactive communication is done through the site. There are no controls that convert a prospect into a customer.

Publication of the newsletter via email, for example, can help a prospect understand the superiority of your product. This process does not always have to involve aggressive marketing message, but also tips and information to help. This method, which I call content marketing, has proven to be more effective.

My Newsletter for example, Whisper Success, contain unique and exclusive that you can not find on this site. Customers receive tips, strategies and even tactics they can use to start and grow their online business. Many of the readers then decided to register the various classes that I offer as amazed with the quality of the free information I provide.

Their minds, "If only it were so free with quality, what I get when attending intensive classes?"
You can also adopt this strategy to differentiate your business from competitors in an instant ... as most businesses do not wear it. They are still using traditional marketing methods, which as you know, has been reduced effectiveness from day to day.

Social networking. As said above, Facebook offers a huge opportunity because there are tens of millions of people are actively using it. The problem is if you do not want to source your visitors lost in an instant, redeeming manner that complies with the rules and policies of Facebook. At least look for alternative strategies that you can use so that your online business is not threatened because it is dependent on a single source of visitors.

Facebook Page or Pages offers a specially designed as company profiles, communities, and organizations. The Facebook account is only allowed for individuals. With the rampant abuse, enforcement will be more frequent ... so beware.
Some beginners do not understand why Facebook did. The reason is simple. Facebook survival depends on the quality of services provided. When all that is seen by the user who logged just offer products, sooner or later everything will stay away from Facebook. Surely this is not something to be desired.

The second reason is Facebook offers advertising program. You can promote and enthusiasts looking for the Page / Page you through advertising. With this strategy, Facebook earn income to support their international operations are expensive. Moreover, as commercial entities, their goal is profit.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Stores Online Planning Stage

Internet is the most rapid and appropriate to seek information, learn from each other and manage the resources needed to start a project like this. But this does not mean that everything can be done casually. You need a plan to mature, as well as all types of businesses.

Some questions that need careful consideration are listed below one by one.

What will be sold? Is suitable media websites? Do a little research to find out whether a product can be sold online. Today, even for businesses that require immediate presence, customers expect there are web sites that can be visited for a variety of information. For example Disney World. Visitors helped with news, promotions, maps and other information. And this is certainly encouraging them to visit on weekends.

What do the others? One thing that is different from the virtual world, you can do research on competitors quietly and without wasting a lot of time and effort. Everything can be done at home. Competitive intelligence can be very useful to differentiate your store from other online businesses.

This process sometimes takes a relatively long time. Suppose you are planning to sell beauty products. Instant search on Google will reveal what is being done players in the same market niche. What do they offer? What kind of promotional packages that work? It can not be concluded with 100 percent accuracy rate, but if you monitor site activity for some time, will become self-evident.

Successful promotion will be repeated, especially if the promotion is done through media advertising. Other things that can be learned is the product selection, product positioning, pricing structure and even the questions and problems being faced by your prospects. If they have a forum where the community gathered and discussed, there are many things that can be learned from it.

All of these activities take time, but the benefits will far exceed the investment of time that you do. Of all the knowledge gained, you can differentiate your business from others online.

Who are your customers? Are they able to effectively reach online? Internet penetration is more often the case for a relatively young age group, but it does not mean the products are destined to be lonely mature buyers. Things you need to know is whether you can reach and sell to your customers with a good group? Is there a channel that is economical or even free? Of course this all depends on the price of the product and the amount of profit per customer. The larger the value, the higher the ability and varied things you can do to get a customer.

If your product is not limited to a particular location, marketing will be much easier. Businesses tied to a specific geographic location should be more careful in order to avoid wasting time doing promotional costs. For example, through advertising, there must be a way to reach a specific audience in order to achieve targeted audience.

Each segment of the market is also unique that marketing and communications must be made specifically for the consumer. Whether you can interact with them through social media such as Facebook?

What resources do you need? Running an online store requires extra attention. There are technologies that must be integrated. Business and marketing strategies should be planned. Daily operations and administration that must be implemented to keep things running smoothly and has the potential to grow.

