Who’s missing out on the internet?
As we get closer to Christmas, over the last 12 months, I have noted particular areas which could get more business from the internet.
This doesn’t just mean Google ranking or even having a website, it means making use of the digital medium.
Let me explain what I mean.
My wife and I recently celebrated our 1st wedding anniversary (which was the best thing I ever did)
Prior to getting married, I bought a wedding ring from a local shop. As I paid for the ring and walked out, a thought popped into my head: Why didn’t they ask me for my email address?
They could have called it a “customers only” membership and that membership has its privileges, and once a month (covering the spam/junk email objection), I would receive specific deals that were not
publicly available.
It’s a good bet my wife is going to want more jewellery in the years to come (right ladies? 
By using an email service like iContact which has a free trial and low ongoing cost , plus as the advantage the account owner, you can add email details manually (other services won’t allow you do this without the user having to reconfirm details)
Do you think that repeat sales could happen? After all, I trusted them enough to buy from the first time, (and am very happy by the way) so it would easy to get me back into the shop again.
Using this process could the lead to them having a website later, as a form of convenience for the customers.
I know retail business is hard work, massive ups and downs during the year, this simple process could mean 5 times more income, as it has been proven that it’s much easier to sell to an existing customer.
Next year I am launching a service to help retail shops, as I believe that they actually have the advantage online (the physical presence to back up the online equals more trust)
I welcome your feedback
Tags:how to retail online,retail online advice,retail shops online,retail website help
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That is extremely good advice, you have jogged my memory to get a book for the counter for people to put their email addresses into. Thank you
You’ve really hit the nail on the head with this idea, Paul. I was just thinking about the number of places I’ve bought from over the years who now “no longer know me”. Instead they pay millions to advertise for more customers, when in many cases they could have had my additional business for the almost incalculably small cost of an email.
It came home particularly as just before I read your post I ordered some last minute Christmas gifts online, and realized how many companies I have bought gifts from over the past 4 years that I’ve lived overseas … all of whom have my email address, and hardly any have bothered to try to sell me something this Christmas. Apparently last year’s business was all of mine that they wanted.
And wow, the jewelry tie in is great. Like most men I am kind of blind to “opportunities” like add on sales … reasonable, carefully selected offers would actually be a service to me, not an annoyance. So much money being left on the table.
Thanks dave,
I think they put it in the “too hard” or don’t know where to start (thinking they need to have a website) I am going to use this in my book in the future. I have a lot of easy to use stuff, i think will help others.
Thinking like a marketer will, I’m sure, pay off for you again.
Anyone looking to sign up local businesses would do well to go back, especially if they just became a customer, and start asking questions (not selling…yet). It’s amazing how far in dark businesses many B&M businesses still are today. They pay for big ads, promo, sponsor little league, show a URL, which is often nothing more than a static brochure.
Great idea – go get ‘em!
.-= Tom Justin´s last blog ..Help And Direction It’s Now Available =-.
Paul,
I enjoy your emails. You have lots of good ideas, and this is a good one too.
Happy Holidays,
David at SoccerHelp
You are so right Paul. I’ve been trying to talk one of my client’s into building a list for two years and only now are they coming round.
The money is in the list!