Jul 25, 2018
“There’s No Business Like Show Business”. This title of a 1946 song, written by Irving Berlin, and later spawning a movie of the same name, has become a popular idiom all throughout North America. However, at TK Enterprises Inc., we’d imagine that retailers from all industries would agree on a slightly varied approach to that phrase: “There’s no business like repeat business!”
You’d be hard pressed to find a retailer who disagrees with the fact that a key to business success is securing long-term loyalty from customers. Repeat customers aren’t just great for a company’s regular sales numbers, they are often excellent advertisers for the businesses they support. Word-of-mouth promotion is widely heralded as the best kind of promotion any company can get!
So, how can you ensure that your customers keep coming back?
Implement changes based on their feedback.
Customers truly appreciate the feeling of being valued. When they offer suggestions or even lodge complaints, it’s important to take what they say seriously. Who better to listen to when it comes to figuring out ways to satisfy your customers than those very customers? Taking it from the horses’ mouths is an excellent way to increase customer satisfaction and thereby, securing repeat business.
On Inc.com, Rhett Power insists that accepting customer feedback is a top way to show customers you care. “Your customers are ready to give you their feedback, suggestions, and ideas,” he writes, “All you need to do it ask. For example, are you thinking of adding a new product? Give a sample to your best customers. Ask them to try it out, and give your their feedback. They may just save you from sinking money into inventory that won’t sell.”
Surprise them with sweetness.
Who doesn’t like getting a little something extra during the shopping experience? When you throw surprise perks the way of your customers, they won’t soon forget them. By offering out-of-nowhere discounts, providing free gift cards or even throwing in free gift wrapping, you stand to make big fans out of the people who support your brand.
“Although reciprocity works incredibly well on its own, research shows that it is even more powerful when started by surprise,” writes Greg Ciotti on ConvinceAndConvert.com, “For a simple example, recall a time that someone did something nice for you unexpectedly; the gesture probably wasn’t all that unusual, but the fact that it came out of nowhere left a strong impression on you.”
Invite them to exclusive events.
“Show your most valued customers you appreciate their business by inviting them to special events,” advises Power, “Perhaps you can give them a special offer on items they regularly purchase or access to an after-hours sale available to a chosen few.” At TK Enterprises Inc., we specialize in inviting customers to the special in-store events thrown by jewelers all across North America.
Over the past several years, we have made well over a million calls for jewelry stores providing us the experience required to develop a core team of callers and a proven system of calling. For more information about our one-of-a-kind Event Marketing services, please don’t hesitate to call us toll-free at 1-877-622-0195. You may also email us at heidi.tke@tomkaufmann.com or fill out the form on our Contact Us page and have someone contact you!
Jul 18, 2018
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Now, that could either be the oddest way to begin a blog written in the middle of July – or, it could the greatest way to promote your jewelry store during the usually slow summer! Many jewelers suffer the “dog days of summer” and yearn for the many-months-away holiday season when jewelry sales go through the roof. As a result, the concept of running a “Christmas In July” sale is one that many have adopted.
With Valentine’s Day having long passed and both Mother’s Day and Father’s Day now behind us, there aren’t many holidays in the summer calendar where jewelry-buying is the norm for the purpose of gift-giving. This is why a special sale that welcomes the holiday season a little early (a lot early, actually!) is an ideal way to boost sales. And there are various ways to go about it.
Clearance sales.
This is probably the most obvious type of sale to launch during your “Christmas In July” initiatives. Be sure to advertise the fact that you have a number of dazzling items that are priced to clear. It goes without saying that discounted prices are great ways to attract customers into your store. Use your social media channels to help put out the word that you are having clearance sales all summer long.
“Clearance sales are a great method to move excess or stale inventory, especially if you capitalize on your marketing methods like email lists, text alerts, and social media posts,” writes Kris Hiiemaa on Erply.com, “Let your customers know what’s on sale and for how much — and don’t be afraid to personalize it either. After all, you should’ve been building a nice customer database for an opportunity just like this!”
Bundle packages.
Are there some slow moving pieces in your store that would excellently compliment some of your more popular items? Consider creating new pairings between earrings and necklaces or rings and bracelets. Perhaps, you can create specially-made bundle packages including any and all of the above and offer them at special limited-time prices.
“Your slow-moving inventory can still turn to cash in your pocket if you bundle it,” insists Hiiemaa, “Bundling means to combine your products into one sale for a customer. You have several ways to bundle your stock, so look at what will work best for your sales…Your margins will be reduced, but you’ll move the stale product off your shelf because your customers will see a perceived value in the offer.”
In-store events.
If it’s one thing that the holiday season and the summertime have in common, it’s that parties are often thrown throughout. Why not host a special “Christmas In July” in-store event? It will provide you with ample opportunities to meet and greet your current customers, providing them with exclusive offers not available at any other point in the season.
At TK Enterprises, we specialize in providing one-of-a-kind Event Marketing services that put our experienced and highly motivated team of phone agents to the task of making personal phone calls directly to your customers. Allow us to handle the invites to your next in-store event for you!
For more information, please don’t hesitate to call us toll-free at 1-877-622-0195. You may also email us at heidi.tke@tomkaufmann.com or fill out the form on our Contact Us page and have someone contact you!
