Other Added - Business

Hey, Mr/Ms Manager!
Does it really make sense to bet your PR budget on results like newspaper mentions and zippy brochures while your all-important outside audience behaviors are probably receiving much less attention than they need?I mean, the concern is valid. What your most important external audiences believe about your organization, and then to what behaviors those perceptions lead, has a lot to do with whether it – and you – succeed.Ignore that reality and you invite a lot of pain and suffering. But, bite the bullet now and you can begin seeing results like growing repeat purchases, higher levels

sales system and exerted my ‘husband’ authority! I said “Dear, do you want to see the other shops…? It’s almost dinner time, you know.”

Did Olivia buy more than she thought she would from the shop? Yes. Did the other customers buy more than they expected there? Yes Did they feel good about buying? Yes

Amazing! Here’s the essence of their persuasive power: They treat and serve the customers so luxuriously, and always with a smile so that all the customers felt fantastic! They consciously or unconsciously induced a state of happiness in their customers. And the customers unconsciously linked that feeling to the clothing they were trying on. They ended up buying those clothes to retain the good feelings. Humans are emotion junkies. Remember that and you can make your fortunes!

There was another significant per

Time to Quit the Rat Race?
1. Most leaders die with their mouths open.I recently read an article in Fast Company magazine about the issue of leadership. In it, they quote Ronald Heifetz, the founder of Harvard's Center for Public Leadership, who made the above comment back in 1999. He followed it up by saying, "leaders must know how to listen - and the art of listening is more subtle than most people think it is. But first and just as important, leaders must want to listen."You'd think this is simply basic stuff, right? Like what all managers learned in Management 101. I doubt there's an exec in business to

At the last Great Singapore Sale, my wife, Olivia, decided to go on a shopping spree. She said she needed to “upgrade” her wardrobe. Haven’t we guys heard of that one before?

Anyways, I accompanied her through her increasingly long journey, making strategic comments such as “Uh Hum”, “Turn around”, “That one is better” and occasionally “Wow! Sexy! Get this one!”

What amazed me was her ability to shut out all the other surrounding activities and just focus on what she was doing (quest of upgrading wardrobe). You can imagine the bustling activities surrounding us, in a shopping centre, on a Great Singapore Sale weekend! While I was “doing my best” with my “Uh Hum’s and “Turn round’s”, I subconsciously sensed something interesting happening. It took me almost a second before realizing it.

The boutique shop we were in was so packed with customers, while the shops on either sides of it were almost empty! The marketer inside of me stood up and took notice.

The shop we were in had three shop assistants, all extremely busy helping customers. All five fitting rooms were full. More and more onlookers were coming into the shop to shop!

In contrast, the two other shops only had the occasional shopper walking in. They had only one or two assistants who were sitting at one corner, chatting. When they approach the shoppers, the shoppers left. Interesting!

I decided to analyze the situation closer while still doing my “Uh Hum’s”. There is persuasion in action! And my wife was one of the player…

Here’s a list of ‘tactic’ the assistants used to create that magical sales phenomenon:

- The assistants addressed every female as a “Ms” (no matter how young or old the customers were) and with a bright a cheerful smile on their face, making the customer feel good the moment they walked in.

- All the assistants wore the clothes from the shop. They dressed appropriately according to their body shape and in a similar fashion. In short, they all looked presentable and rather attractive.

- They acted as consultants and fashion helpers: They went “Hmm… Ms, with your frame I would recommend this top with this pair of pants.”

- Whenever a customer was trying out a piece of clothing they would ask them to step out of the fitting room and adjust the dress/skirt/pants, etc, for them so it fell ever so beautifully on the figure.

- They constantly brought the customers more clothing to try on. “This will look great with that you know. Just try it on.”, “How about this one?” as they threw other sizes/colors of the recommended clothing over the fitting room door. They were constantly up-selling.

- They constantly assumed the customer will buy whatever they recommend. At the same time, they were never pushy or employing hard-selling techniques. Whenever their suggestions were rejected, they responded with lightning speed: “Oh you like the other one better?” or “How about this one?”

- I even heard one customer who was there before we came in comment:

“I’m tired of trying more clothes.” And her assistant responded without missing a beat: “Just this last one. I think it will look great on you!” And the customer gave in, with a smile!

When I realized what was happening, I snapped out of my admiration of their smoother-than-oil persuasive sales system and exerted my ‘husband’ authority! I said “Dear, do you want to see the other shops…? It’s almost dinner time, you know.”

Did Olivia buy more than she thought she would from the shop? Yes. Did the other customers buy more than they expected there? Yes Did they feel good about buying? Yes

There was another significant pers

Customer Service in Auto Detailing Discussed
The business of automotive detailing is alive and well and there is no doubt about that. Americans love their cars and some more than their own kids or family. Generally one’s car is the second largest investment they will make and they will wish to keep it up and protect it. What a better way than to protect the paint and have it professionally cleaned and detailed? Well as a retired businessman of 27 years in the industry that works for me and I am perfectly okay with that concept and have learned a lot about customer service.Customer service is essential in the auto detailing business and it

were in was so packed with customers, while the shops on either sides of it were almost empty! The marketer inside of me stood up and took notice.