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| by Diane Shawe |
Your customers are booking fewer treatments, those who are turning up are spending less, your weekly cash take-ins is in decline, you have mortgage and rent to pay and costs are going up! You are seriously concerned whether your business will survive 2009. Stop worrying and start planning your survival strategy. Worrying only confuses your mind and stops you from clearly acting on well thought out plans.
At a time like this, you might be wondering how on earth am I going to get customers to throw their money at me! (Well the visual thought is quite funny if done literally) At this moment in time, everyone is looking at how they can make the pennies stretch. They still want the high value service at competitive prices.
Everyone has not stopped spending, they are just a lot more careful and the business that catches their eye with a witty, strong, honest and effective message will win their custom.
If you do the same old thing you will get the same old results. So it is time to be creative.
I am going to give you just a few pointers, but the real benefit is from registering for our 5 plan Crash course on 'How to get more customers' from our website.
1. Change your attitude and way of thinking. If you are constantly feeling guilty about the fact that a regular customer or new customer must also be experiencing the credit crunch, then you are buying into the negative cycle which will keep you from being creative and productive.
2. Change the expression on your face. When you spot someone who seems to have a 'far away look', or they appear 'worried' and not up to their usual immaculate perky self, you might always start your sentence off with "Are you feeling OK?" 'You look worried.." You have instantly invited a conversation based on negative experiences, down trodden emotions which will sink both and all parties into a downward spiral of self pity.
If a sales rep came in and tried to sell you anything with such a mood, would you buy from them just based on 'feeling sorry for them' NO you would not and neither will any of your potential customers.
3. Remind yourself and evaluate your approach to your clients. Are you using a CARROT OR STICK approach. Most people like the CARROT approach because it is pleasurable, and will avoid the pain of the STICK approach which is spending more money without seeing any additional value. When was the last time you ran towards someone with a STICK so that they could beat you?
4. Boost your personal impact. This is a combination of things such as diet, exercise, personal development, networking with like minded people, changing your appearance, writing articles. All of these will help to stimulate your mental attitude and keep them positive. Never moan in front of staff of clients, encourage them to come up with suggestions and ideas that will benefit all parties.
5. Source FREE courses and reports that can help you understand the current environment and stimulate new ideas into your business.
6. Book yourself onto one day workshops that are practical, informative and with networking opportunity. Don't break the bank, but sometimes owner managers forget to invest in keeping their own knowledge base up to date.
At a time like this, you might be wondering how on earth am I going to get customers to throw their money at me! (Well the visual thought is quite funny if done literally) At this moment in time, everyone is looking at how they can make the pennies stretch. They still want the high value service at competitive prices.
Everyone has not stopped spending, they are just a lot more careful and the business that catches their eye with a witty, strong, honest and effective message will win their custom.
If you do the same old thing you will get the same old results. So it is time to be creative.
I am going to give you just a few pointers, but the real benefit is from registering for our 5 plan Crash course on 'How to get more customers' from our website.
1. Change your attitude and way of thinking. If you are constantly feeling guilty about the fact that a regular customer or new customer must also be experiencing the credit crunch, then you are buying into the negative cycle which will keep you from being creative and productive.
2. Change the expression on your face. When you spot someone who seems to have a 'far away look', or they appear 'worried' and not up to their usual immaculate perky self, you might always start your sentence off with "Are you feeling OK?" 'You look worried.." You have instantly invited a conversation based on negative experiences, down trodden emotions which will sink both and all parties into a downward spiral of self pity.
If a sales rep came in and tried to sell you anything with such a mood, would you buy from them just based on 'feeling sorry for them' NO you would not and neither will any of your potential customers.
3. Remind yourself and evaluate your approach to your clients. Are you using a CARROT OR STICK approach. Most people like the CARROT approach because it is pleasurable, and will avoid the pain of the STICK approach which is spending more money without seeing any additional value. When was the last time you ran towards someone with a STICK so that they could beat you?
4. Boost your personal impact. This is a combination of things such as diet, exercise, personal development, networking with like minded people, changing your appearance, writing articles. All of these will help to stimulate your mental attitude and keep them positive. Never moan in front of staff of clients, encourage them to come up with suggestions and ideas that will benefit all parties.
5. Source FREE courses and reports that can help you understand the current environment and stimulate new ideas into your business.
6. Book yourself onto one day workshops that are practical, informative and with networking opportunity. Don't break the bank, but sometimes owner managers forget to invest in keeping their own knowledge base up to date.
Visit www.academy-of-vocational-and-professional-training.org if you would like to purchase a copy of the latest publication on getting started in the hair and beauty business.
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