You might have strong ambitions to succeed, but when it comes to winning customer loyalty, sometimes it’s a matter of making sure you don’t lose them, rather than trying to win them over. Humans can be a judgemental bunch, creatures who are quick to turn their back on a company (or person) if they fall short in one way or another. There are some things that will almost instantly cast your store in a bad light in the eyes of your customers. We take a look at a few such examples below.
Where’s the Help/Leave Me Alone
You have to get the balance just right with the people who come into your store. If they can’t find anyone to help them when they need it, then that’ll be a pretty big mark against your business. On the other hand, if they’re pounced on the second that they enter your store, then that’ll also be off-putting. As such, you should aim to find a happy medium. It’s about letting your customers know that you’re there for them when they need help, but you shouldn’t be too overbearing. Give them room to breathe, but not enough room to simply float away.
An Unpleasant Atmosphere
You’ve probably been in a store and thought, “I want to get out of here.” Imagine if you’re the store owner — that is, without doubt, the opposite of what you’re trying to achieve. The game is trying to get people into your shop, and keeping them for as long as you can, and if they have to leave because of something that’s wrong, then the game has been lost. So make sure you’re creating a pleasant atmosphere where people want to be. You can work with MTA to get an air conditioning system that’ll keep things agreeable even on the warmest days, for example. You should also make sure there’s a pleasant aroma in the air, and that there’s enough space. People are usually pretty keen to leave a store if it’s far too busy with people.
Low-Quality Goods
Some stores have excellent products but don’t focus on the presentation and overall decor of the store. And some shops have the opposite problem. The store looks credible and appealing, but the products are substandard. When it comes to the products you’re stocking in your store, make sure they’re well-crafted — it’s easy to get drawn into gimmicks, or items that look good but are poorly made. You might get a person on the board once, but only once — they won’t be back.
Past Its Best Days
You can just tell in some stores that the owner has given up on the idea of making their business a success, or at least, that’s how it appears. Your store isn’t going to look fantastic forever — you need to stay on top of the jobs and maintenance, to make sure that it always looks presentable. If it has been some time since your store received an update, perhaps it’s time for a makeover.
