Getting Customers In Your Store
So how do you get people to come into your store? In Gift Basket Review Magazine, May, 2006, an article entitled “It’s Not Just An Open House”, suggests that those old time open houses just don’t work anymore! We’ve seen the same thing in our wholesale floral supply business. Everyone is too busy! Customers are reluctant to give up limited free time.
Here are some ideas for some events that might bring customers in. How about a tasting! Offer your customers a chance to taste the products that you’re thinking about selling for the next holiday season. Take a close look at the products that sell the best for you. Contact your suppliers that sell you those products. Explain that you are thinking about adding some new products to your line and ask them to donate tasting samples for your event. Most of your suppliers will be eager to participate in hopes of future sales.
Here’s another idea: teach a class! Teach your customers how to make a bow. Show them how to make a package look special by adding simple enhancements like silk flowers or seasonal picks. Demonstrate how they can take their home baked holiday cookies and package them in a lovely basket. And once they learn all this, they can buy all these lovely products from you!
Regardless of the type of event you try, don’t depend on a single piece of mail to get people into your store. Make a phone call to your very special customers and extend a personal invitation. Send an email reminder a few days before the event. Make sure you have plenty of signs displayed around your store and in your windows. Get your sales staff to mention your event to every customer who stops in. Offer a great give-away or a discount on certain popular products the day of your event.
Our customers need a good reason to take time from their busy lives to come into your store. Maybe the best idea is to just ask your regular customers what would be appealing. The more you cater to your customers, the more likely they’ll remember you the next time they want to send a special gift.
3 comments April 29th, 2006
