Help Isom IGA recover from devasting floods
Help Isom IGA recover from devasting floods
Store: Isom IGA | Isom, Kentucky
Owner: Gwendolyn Christon
Department: Customer Service
Difficulty: Easy
Store Specs: 16,000 square feet
Every morning, I send a message to anyone having a birthday who likes our Facebook page.
"Happy Birthday from the crew at your Hometown Proud Isom IGA!"
We have 2,400 likes and it takes me about 10-15 minutes each day. I am a one-store owner and my competition is Walmart, Food City, Save a Lot, and Priceless Foods. They are chains with multiple stores and have a much bigger advertising budget than I do, so I want to remind my customers of the personal touch at Isom IGA! Once I send the happy birthday messages, I make sure to post an image of a sale item so that the birthday person, their friends, and anyone who visits our Facebook page sees the sale item and is enticed to come into the store.
Shows we care. These messages show our shoppers that we are involved in the local community and we care about our customers.
Builds relationships and customer service. Service is a lost art and we try to perfect it. Building relationships with people in this fast-paced world makes them feel like someone cares.
We greet our customers. Since we are a small community store, we know when a birthday customer comes in. We always acknowledge them by asking, "Is it your birthday today? Happy birthday!"
Boosts sales. Since I started this practice, we have seen an increase in spending per customer.
Increases Facebook followers. Usually after wishing someone "Happy Birthday," they respond with a "Thank you" and a like, which prompts their friends to see my post and sometimes results in more page likes.
Assigns value to independents. Independent stores are still needed in the community, so we try to be present at the local schools and festivals. Acknowledging people makes them feel like part of the store's family unit.
There is no cost to wishing our followers a happy birthday.
Have a best practice of your own? We want to hear it!
8745 West Higgins Road
Ste: 350
Chicago, IL 60631
Phone: (773) 693-4520
Fax: (773) 693-4533