Get your Register Ringing

Recently, I was on vacation with a little cash in my pocket.  In a top tourist town here I wandered into a cute (on the outside) clothing & gift shop.  Beautiful new building, lots of tantalizing items catching my eye but wait…who’s in charge here? The only staff person was on her laptop, keeping track of three small children, and oh yeah, ignoring the customers wandering through.  Did she not see us, doesn’t she need sales, and is she the owner….all these questions quickly raced through my mind and then I left.

Here in the Northwest, Nordstrom is the benchmark for service with their ever helpful sales clerks (they’ll go lingerie to get the right undergarments when you’re trying on clothes), their  no questions asked return policy, and the smell…oh the smell in Nordstrom is unbeatable.   That’s why I’m amazed and puzzled by a general lack of customer service by small business owners. You’ve got to try harder, entice more, and flaunt your fabulous shop.   Store doors are closing up all over America because no one is minding the store.

What no customer service really means is no understanding of fundamental values – as in valuing your customers, your profits, and your reputation.   Now, the question is, how do you, the business owner, identify what you value?  Doesn’t every entrepreneur value money, sales, and the almighty bottom line?  Well, in my experience most business owners are flying by the seat of their pants with their fingers crossed and their eyes closed and hoping for the best.

Phewww, aren’t you tired of that.  Isn’t it exhausting to wonder when customers will show up; when the register will start ringing?

Over the next few posts I’ll show you real world methods to boost your bottom line.  Replace those quick fix ideas with strategies and tactics.

Here we go: Follow these objectives; apply them in your business, and you bet they’ll show up in your bottom line.

When you connect your values, your vision, your strategy and systems, and you encourage YOUR people to do the right thing, you’ll attract the right employees and customers.
Translation: Your values connect to your marketing plan which includes your web site, brochures, social media, products and services, and your business culture.

Identify what you stand for – what you value first.   This list is to help you get started – pick your top three with no judgement attached.

Customer Service                                                                      Profits

Success                                                                                       Power

Collaboration                                                                              Education

Initiative                                                                                       Security

Independence                                                                             Rules

Creativity                                                                                     Validation

Planning                                                                                       Support

Risk                                                                                              Confidence

Punctuality                                                                                   Accountability

Standards                                                                                     Systems

Wealth                                                                                          Integrity

Challenges                                                                                   Stability

Power                                                                                           Reputation

Time                                                                                              Money