The answer to that question is pretty simple. Without the customer there is no money, right. When the economy is tough and money is tight though, it can be easy to forget that. We tend to let ourselves get stressed about the money and forget that it is our customers that keep us in business. It’s important we remind ourselves from time to time that if we take care of our customers, the money will come. Our customers always need to come first.

Let me give you an example of this working extremely well. In the small town I live in, there is a small hardware store. Other than carrying a few unusual, hard to find products, there is really nothing special about the store itself. It’s a hardware store. There are other stores in town where most of these products could be purchased and major chain stores within 20 miles where everything could be purchased much cheaper. Truthfully, most of the products could probably be purchased at other stores in town cheaper. Despite all of this, their customers continue to shop with them. Why? What incentive do they have to spend more money for the same products, especially in this economy?

Well, it’s because they make it very clear that they are there to help their customers in any way they can. From greeting them as they come in the door (when possible) and offering help, to ordering items that they do not have in stock or do not normally carry. They demonstrate to their customers every day that they are important to them and that they appreciate them. It doesn’t matter if the customer is spending $1 or $100, they are all treated the same. Their customers come first.

Do your customers come first? Do your customers know that they are important to you and that you appreciate them?

Share your thoughts with us by leaving a comment below. We appreciate you stopping by to spend a little time with us.

Photo credit: rabbits on chairs

This morning I read an article by Pete Cashmore of Mashable about group buying.  I’m sure that most of you have seen advertisements where something can be purchased at a really great price if a certain number of people commit to buying it.  If the specified number of sales is not reached, the deal is off.

This is a great way for individuals to get good deals on products.  It’s also an excellent marketing tool for businesses.   (We’ll talk about the marketing side of this in another post.)

For this post, one of the big factors at play here is that the more product a business buys, the cheaper they are able to buy it.  We all know that this is why chain stores are able to sell at lower prices than small independent stores.  Price is by no means everything, but it doesn’t hurt.

What if, however, a group of small businesses got together to purchase in larger quantities?  Wouldn’t they be able to purchase at better prices?  Wouldn’t they then either be able to offer better prices to their customers or increase their profit margin?  Or, maybe a little of both.

What would it take to accomplish this?  It would take a group of businesses working together for the betterment of all of them.  Some might say that this won’t work.  To that I have to say why not?  Who wouldn’t want to work with a group of business people that are all interested in the same thing – the success their business.

I ask you to think about this concept.  It can be taken much farther than just buying power.  Not that buying power is a small thing but if you think about it, it could be so much more.

We’ll talk more on this in future posts.  For now though, what are your thoughts?  Is this something that you feel could work?

Photo credit:  didimkaem