Is a lack of store traffic and repeat customers getting you down? According to “The Loyalty Coach” Allan Katz, there are five easy, affordable ways franchisees can meet those challenges head on and boost their business success:
1. Create contests. Says Katz, “Everyone loves a contest because everyone loves the possibility of winning.” With that in mind, he recommends selecting a product from your store and inviting customers and community members to bring in the “ugliest,” “dirtiest” or “most worn out” such product that they own on a specific day. Invite existing customers and encourage them to bring friends, and send a direct mail postcard to residents in your service area. Send out news releases about the contest; let radio stations in on the event as well as they could have fun with it.
Give everyone who participates a gift certificate to encourage them to keep or to begin shopping with you. Take photos of the contestants and their submission for your team of experts to choose from later. Give the winner a fr**ee such product from your store, and make the most of the opportunity by taking “before and after” shots, and obtaining the customer’s permission to use the photos in ads and news releases.
2. Partner with complimentary retailers. Encourage retailers whose services are related to yours reward their best customers with gift certificates to your business – and do the same for them. First, identify businesses where it would make sense to have such a partnership. For example, clothing stores and dry cleaning businesses, hair salons and accessory boutiques, sports shops and the local golf course, etc. Print flyers to sell this simple strategy to those businesses stores, along with the gift certificates they’ll use as rewards.
3. Reach out to new homeowners. Send new homeowners a brochure with a gift certificate attached or inserted into a letter featuring all the items you carry, testimonials from satisfied customers, and reasons why your store is the best such business in the area (e.g.., your convenient hours, your friendly staff).
4. Hold workshops. According to Katz, even people who are afraid of public speaking can find easy, comfortable ways to conduct short, informative presentations to community members. He says, “First, think about interesting facts about your product or service – its history, how its made, what makes it unique, hints for making it last longer or work better. When you have that done, make arrangements to speak at nonprofit organizations, community centers, libraries and schools. This is a great way to personally connect with potential customers.”
5. Bring a friend. Set up a simple system of rewarding customers for referrals. Simply have your customer complete a card with their contact information. When a friend comes in to make a purchase or place an order, have the friend give you the same information on the back of the referrer’s card. Reward them both with gift certificates or special offers, and add their contact information to your database.
Says Katz, “With a little thought and elbow grease, small businesses can achieve steady success.”
To sign up for Katz’s free marketing e-zine, or for additional loyalty marketing tips, articles, information and resources, visit The Loyalty Coach’s all-new website at www.LoyaltyCoach.com.
For a complimentary course on the 7 Direct Marketing Secrets Guaranteed To Powerfully Boost Your Income visit our sister site at www.LoyaltyMarketingInstitute.com .
The 5 Easy Ways To Increase Store Traffic - To learn more about this author, visit Allan Katz's Website.
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Allan Katz
(Visit Allan's Website)
Allan J. Katz is the author of several
books on marketing including The Complete
Guide to Retail Loyalty Marketing, (loyaltycoach.com/completeguide.php
and the Ultimate Marketing System
for Dry Cleaners. www.cleanermarketingresults.com.
His ezine, “Remarkable Marketing Results,”
is read by over 3,500 subscribers each
month at LoyaltyCo
ach.com.
Allan is a "Certified Professional
Innovator TM with a keen insight into
identifying business opportunities using
strong creative intuition coupled with
practical, common sense thinking. His
unique blend of analytical idea generation
and excellent ability to identify the
needs and interests of others generates a
powerful bond with clients. therainmakersroundtable.com
He is former President of the Direct
Marketing Association of Memphis. He
presents seminars, workshops, lectures and
keynotes on loyalty marketing, problem
solving, idea generation and persuasive
communications.
He served as an adjunct professor at the
University of Memphis Continuing Education
Program on such topics as The Basics Of
Direct Marketing, How To Start A Mail
Order Business, Marketing Your Small
Business and Problem Solving.
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Loyaltyblog - For savvy small business people and entrepreneurs who want solid marketing advice on how to attract new customers and keep them loyal. I'm The Loyalty Coach and my mission in life is to help retailers and service companies attract more customers and keep them loyal through the use of proven marketing techniques & tactics I've perfected for my clients over the past 25 years.
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