The selection of the right technology for your website is crucial. For example, if you sell tangible products, not digital, how to integrate or interface with the inventory by the existing stock? Is the chosen software supports payment and shipping you choose? How to design a good site? Do you need professional help for it?

What do you do to serve the prospects questions? Customer service is one component that can not be ignored. Just because you hire permanent staff to handle this field does not mean that all the problems sorted out. Training and communication remains important because customer service is the online store image that you have, because they directly interact with prospects and customers.

How do I send the goods to the customer? There are several options. If your target customers locally, perform yourself via a courier delivery may be considered. Some of the online stores that I know of to do it. This way I do not recommend because it will increase the burden of operations that must be addressed.

Delivery services such as FedEx and offer an affordable solution. Some of the other services offer more oblique, but the two services mentioned above have tracking facilities sage is useful for both the customer and the store.

It must be recognized for certain items, the cost of this course will weigh some customers. But no need to be discouraged. Good product offering often will get a warm welcome and you will never guess a lot of customers who want to do anything, and pay whatever, to have a product they like.

What types of payment are acceptable? The answer depends. So far all I know online stores accept payment through Internet banking, cash or direct deposit. Some stores decided to accept other forms of payment types such as PayPal, the online payment service via email. PayPal applies internationally and can be associated with a credit card and your bank account. Currently, credit card processing is still not a common choice for many problems.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

How to Reach Loyal Customers

Basically, everyone just wanted the best, so it is with the customers. They want quality products and the best service from you. Make visitors "addicted", you should have thought before you build a store. So when a visitor tries to enter your store, they already feel the advantages of your store. The quality of service, price matching, and a good product. Guaranteed they will recommend your store to others. Conversely, if the visitors are not comfortable, do not expect them back. Moreover, to give recommendations.

For some people, your store are considered very useful. But it can not be denied, there must also says that your store is unattractive, even so boring. It should be understood, because you can not please everyone. As a seller, we must continue to look for a formula "how to get a loyal customer?" If this question is answered, your store will definitely visited by many.

Evaluate your store again. Plan any profit you want to get from each product in your store. Estimate also, what is the benefit for our customers if they buy at the store?No need grandiose idea to make our store visited by so many people! Just show your ideas gradually. Do not forget to create an attractive launching. It serves as a decoy.

One more thing that almost forgot! Learn from your competitors is also important. You can find out why your competitor's store was selling. Then, attach the minimum standard for your store. Whatever possessed your competitors, that's the simplest thing that is in your store. However, you should still think if your competitor is far above you. That is, that you keep improving and improving quality.
Last, treat your loyal customers and be prepared for high customer visit!

Friday, November 9, 2012

How to Attract Customers Attention

Before you get a customer, you should be able to grab their attention. After receiving attention, you just can give them better prospects.
So that you can attract the attention of potential customers, you need to know the following three things interesting.

1) The human brain can not pay attention to all things

For example, when first meeting someone, maybe in a couple of hours later you've forgotten the name of the person whom you want to meet earlier. But you remember certain things, such as hair, or origin, or other particular matter.
Meaning what? To attract someone's attention you have to select the specific information to be submitted. Needless to say all these things, let alone irrelevant. Because attention is finite.

2) Many other things can hinder people's attention

The longer, the more is not easy to get people's attention. Why? For those who are getting more and more busy. There are lots of things that are the focus of his life.
Other obstacles may come from the abundance of information (information overload) and level of competition are more stringent.

3) There's not much time to draw attention

A seller on the internet sometimes only takes a few seconds to get the attention of customers, before the visitor decides to continue or click the X in the browser. Because it is well utilized. Choose the information that is really relevant and interesting.

So how to attract customers? This the tips

1. Treat personally. Everyone likes to be favored. Everyone needs recognition. For that reason, it is important to treat them personally. Not as a crowd of people, but as individuals.

2. Use emotion. Ever heard of an orator or a great speaker who inspires so many people? Yes, they do that by making use of emotion.
Harnessing emotions is a great way to embrace the customer as well as enlarge the "magnet" of your business.

