| In today competitive and fast pace market | | | | inclined to do business with you than with your |
| environment, small businesses must grow and grow | | | | competitors. The approach may seem simple but the |
| fast in order to survive. The reason is very simple, if | | | | result cannot be overlook. |
| your business model, product or service is attractive | | | | An associate of mine who operates a bakery shop |
| in the market, many copy cat businesses will sprout | | | | but calls his bakery shop delicatessen; took this |
| out like wild fire and encroach into your market | | | | approach to the max and grow his business with the |
| share; forcing you out of business with lower cost | | | | envy of his competitors. His pastry prices are among |
| and better efficiency. Even if your competitors are | | | | the highest in town but his customers just keep |
| not forcing you out, your escalating cost will. | | | | coming back. There is no denial that his pastry is of |
| Small businesses with its limited resources tend to | | | | high quality and standard, but there are no shortages |
| focus more on closing the transaction then closing | | | | of better quality bakeries in town. His approach in |
| their customer, as closing the transaction bring them | | | | touching his customer's base is what makes him |
| immediate sale that means income to them. The | | | | stand out among the rest. |
| problem with this approach is once the customer | | | | If you do not know your customers, how do you |
| walks out of the premise, they might not see them | | | | expect your customers to remember you? Keep |
| again until and unless the customer come back by his | | | | your customers in mind and they will also keep you in |
| own will. Closing the customer might take a little | | | | mind. Start touching your customers base by |
| more effort and skill, the small business owners or | | | | knowing them with the questions that are dear to |
| their assistants may have to communicate with their | | | | them but relevant to your business, and what do |
| customers just to get to know them better. For | | | | you do with the answer? Simple, my friend send an |
| example, simple questions like, | | | | text message to his customers cell phone whenever |
| | | | he has a new recipe for testing. He also send text |
| 1. May I know your name? | | | | messages in every festive season to his customers |
| 2. How do you know about our store and/or | | | | asking for pre-order to avoid disappointment for |
| product? | | | | festive rush. The end result, more ready sales, lower |
| 3. How do we inform you when we have new stock | | | | cost, and that translate into higher profit. |
| design/recipe? Etcetera, etc, etc Like it or not, | | | | Start touching the base of your business for all your |
| human being is still a social creature, when you get | | | | growth strategy center around them, you just |
| connected with your customers, they are more | | | | cannot afford to ignore it. |