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How
could you help your customers more, especially in these tough times?
by Donald Cooper
Here are a few businesses that are helping their customers by delivering
extra value, helpful tips or simple acts of kindness in tough times.
Every day, the Sun Journal, a daily newspaper in
Lewiston, Maine, is featuring penny-pinching tips on their front page
that editors believe will save the average reader at least $2,000 USD a
year. One of their tips told readers about a special activity day at an
area state park that included sledding, ice skating, cross-country
skiing, snow shoeing and horse-drawn sleigh rides, with hot dogs,
hamburgers, chili and chowder, for only $1.50 per person.
Marks & Spencer department stores in the United
Kingdom have introduced “Plan A,” an educational program designed to
save households up to $2,000 a year by reducing energy consumption and
food waste. It’s estimated that food waste alone costs the average
family more than $1,200 a year.
On March 10, FedEx Office (formerly FedEx Kinko’s)
offered free résumé printing to folks who are unemployed. This is a
great idea, but I don’t understand why they would limit it to one day
only. Perhaps I’m just too cynical, but that sounds more like a PR play
than a genuine commitment to help folks.
A tire and auto service client of mine has sent out an e-mail
to all its customers with 10 driving tips that will reduce fuel
consumption, increase tire life and reduce harmful emissions.
A Dutch auto insurance company now automatically sends
clients text messages to warn them about bad weather approaching that
could make driving hazardous. Their goal is to save clients from having
accidents that could cause property loss, injury or death.
So, take a few minutes to think about how you could
proactively help your customers during the adversity and “storms” that
they face, especially in these challenging times. Create a small “task
force” in your business to figure out what helpful tips, information,
ideas, encouragement or simple acts of kindness you could provide that
would make a difference and create loyal customers for life.
Reprinted
from The Donald Cooper Corporation Business Management Newsletter, March
2009
Donald Cooper is respected by clients in more than 40 industries
throughout the world as a “thought leader” and passionate visionary in
the key areas of management, marketing and service excellence. Drawing
from his experience as a world-class manufacturer, award-winning
retailer, business speaker and coach, he has helped thousands of
businesses sell more, manage smarter and grow their bottom lines. To
contact Mr. Cooper, call (416) 252-3704, or visit
www.donaldcooper.com.
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