Jul 11, 2018
“Good customer service can really build a store’s reputation,” says Johnny Katz on RapNet.com, “87% of customers share good experiences with others and 88% are influenced by online customer service reviews when making buying decisions.” The statistics revealed by Katz come courtesy of InsightSquared. It’s a survey, he notes, that proves that excellent customer service can make or break your reputation as a diamond retailer.
And while excellent customer service can help any retailer to grow its reputation, it’s important to note that there are some specific policies that should be put in place to help your jewelry store stand out from the all rest.
Your ring sizing policy.
As a jeweler, you’ve likely had countless requests to have rings sized correctly. Naturally, rings are popular sellers, especially for those who are preparing for the married life. Of course, rings come in all shapes and sizes and often need to be adjusted to match the fingers of the buyers and/or recipients. Having a specific ring sizing policy in place is paramount to the sterling reputation of your brand.
“When a customer orders a ring in the wrong size, how are you going to handle pricing on the piece?” asks Marlene Richey on RioGrandeBlog.com, “Charge a one-time sizing fee? Let the first sizing on a ring be free? You will cover the sizing costs if it only goes up one size? What happens if the ring can’t be sized?”
Your damaged jewelry policy.
It’s important to come up with a policy that can create a happy medium between satisfied customer and your company’s bottom line. Richey admits that there are many instances when customers return damaged jewelry claiming that it was defective, when really the damage occurred due to their own actions. What is your store’s policy on handling damaged items?
“I have heard so many stories about people who say the stone in their ring fell out because of the designer’s setting, but once the designer gets the ring back, she can immediately see the ring has been sized or worked on by someone else and that is the reason the stone fell out,” Richey shares, “How will you handle this situation?”
Your customer service policy.
As previously mentioned, customer service is integral to business success. In most cases, it’s a customer’s experience that will determine whether or not he/she returns to a store. It’s important to make customers feel welcome in your jewelry store, but it’s just as important to not make them feel like they are being hounded. Katz advises store owners not to ignore customers who appear to be browsing, but not to bombard them when they enter your store either.
He lists a few others Do’s and Don’ts that include “Do focus on the customer before you, but make sure that anyone waiting for your attention knows you will be with them shortly” and “Don’t push a customer to purchase beyond what they truly can afford (you risk them resenting the purchase afterwards, and losing their trust).”
The TK Enterprises Inc. team knows a thing or two about providing excellent customer service. Contact us today to learn about how our Event Marketing services can help to significantly boost your jewelry store’s reputation, helping it to stand out from all the rest. Please don’t hesitate to call us toll-free at 1-877-622-0195. You may also email us at heidi.tke@tomkaufmann.com or fill out the form on our Contact Us page and have someone contact you!
Jul 5, 2018
Working on the phone is no easy feat. At TK Enterprises Inc., we know from many years of experience that speaking to over 100 people in a day is a grueling process. It’s a process, however, that we are 100 percent committed to. This is what sets our company apart from many others that also conduct business over the phone. Our Event Marketing services provide jewelers across North America with friendly, knowledgeable and experienced phone agents who know how to have warm, inviting and engaging conversations.
It’s all about setting the tone!
As Cedric Roney of AMBS Call Center points out, it’s important to speak with an inviting tone. “Your greeting on the phone sets the tone for the entire conversation,” he writes, “The very first words you speak need to communicate: ‘I am a friendly, intelligent professional, and I am very happy to speak with you right now.’ Weirdly enough, pretending that you’re in front of the caller will make you sound more inviting.”
For the most part, our clients spend the majority of their time meeting and greeting customers in person. They have the luxury of using facial expressions, hand gestures and other forms of body language to communicate how approachable and affable they are. When on the phone, one’s tone has to make up for an absence of an in-person interaction.
Match your caller’s pace.
A talented phone agent is also aware that more than a friendly tone is necessary to endear him/herself to a prospective client. It’s important that the tone and pace of the customer are matched. In some cases, people prefer to be quick and to the point. They may be busy and only have time for short calls. In such cases, small talk is unnecessary as it’s more important to provide the information needed to fulfill the business obligation.
“Some callers will be more or less receptive to your wonderful greeting,” informs Roney, “So while you want to stay on brand, you also want to match the way that your caller responds to your tone. If they skip formalities and get right to the point, you should respond with short, concise answers, while remaining pleasant and approachable.”
Don’t curb your enthusiasm!
No matter how quickly or slowly you may need to pace your call, it’s important to remain enthusiastic about the reason you’re calling. If you don’t sound excited about your products or services, why would anyone else get excited about them? Having energy in your voice should be the norm. And, no matter what, please don’t forget your pleasantries. See what we did there? “Please” and “thank you” always go a long way.
Roney notes that those words can make the entire conversation. “Show your appreciation for your prospect or customer’s call by sprinkling thank yous in throughout your conversation,” he advises, “‘Thank you’ reflects your friendliness and dedication to serving your caller.”
Allow the expert phone agents at TK Enterprises Inc. to make your calls for you! For more information about our Event Marketing services, please don’t hesitate to call us toll-free at 1-877-622-0195. You may also email us at heidi.tke@tomkaufmann.com or fill out the form on our Contact Us page and have someone contact you!
