How To: from Jeff Haefner article
by Shannon Dewald
One of the most obvious ways to create more repeat business is to track your customers and communicate with them in some manner. Typically this requires asking for customer information at the POS. Ideally, you want to collect name, phone number, and/or e-mail addresses as they are making purchases. (Develop a "talk track" for how you want your staff to ask for this information - i.e. it's more effective to ask if they want to be added to your promotion or coupon e-mail list than just asking for their e-mail address without providing the why).
With this information you can select criteria for how you want to segment your customer base and the offers that you want to provide for each customer. For example, if you've received a new shipment of a particular brand, you may want to notify customers who have purchased items from this brand previously.
You would segment your customers based on their past purchase history and then export the list to your e-mail contact program for those customers with e-mail addresses. You may also have a staff member call those customers that have not provided an e-mail address. You will have gone above and beyond what most of your competitors are doing. If you provide an offer to these customers as well and track the redemption then you will also know exactly how profitable the extra effort was to your bottom line.
Monday, November 9, 2009
2 Critical Things You Must Do With Retail Technology to Grow Your Business
By Jeff Haefner
If you want to get the MOST from retail technology and really grow your business, then there are 2 critical things that you must do...You see, most retailers start using technology (like POS software) and get some nice benefits from the software. For example, they might improve customer service and improve their overall efficiency.However, almost NONE of the retailers that I meet are doing what they need to truly get the MOST from their POS software and grow their business! In fact, most retailers fall miles and miles short of getting to where they really could go in terms of growth and efficiency. (read more)
If you want to get the MOST from retail technology and really grow your business, then there are 2 critical things that you must do...You see, most retailers start using technology (like POS software) and get some nice benefits from the software. For example, they might improve customer service and improve their overall efficiency.However, almost NONE of the retailers that I meet are doing what they need to truly get the MOST from their POS software and grow their business! In fact, most retailers fall miles and miles short of getting to where they really could go in terms of growth and efficiency. (read more)
Rediscovering Layaways
Underrated for years, layaways are sweetening sales in a sour economy
Reprinted from The Register - News and information for the Microsoft Dynamics RMS community - April 2009
Often overlooked in our "buy now, pay later" culture, layaways are making a comeback, among both customers and retailers. It's easy to see why. Customers are finding multiple benefits. First, there's no interest to pay. Why pay high credit card interest and perhaps even find yourself still paying for something years after its useful life? Layaways also don't promote the empty calories of impulse buying, buyer's remorse, and the consequent returns. And, many people are enjoying a new sense of control over their lives as they get back to the basics of actually planning their purchases and saving. Retailers, too (including big national chains) are rediscovering the lost art of layaways. Not only do layaways expand sales during downturns, when customers are more careful with their dollars, but layaways bring customers back into the store on a regular basis to make payments. Layaways also reduce the number of returns, which has increased in recent years to become a costly percentage of sales. Then there is the customer loyalty and community that layaways and other customer-friendly policies nurture - possibly the most valuable and most overlooked benefit of all.
Read More - Rediscovering layaways
Reprinted from The Register - News and information for the Microsoft Dynamics RMS community - April 2009
Often overlooked in our "buy now, pay later" culture, layaways are making a comeback, among both customers and retailers. It's easy to see why. Customers are finding multiple benefits. First, there's no interest to pay. Why pay high credit card interest and perhaps even find yourself still paying for something years after its useful life? Layaways also don't promote the empty calories of impulse buying, buyer's remorse, and the consequent returns. And, many people are enjoying a new sense of control over their lives as they get back to the basics of actually planning their purchases and saving. Retailers, too (including big national chains) are rediscovering the lost art of layaways. Not only do layaways expand sales during downturns, when customers are more careful with their dollars, but layaways bring customers back into the store on a regular basis to make payments. Layaways also reduce the number of returns, which has increased in recent years to become a costly percentage of sales. Then there is the customer loyalty and community that layaways and other customer-friendly policies nurture - possibly the most valuable and most overlooked benefit of all.
Read More - Rediscovering layaways
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