3. Use story telling / case studies. Remember how patient testimony from advertising a medical clinic that had become the butt of viral some time ago?
You can try it too. Of course with more positive results expected.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

You Must Fast In Response To Customer Willingness

Prices are within easy reach and presence is no longer a force in the competition in the retail industry. Because now, almost everything can be purchased online with a relatively inexpensive and can be directly received by the customer the next day. This condition makes the retailers have to compete with a new weapon, the exceptional service and satisfying shopping experience that gives a distinct impression. Net-A-Porter for example, luring customers with a series of shopping events with augmented reality technology that enables visitors to scan the picture of the product to buy.

Another with Tesco experimented with shopping walls in Korea that allows consumers to shop by scanning the images on subway walls. Innovation is also similar even by London Design Museum. However, despite such innovations can attract customers to come into the store, there are other things you need to consider, that is customer service. Customer service does not seglamor innovations, but it is what will keep your customers coming back. You do not need to choose which of the two is more important, because they must be united and become an integral part of your strategy.

Talk retail experience today means talking about digital technology. How to utilize this technology to provide a different experience for the customer. While talking about customer service, which means we have to talk about customer behavior. Customer behavior in communicating a crucial element in customer service.

Social media and mobile devices are two things that almost inseparable and have become part of the customer communication process these last few days. Through these two customers can share any experiences, both positive and negative to a wider audience. When they were impressed or disappointed with what's in your store, they almost instantly share them with an audience in cyberspace. Amazingly, it turned out to be a distinctive opportunity for retailers who are ready. Whatever is shared customers through social media, even though a negative experience can still be a great opportunity for customers to reach out to customers and encourage purchases.

In a survey conducted recently, it was revealed that 20 percent of his customers mention a company in social media when they are still in the store. This fact could be an opportunity for retailers to create a shopping experience. For example, what the social media team of Marks & Spencer (M & S). When a customer was in the store M & S, she tweeted about how long queue there. Tim social media M & S store manager immediately called the outlet to deploy more staff to hold can be reduced. They also inform the customer openly via Twitter and was greeted with a sense of excitement. With this move M & S turn things from customers who are not satisfied because of the long queues and very likely will leave without buying anything, a customer happy and more likely to buy. The same was done by Tesco. Speed ​​in response is key in doing this. The response is almost instantaneous creates a big difference for customers.

To do so, it takes a team of customer service who understand the situation and act quickly to help customers, and respond directly through social media. Companies like M & S and Tesco fully understand and fulfill these requirements without compromise. As a result, they provide a better shopping experience and make customers come back every day. It even this sooner or later to be followed by other retailers, or you will lose customers. The question is whether you are fast enough to do this?

Monday, November 5, 2012

3 Things Customers expectation from Retailer

Most retailers think that the best way to retain customers is through "engagement" - as much as possible to interact with customers and build relationships with them. Apparently the fact that it is not always true.

In a study of 7000 customers, found that companies are often wrong in determining the best way to connect with customers. Errors are usually caused by the myths believed by the retailer. Before going any further, first consider the following three customers expectation:

1: Customers want to have a relationship with your brand

The fact is not. Only 23 percent of customers of this study which says it wants to have a relationship with the brand. In view of the general customer, the relationship is only built with friends, family, and colleagues. That's why when asked at 77 percent the reason they do not feel the need to establish a relationship with the brand, you'll get answers like "It's just a brand, not a member of my family." When dealing with the brand online, it actually desired by customers is discount.

With this reality, how you have to take a stand? First, understand where customers are included in the 23 percent and which is 77 percent. Anyone who wants a relationship and who is not. From there you can begin to define expectations and appropriate way of marketing. Stop flooding the customers who do not want to be associated with your brand with all kinds of emails and loyalty programs are complicated.

2: Interaction of building relationships

No, the interaction does not build relationships. Shared values ​​who build relationships with customers. Shared value is the belief held by both brands and customers on a large goal or philosophy embraced by brands. For example, Pedigree Dog Food. Shared value them is the belief that every dog ​​is entitled to have a house full of love. While Southwest Airlines shared value is the democratization of air transport.

Of all the customers in this study that states have a relationship with the brand, 64 percent said that the shared value is the reason they build a relationship with the brand. And only 13 percent said the frequency of interaction as the reason.

