Advertisement Ideas: Compassion, Caring, And The Bottom Line!!!
As I was going through Facebook a story was posted about a customer who fell at The Boys Farmers Market and subsequently died as a result of the fall.It was sated that this person was a long time customer and when another customer asked about them sending a platter for Shiva( a Jewish ritual of gathering to honor the deceased) the answer was we don’t do that. The poster stated their friend left the groceries he was going to purchase and was no longer going to shop at The Boys and others stated the same. This got me to thinking someone falls in your parking lot due to a medical issue and you don’t go out to check on them and knowing they were a regular customer you don’t follow the case and when they pass you don’t show compassion or caring wow you take money from the community and you don’t give back to those who are supporting you. I have never shopped at The Boys and I most likely never will hearing what I heard not only from the Facebook post but from those that know the owners. One person said all they care about is the money. My thought was wow they must be making it in spite of their attitude.
I started to think about how many encounters I have had where compassion and caring were lacking and how it is affecting the bottom line of these businesses. Sometimes business owners do not understand the value of caring and compassion or getting to know their customers. It can be a challenge for large brick and mortar operations as they serve so many people daily. Though it could be challenging think how much more income and revenue you could make by getting to know who is doing business with you. Imagine knowing the majority of people walking into your business and learning about them and how thus can increase your bottom line. I remember the Publix Manager, Jim, who got to know my family and when my mom was pregnant with my brother went out of his way to help her. The funny thing is that 15 years late my brother went to work for Jim. Jim got to know his customers and as a result he increased his sales volume as people who lived closer to the other Publix in the neighborhood would got the extra few miles to see Jim and his staff. Jim would make it a point to support charities, schools, youth sports teams, and anything that would benefit the community. As a result many of us continued to shop at his Publix. Jim is now in The Coral Springs area still working for Publix and when I am in the area I stop by to get a sandwich and drink and to say hello. In being caring and compassionate Jim created a relationship with his customers to this day which reaps many rewards.
When you open your doors in the morning this mantra should be on the forefront of your mind. A successful business will look for ways to be kind, caring, and compassionate and as a result their bottom line will be increased and the profitability will also increase. My dad, who is 80 years old tells the story of why he goes to a particular branch of Regions Bank when there is one around the corner from his condo. He said because when I go to that branch they know me and they make me feel welcomed and at the other branches I feel like a number. In getting to know your customers and engaging them through care and compassion you keep them coming back. I tend to do business with those who support my causes and show some care and compassion to the community.
I walked into my TD Bank the other day and the teller greeted me and asked how my Relay For Life went. I told her great. It was nice to have someone representing the bank show an interest in me as a customer. Since my first encounter with TD Bank I have been pleased as their staff seems to be genuinely caring and compassionate. I believe business owners and those working for businesses can learn from TD Bank. I have seen so many businesses who understand that caring and compassion can have a positive effect on their bottom line.
When you are advertising stress that you care and give examples of how you give back to the community as people like to do business with those they perceive as supporting the community.
When choosing to advertise make sure you are with platforms who best represent your core values.
Build awareness by having a brag board that shows what you are doing for the community.
When you attend community functions make it a point to wear something that has your brand on it and bring your business cards.
When dealing with customers get to know them and go over and beyond their expectations.
Don’t tell a customer you can’t do something or you don’t do something make it a point to find a way to do what they asked as long as it is reasonable.
Become alert and aware of what is going on with your customers. The key is to get to know people so you can use caring and compassion to increase your bottom line.
As you continue to build your business remember that people will forget what you said or what you did but they will never forget how you made them feel so make every attempt to be caring and compassionate and show that you care. By simply making people feel good you might just increase your revenue and strengthen your brand. It is in caring about the customer that you create more customers. It is in showing compassion that you can continue lasting positive customer relations that create customers for life. Think about it wouldn’t it be nice to have the kids of your customers become your customers one day.
