The small print shop sat on the corner of a small town but amazingly it was constantly busy. There was a steady stream of people coming in and out of the shop and sales were booming for the happy owner. He had long ago decided that if the best advertising was word of mouth from satisfied clients then he was going to work on developing the best of relationships with each and every customer he acquired. Most of the repeat customers had relatively small orders but in his mind every sale added to a solid reputation for good work and a job well done. He filled orders for birth announcements, wedding invitations, and graduation announcements. He also catered to local businesses and provided glossy brochures and individually customized presentation folders. Max, the owner, knew that if he provided quality work and a pleasant purchasing experience to his business customers he would gain their personal orders as well when a special occasion occurred in their families.
Max found that there were three simple ways he could increase his community involvement and make his name well known in his community. These are the areas of his concentration and they could be used with any small business as a way of getting the word out that not only are you open for business but you care about your community also.
1. Advertise in the local high school yearbook to support the school and make your business name familiar. This is such a small thing to do but it really does help your standing in the area. Especially in a small town it affords the opportunity to lend financial aid without a large monetary investment and it is just a friendly thing to do. It is also fun to support the local school sport teams and is appreciated by the high schools.
2. Offer a customer service card to encourage repeat business from loyal clients. Some businesses will give a discount based on the number of orders placed or when the dollar amount reaches a certain number. Others will give a small gift in appreciation and each order will build toward acquiring that prize. The customer service card can be nothing more than a small printed piece of cardstock that is punched with each order placed and can be especially effective in a coffeehouse or a bakery. Offering a free cup of coffee after the purchase of ten cups or a free donut after purchasing twelve rolls or donuts is a pretty good incentive to remember to bring along the card.
3. List your name to a charitable cause and provide a way that your customers can donate to it through your business. Some stores will have a donation box next to the cash register to encourage the customers to drop their loose change into it. This works especially well at a locally owned restaurant or coffee shop. This kind of community goodwill is not only helpful to the designated recipient but it brings great satisfaction to all who contribute as well as to the owner of the business.