Many brands have big goals that are part of their mission. Start of commitment to the environment such as those held by Patagonia, to the purpose of realizing the dream with Harley Davidson motorcycle riding experience. The objectives of this feels authentic to customers. In addition it also provides a reliable basis for shared values ​​and the relationship between brands and customers. So, to build relationships with customers start by communicating the brand philosophy or a big goal.

3: The more interaction, the better

This is wrong. There is no correlation between customer interactions with their loyalty to a brand - in the form of the desire to buy, buy again, and recommend it. However, most of the retailers to behave as if there is a linear relationship between the number of interactions with the purchase amount. This makes retailers such as Neiman-Marcus, Land's End, and Toys R Us sent more than 300 emails a year as reported by the Wall Street Journal.

In fact, a linear relationship can be destroyed more quickly than a lot of retailers think. With the rapid interactions that were previously thought to help turn into a big wave that destroys. Without realizing it, many retailers simply bombarding customers with information and make them feel shopping categories. This reduces customer engagement with the brand, rather than strengthen it.

So, rather than constantly asking for the attention of customers, it is better to treat with good attention you've been getting. When you intend to campaign, always ask yourself, whether the campaign will reduce the customer's information overload? If the answer is no, then look the other way. When interacting with customers, the more often it is not getting better.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

7 Things to Know by Customer Service

There was a time when customer service is becoming a major problem than today. The economy is shaken, consumer confidence declined, and the customers who are buying have scores of choices of where to buy and how to buy. And now, almost every product and service out there has become a 'commodity' that it is difficult to determine who actually offers the best value (and, many people just shop based on price alone).

If you are looking to stay competitive (and who is not?) Is more important than ever to differentiate your company from others. This is important to ensure that the whole value proposition is clear and is consistently fun and deliver a shock to the customer.

This is done in two ways:
The first is through a positive corporate culture focused on the customer, supports and nurtures relationships. The second is from the personal commitment and determination of the people who take care of the customers every day.

When customers choose to deal with someone on every transaction to provide the level of care that they build "emotional bank account" with customers that keep them connected with the company (even if they can not buy today as yesterday).
While customer care is everyone's business and should be part of the job description, customer facing responsibility to be a "company" in the eyes of the customer.
In challenging times it is important to do a GOOD customer service. Here are 7 things to know every customer service in order to do the job well. Make sure you pass this article along to every person who is responsible for customer service in your organization. If you deal with customers, in any way, I am speaking directly to you.

1. You chose this job, or the job you choose. Whatever it is, it is in your best interest and the best interest of your client to show up and do the work that you are fully present. Set each day to do the best you can do. Make it a point to learn to get better every day. The more you practice, the better you do. Find joy in doing your job well. Recognize and acknowledge yourself for "victory" you win on that day (Although, if your boss does not give enough attention).

2. Be proud of what you do. You have an important role in the success of the company. I remind you that the experience that you provide the customer could make or break their relationship with the company. Even if parts of the process are broken, even waiting a long time, even if the customer is upset about some aspect of the company, customer facing experience is a big thing that can bring a lot of changes. You have the opportunity to save on the emotional bank account customers and make customers happy, coming back, and referring friends.

3. Your emotional genius. Doing so is good customer service requires a high emotional intelligence. In fact, in your work, EQ is very important - and often more important - than IQ. The next thing to note - in a people-oriented position that gives you the unique opportunity to practice and refine skills EQ. This will help in every relationship you have in life. As you become better at the job, your life will be better. This is a bonus!

4. Customers are not always right. I know you probably get a little card from the corporate office that they are, but I tell you what you already know to be true. They are not always right. Sometimes they are wrong, evil, lying, and annoying you. But being right or wrong is not the point. Your job is to be a skilled, even if they are wrong, angry, nasty or just having a bad day, you have the ability to turn a bad situation into a better situation. A skilled customer high like a magician, able to transform and diffuse difficult situations into better.

5. You work in the performing arts. Service is not like manufacturing. Can not be made ahead of time and placed on the shelf. Happens in the moment, when needed, and all about performance. This is what makes you the performer. Just like an actor (or a public speaker or trainer) there are certain days where you do not feel up to it and act "as if" you were. This is a good training ground for you. Rehearse and visualize the job to help you prepare for a great performance every time. Think of yourself as an artist growing.

