How can I get my customers to remember my store?

Here’s a list of things you can do to help them:

• Make sure your store name and/or logo is clear on your signage and is easy to read; this is so new customers can find you when everyone tells people about you.

• Put your store name and/or logo on EVERYTHING, that means receipts, staff uniforms, staff name badges, shopping bags, trolleys, shopping baskets, business cards, stationery, special offer flyers, special in store offers, store catalogues, price tickets, loyalty cards, eNewsletters… got the picture?

• Give them a reason to remember your store, eg:

– Great customer service
– Best selection of x
– Easy parking
– Cheap prices
– Free delivery
– Smiling staff
– The only place to get x
– Comfortable chairs to wait in while their “other half” is trying things on
– Willingness to order in special products

• Make sure that your staff know the name of your store (obvious I know), you want them all singing off the same song sheet, is it “Herb’s Garden Shop” or “Ferntree Garden Shop” or “the Garden Shop”? Whether they are answering the phone or telling their friends where they work it is the same message – and don’t be afraid to tell them what you’d like them to say.

When you think about how many names and logos you see a day it isn’t surprising that your customers can’t remember you, so you have to be in their face reminding them.

With the Mocks brand for example, people ordering from the website see the logo on the site, on their email order confirmation, on the envelope of their order, on the flyer with their order, on the pen included for free, on the packaging and finally on the product. So eight times for one order – you’d think that would be enough, but no, you need to repeat, repeat and repeat for it to sink in. Just think, when you feel you have overdone it, you are probably just getting through to them.

Lara Solomon is the founder of Mocks, mobile phone socks www.MyMocks.com and author of Brand New Day – the Highs & Lows of Starting a Small Business. Lara’s business LaRoo was the winner of the NSW Telstra Micro-Business Award in 2008.