While half the battle is getting customers through the door, the real key is when they return – with friends. However, if you own a brick and mortar store you already have the home front advantage of being able to interact with your customer in a face-to-face contact over each transaction.Here are a few key important things to remember in order to develop strong customer intimacy.
Make it personal
Train yourself and your staff to greet each customer as they walk through the door. If you have repeat customers, make a point to learn their name so that you are able to personalize your greeting each time. Learn how they take their tea or which dressing room is their favorite. Showing interest, while allowing them their space, is a fine line that often takes time to learn; but it is worth the extra effort, and your customers will appreciate feeling valued.
Wear a smile
Smiles are contagious. Remind your staff to maintain a pleasant atmosphere by simply smiling at your customers.Psychology today suggests that smiling not only affects your brain, it is also easily mimicked. So don’t forget to place it on your face and keep it there!
Do Something
Pay attention to when your customer is in need. If you notice them searching for something with no success, make yourself available to assist them. If they ask you directly for help, make a point to take care of their need immediately, if at all possible. No one appreciates having to wait. By attending to their needs immediately, you are showing them that you value their needs, and their time.
Get involved
Become an active member of your local community. Join your local Chamber of Commerce, find a charity that needs your help, or offer to speak at a local chapter that could use your business expertise. The more involved you are, the more opportunities you will have for marketing. In addition, your involvement is a great way for your business to give back to the community that helps support what you do for a living.
And finally…
Say Thank You
At the end of the day, everyone simply desires appreciation. Remember this when you are finalizing a sale, and offer a warm and generous “thank you”. In addition, if your business is still on the smaller side, it is completely acceptable to send hand written thank you cards to your customers. On the other hand, if your business is growing beyond what two or three boxes of “thank-you” cards can handle, hold a customer appreciation event once or twice a year in order to thank your regular customers for their loyalty. You can never go wrong with being grateful.
By applying these methods you will be able to develop a strong customer intimacy.
At RetailFlux we value those with whom we do business. When you are ready to take your business to the next level of excellence, contact us and we can help you monitor your traffic data with our “unique and proven people counting solution“. We look forward to doing business with you!
