how is everyones business coping with the recession? moral support thread

Murphy_The_Cat

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote: »

I strongly believe that with practically every news reported being about the reccession or job loses.. dont help the matter, as its sort of brainwashing people who do have money, not to spend... so now we have a downward sprial effect.. we just need to encourage people start spending a few more pennies here and there, to start to slow down this downward spiral...( Yes i know... easy to say..lol..) but if we can encourage a customer to buy or spend.. on more little thing etc.. its a start...

You've hit the nail on the head there. I think that the media (especially the 24 hour news media) in the UK are doing the country a great disservice.

I go along with everything that you said, and I'll add a few more.
Be inventive, use your imagination, explore old ideas, try out new ideas, one of the really obvious one is to ask your existing customers if there are other areas that you could provide goods/services for, obtain as much intelligence as possible about your competitors as you can, constantly look at ways to offer your customers 'extra' value.

lesley1960

1) Let existing customers know all the services you can provide , you would be surprised that some dont know
2) Find out what other services your customers use and see if you can cover it ..........branch out into new avenues
3) Go knocking on doors .........for example we do storage so we talk to other companies about where they store their archives , and how they deal with confidential shredding , we branched out into doing shredding for existing customers , so now we approach others a foot in the door leads to all sorts of other work .
4) Be flexible , say how high when the customer says jump , and go that extra mile

Whoops just seen Murphys post above and realised weve said much the same thing

gingerdad

We have had a grest start to 2009 and if all contiunes it should be a record year for us.

We are in a market that currently seems to be doing okay and most of our customers are upping ther spend to ensure their message gets out there, just hope for some fairly decent weather and all will be good.

GD

Lindseyf584

My contract ends on 6th Feb so I am desperately trying to find another one with no success so may be time for my LTD to shut up shop! Hard times ahead

diamondgirl78

I run a jewellery shop and of course one of the first things to go when things get tough are 'luxury' items. I have tried to concentrate more on the services we provide (as nothing much is selling as far as stock goes)...

During the course of last year, along with their receipt I gave out a little voucher to my customers entitling them to £1 off their next watch battery or strap - that equates to about 25% off our most profitable service. Doesn't seem like much, but LOTS of people redeemed them and it was a good way to get people back into the shop. I also told people they could pass their voucher on to a friend if they wanted. Again, a good way of getting NEW customers.

If anyone can think of anything else I could try, I'd be very grateful

COOLTRIKERCHICK

Lindseyf584 wrote: »

My contract ends on 6th Feb so I am desperately trying to find another one with no success so may be time for my LTD to shut up shop! Hard times ahead

what type of business are you in ? maybe we can help... long shot i know, but you never know..

Diamondgirl78, that was a good idea with the vouchers...if the customers are not coming into to the shop, what about taking the shop to them? maybe partyplan with some of the items, and give the hostess a % and maybe x amount of cash for genuine leads that book and go through with a party..

it might be hard trying to get parties, but even if you get a few its would all be extra sales on top of what you are getting now..maybe over the next 10 days would be good, use valentine's day as teaser, saying how they could get a lovely piece of jewelry etc just in time for the special person in their life.... _pale_

or do a delboy.. go round the pubs with a suitcase..lol..

if i think of any other ideas i will post them...


edit.... you could try selling your jewelry/watches etc as corporate gifts... etc.. sometimes a different label or name can generate business from a diff sector.. maybe some nice letters or colour brouchure ( which you can get a few done on line cheaply) saying about managements gifts.... incentive gifts to motorvate your staff to hit higher targets... ( hope you can see where i am trying to get at...lol...)

simpywimpy

we are in hairdressing and unfortuately had to let our qualified staff member go this week. Terrible thing to have to do but we are feeling positive and want to work hard to make a go of this.

If anyone has any cheap marketing ideas we would be very gratefuul. Radio advertising in our area costs £500, newspapers around £300.

We thought of running a charity event as a way of attracting new business but not sure where to start.

Do you think it would be productive to send letters to local businesses offering a discount on their first appointment? Would the companies actually put a notice up for us or are we wasting our time?

soapsudsandsalts

i do handmade beauty products and my christmas was very poor and so far this year is not looking good yet. fingers crossed things can go either way

Designerwear

My company is just about ticking over.

thebaldwindowfitter

i have found that one of the biggest improvements in my business has been from internet enquiries and would urge all companies to get themselves on the net i am in a catorgory which has much competion on the net and with a little work its now on page one of google and its there 24/7 .hosting is costing me £10 a year .another thing i would suggest is advertising your business service on ebay i have got 3 on ebay but its expensive at 1p a month yes thats correct 1p a month .