6. You work under pressure, but the amount of stress you take home each day is up to you. How do you see your job as important as how to do your job. If you allow yourself to dramatize, defensive, and take everything personally, you are in for a tough time. Your body reacts to the perception of danger by instinct to fight or flee - both involve substances that stress can damage your body. You have the power to change your circumstances - including your job. Find a "frame" the less stressful and more enjoyable.

7. You have the opportunity to make the world a better place every day. Do you handle 10 or 200 customers a day, you have the power to create positive experiences with all of them. When you make a best effort to add genuine concern and respect in every interaction, you put positive energy. When a customer leaves the interaction with you, the feeling of comfort, they will share that positive emotion. Emotions are contagious - both negative and positive.

You have the power to spread positivity and making the world a better place to live. We all know the importance of these contributions at this time. Take it seriously and you can make a serious difference in the lives of your customers and everyone associated with them. Allow yourself to see the ripple of good intentions and your presence in the world. Spread happiness and respect, and you will feel energized and build your health. Optimists live seven to nine years longer than pessimists.

Thursday, September 6, 2012

How to Use Retail Customer Data to Build Trust

Customer data if used correctly can be great tools for companies to build customer loyalty. However, if wrong in use, it will risk losing customers. Recent research from Transactis, which conducted the survey of 1,000 UK consumers, found that 95% of them will not do business with a company again if their personal data is used irresponsibly or abusing their trust.

However, the study also found that 83% of respondents were more likely to continue to buy from a company, not a competitor, if their personal information is used responsibly and use it to provide good service.

These results confirmed that the error in the handling of customer data can undermine customer trust towards the brand but use information wisely will further strengthen the relationship.

Tracing the customer journey

The initial step is to gain the trust of customers really understand individual consumers like you are in a relationship, which means making sure that you have the correct data.

This is so that the company can effectively communicate with customers and offer products and services that are right for them, the company should be able to build an accurate profile of each individual. That means understanding their behavior patterns - and the best way to do this is to look at what, where, when and how they buy.

Organizing Data

Build relationships with customers requires the company to talk to customers with one voice and have a complete picture of their involvement with the brand.

This requires the integration of information gathered from all channels and platforms - Purchase in stores, online, mail orders, web form, service calls, loyalty activity, delivery notes and other sources - into a single database / core.

To build trust, companies must demonstrate the understanding about customer preferences in terms of channel, frequency of communication, and timing. Consumers also expect company to recall the information they had been told. By creating a database of existing SCV in all channels, companies can avoid unnecessary and unwanted, correspondence with customers.

Keep the data

Fundamental way to maintain consumer trust is looking after consumer information submitted.

Failure to securely store data or use it in a way that is not valid is the fastest path to destroy customer confidence.

Using customer data effectively

It takes more than just collect data and store it safely to win the trust of customers. Companies should use data to improve interaction with customers.

Customers have high expectations at this time. Using customer data to tailor communication effectively, supply and services is essential to ensure confidence. Research shows 76 percent of consumers said that if companies use their personal data to improve services and offers they are more likely to remain a loyal customer and not switch to a competitor.

Monday, September 3, 2012

Technologies Should Be Owned By The Retailer

Nowadays technology has become an important part of our lives. With the help of technology, space and time are no longer a barrier to do various things in life, such as shopping. Thanks to technology, you will not only be able to shop whenever and wherever, but also can obtain a variety of information about the quality of goods and services. That way you can spend more discerning and selective.
Changes in consumer lifestyles must also be followed by a change in retailer selling style. If consumers use technology to obtain goods or services they needs, then the retailer should use the same to provide a better service. Here are technologies that need to be owned by the retailer to deal with its customers:


1. Smartphone.
This technology allows retailers to interact with customers at every step in their shopping adventure. There are several things retailers can do, such as:

  • Encourage customers to use smartphones to find store locations, product availability, and ongoing promotions.
  • Using LBS (Location Based Service) to inform about interesting products, promotions and exclusive offers.
  • Develop an understanding of consumer shopping patterns by tracking the use of mobile phones while in the store. This could be an input to develop the design and layout of the store.

