The key to any business is having a quality product that not only you believe in but your customers do as well. When you have a great product it truly begins to sell itself with enough time and happy clients. Customers love to rave about a new, amazing product that they found. This does not mean you get to be lazy once the product has caught on. Instead, the real work begins.
How to keep customers coming back?
Let them know you’re listening and want their opinions. Always be willing to listen to your customers, it does not mean you have to fulfill each idea they have. However, listen to what they are asking making a note of it and see if the same idea comes from multiple people. For us, our biggest problem is the labeling on our lotions, the writing smears and rubs off over time leaving the product unattractive. Our clients knowing, we are working on a fix have been huge supports while we figure it out. As our bottles and label stock run out they are being replaced with better-quality options. Not wanting to lose hundreds of dollars on the old stock customers have been more than amazing about using out the old stock with no complaints.
New options and products.
People love to try out new products and options. We are always introducing either new product lines or scents. Seasonal rotation of scents is necessary for us. Our customers, friends, and family love the changeup. Therefore, pumpkin spice in the fall, apple cinnamon in the winter, and tropical sun in the summer are all seasonally rotated. Keeping a handful of fan favorites year-round is a must! Oatmeal milk and honey, cucumber melon, black raspberry vanilla, and lemongrass are just a few of the year-round options we keep in stock.
Something for everyone.
Not everyone has the same financing. Making products that are affordable for different ranges is imperative. While an 8-ounce bottle of lotion is $9.99 a 4-ounce lotion can be had for $5.49. Having other smaller inexpensive products also helps. We produce a great lip balm that can be picked up for a few dollars allowing even teenagers or elders living on a fixed income to afford a nice natural product.
Do not dumb down your product.
Customers are smart! They read labels, look for quality ingredients, and expect a quality product. The addition of any substandard ingredients will be noticed and frowned upon. Most people are willing to spend a few extra dollars on quality products that they believe in. Changing your formula or what your product stands for can and most likely will hinder your sales and your client relationships.
What sets you apart?
Soap and lotion makers are a dime a dozen. So, how do we survive in a market that is saturated? We believe in every element of our products! When you believe in something it’s guaranteed others believe in the same thing. For me, a huge part of my business is I am soy free. While the reasons may be different for each, the goal is the same. Soy for many is an allergy, others it is a cancer or hormonal scare, and some do not want the heavy GMO’s that are typical of soy. Because we use goat milk in our products we even keep the goats on a soy free diet to further remove all elements of soy contamination.
Let your business grow.
There is nothing that states one must go into debt to have a business, the key is growing with the business. I owe no debt, I simply upgrade or add as the business can afford. Debt often equals failure. What? Failure is not near as scary if the worst you’re going to end up with is a lifetime supply of a product that you already love.
debt=financial stress
financial stress=unhappiness
unhappiness=emotional stress
emotional stress=unhappy business owner
unhappy business owner=ex-business owner
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2 Comments
First sentence of second paragraph needs to be repaired: Let them KNOW YOU’RE listening…
didn’t read any further…
Sharon,
Thank you for your comment!!! Those typos have been corrected. I also want to let you know that we have recently done some restructuring here and all community posted blogs are now going to be more carefully edited.