Between a busy Easter and the half-term holidays a slightly calmer few weeks gave me a chance to refocus on our unique selling point.
I believe that a growing part of our offering is our ability to become a 'destination', one-stop shop where our customers can fulfil almost all their daily tasks in one place.
For a while now we have offered dry cleaning, internet access, parcel acceptance, pharmacy drop off, fax and copying, PayPoint and outreach post office services, but I was keen to do a bit more and so decided to implement two brand-new initiatives, both of which I am happy to say are doing wonders for boosting customer footfall and basket spend.
The first is a DVD rental 'pod' from EPOD UK which, since its introduction, has proved really popular. The second is an upgrade from a fee-charging cash machine to a free to use Your Cash machine which has also been a huge success.
With no capital outlay I have also created an additional revenue stream (a massive saving in bank charges on the ATM, not to mention no more trips to the bank twice a week!) as well as a new wave of customers coming to the store to use these facilities.
Early feedback from customers suggests that we're helping to make their lives easier by providing them with more things in one place and so saving them trips into town key when you consider the current price of fuel and how busy people's lives are.
As long as our promotional ends are well merchandised and stocked it's almost a given that customers will pick up a few extra bits at each visit.
Our customers appreciate the extra effort we go to, the personal service they receive, and are keen to support us in return. So take my advice and see what more you can do for your customers they will appreciate it and you will reap the rewards!
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