2. Self-scan and delivery tracking.
Both things will make customers easy to shop at the store. They can scan their own barcodes to compare prices, view product information and to access the reviews of other customers. They are also able to quickly track the shipment of their messages through mobile phones.

3. Surface computing and touch devices.
The presence of multi-touch devices in the store brings the interaction with the customer to a new dimension. With such devices, the customer gets a different experience in accessing content and information.

4. Application of Augmented Reality (AR).
Although the adoption of this technology is still in early stages, but the AR will undoubtedly have a major impact on retail. AR applications using object recognition and GPS can help customers find your store. At this time, the cost is quite high for the AR, but the technology is very feasible to be developed.

5. Mobile payments and near-field communications (NFC).
Mobile payment is becoming popular among the retailers due to the higher use of smartphones. One thing is for sure, mobile payment and NFC technology makes transactions at the store to be more efficient. Customers simply attach their smartphone at the register to make a payment. Fast, efficient, as well as providing its own shopping experience.

6. QR code.
With QR codes retailers can expand their presence through virtual stores such as Tesco carried out in a subway station in South Korea. Customers can use their mobile phone to scan the QR code shown on the goods they want, and the item will be delivered to the desired address.

7. Local Social Mobile Media (Solomon).
The increasing use of smartphones and mobile applications encourage the convergence of social, local and mobile media. Solomon works with the principle of mobile discovery. They will track the locations of mobile devices to deliver appropriate content. It can be a competitive advantage for retailers.

8. Video analytic.
This allows the retailer to learn the flow of traffic, duration of customer visits, spending intentions, and the amount of expenditures actually made. The technology can even detect how and when customers are actively involved in the promotion message, determine demographic data, and send relevant content to customers in real time. No doubt the video analytic provide crucial customer insight to the retailer.

The key in using technology is to have an open mind. Eliminate your doubts embrace new technology, because it can bring you closer to the customer, and advancing your business.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Methods to Create Reactive Customer Service

Not having users, there's no need an organization. Options . people will need to deliver cheapest customer service. It's hard to afford to pay for don't whenever return has to be your end goal. Below are some even more recommendations on your behalf with your people to cultivate to present high-quality customer service in addition to a supportable economical appeal.

1. Make sure that an individual's squad is certainly frank together with receptive. The basis for good prospect romances is certainly believe. Truthfulness together with condition crucial elements meant for wonderful customer service, given that at the time you hide out in reality, always the prospect just might discover released (or simply as a minimum know it all). Neither have to certainly, there get all different types within the truth-white lays, half-truths, distortions, or simply excuses. During customer service, it is actually incredible what precisely height you can expect to reach by merely appearing over the point.

2. Deliver customer-service exercise in your workforce. Overall, it is actually higher end don't workout compared with to coach people. It's hard to afford to pay for don't deliver significant exercise designed to end up in a much more reactive institution relating to customer service. Find the ones things the fact that change customer service in your own institution together with look into developing the ones. Going through problematic users, valuable music playing, problem-solving, a pleasant manner, together with utilizing the phone number, are some situations within the exercise demanded by just most of staff-even backroom people. But if the exercise is not really makes your online business earning even more reactive, usually do not recycle pursue a career, improve the course.

3. Take into account the crucial element word of mouth - RESPONSIVENESS. Regardless of what your corporation, responsiveness stands out as the coverage overlaying most of organizational hobbies. Responsiveness is certainly getting users what precisely they want to gain, courteously, as soon as they are interested, on a expense the fact that games your outlook. Users are going to pay off even more for that product brought as soon as they prefer it-not anytime it all fits you. Responsiveness is definitely unique and a number superior.

4. Establish people. You ought to grant people any decision-making influence designed to allow them that will at all times action during the customers' best interests together with assistance the criminals to eliminate your concerns. Empowering people is not going to lead to you happen to be abrogating demands, however , so users acquire solution during the least length of time. Investigate conveys individuals that a number of protesting and complaining users could purchase from everyone for a second time whenever your predicament is certainly remedied right away.

5. Place any example of this. People are not going to care for your users any better compared with these their selves happen to be cured. Which means that it is important to pay attention to an individual's people. What's more, the manner in which people take note of everyone sharing users together with the way they look at everyone interacting with him or her can be quite some distance that will pinpointing any provider society and your work place. Often, everyone with your decisions place the usual meant for people that will go for.

6. Confirm benchmarks. Emulating, quite possibly far above, frontrunners in the field of customer service is definitely started technique for developing customer service. One can find the fact that most of the ways searched by your competition are usually employed on an individual's treatments. Wal-Mart workforce, including, observe the standard: 'Every point in time complaintant is available throughout 12 your feet for my family I may smirk, appearance him or her during the total eye, together with greet him or her, which means that assistance my family.

7. Get out there. You might want to continue prepared related to most of components of the partnership between your institution as well as its users. Now let people together with users recognize that everyone valuation your feed-back together with encourage them to come up with usual connection with everyone. And while complaintant takes you on an individual's supply together with produces a good grouse to your, usually do not start on any shield; allow the internet just to deeper make improvements to an individual's provider.

8. Add more valuation, add more proceeds. Complaintant provider center shall be an individual necessary strategy that you choose to with your institution will add more valuation that will like you would undertake details. Placing valuation comes more than customer care that will prospect self esteem. It will also reduce the profitability together with money to your institution.

9. Support usual appointments regarding customer service. Arrange usual negotiations in your workforce regarding provider complications. Come up with 'The customer' an insurance policy product or service in anyway an individual's workforce together with direction appointments. Observe anti-customer coverage together with strategies, together with action reduce such things. Connect repeatedly with regards to the great need of wonderful provider. Establish a provider honour which unfortunately appreciates good plus the customer service. Make sure all of most of in-house have a discussion illustrates adhere to to your customer-ban the ones harmful reviews, prospect nicknames, together with enjoyable however , dangerous laughs which unfortunately can handle eroding keeping a positive prospect society. An individual's intent ought to be of having every last staff member are located any provider obligation society.

10. Make customers towards users. There's an easy main difference somewhere between customers together with users, shows Robert Kahn during Retailing At this time. Individuals are consumers in need of any quickly great deal. These purchase together with go. They need hardly any dedication. They're just mainly customers some people choose to serve up any buys. Then again, users are definitely the back to your online business. They're just users if you supply good provider, superior locale, superior object... together with expense is not really really the crucial element. Take into account an individual's vacation endeavor, shows Kahn. It is actually to the office regarding moving customers towards users by just alerting you.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Effect of Emotional Bond With Customer

Retail marketing has become one of the major trends that emerged in the business development. Retail market is a basic platform to bring together the needs of consumers with goods for the first time. Retail marketing strategy has been one of the basic elements of a marketing strategy that includes a lot of planning and proper execution.

In retail, marketers need to focus primarily on customer needs and wants. Even retail marketing focusing on satisfying customers, and maintain a decent profit margin for the owner of the goods. Customer needs is a key factor in retail. Retail marketing consists of five basic pillars, the first is saving valuable time for the customer. The second is the sale price is right, the third is to create the right emotional connection with customers, the fourth pillar is to pay proper respect to the customer and finally solve customer problems.

Creating customer loyalty is the basic function of retail, after you create customer loyalty to your brand it will be easier for you to stay in the market for a longer time. Creating customer loyalty is not a very easy task, because it takes a long time to build brands that deliver customer loyalty.

You can only create customer loyalty if you have a retail marketing plan. Marketing plan is a sales promotion activities such as gift, loyalty cards, and special discounts.

Gift program including special prizes on bulk purchases and loyalty cards gives special privileges to the customers. Such activities not only increase sales targets but also enhance customer loyalty to our store.

With so many campaigns created by retail marketing strategy, it is possible to create an emotional connection with customers. With this emotional bond, it will be easier for companies to capture a large market. So this is sort of a marketing strategy that not only increase sales target and profit, but at the same time can also increase brand loyalty. Customer loyalty to our brands will ensure the company's sales and profits in the future.