OnSite Clarity Blog

MSN ran a great online story a while back by MP Dunleavey in their Money section.  He writes about a single mom thriving on a small budget.  Tricia’s story is a lesson to us all, whether we are managing a small household or running a large corporation.  

According to the article, Tricia used to spend money like it was going out of style.  Then, about two years ago she found herself in a situation that forced her to find ways to drastically trim the fat from her budget.  Tricia now supports herself, three children, two mortgages, one car payment, and a couple of student loans – all the while still paying off her credit card debt – on $553 a week!  That number includes child support. 

Here are Tricia’s top tips for keeping it all together:

• Think different. Tricia says “A big thing that’s changed over the last two years is the way I think.  I used to be more impulsive.  I’ve learned to ask myself: ‘Why do you need to buy that?’  Give me a reason to spend the money.”

• Use technology to your advantage. Tricia says she has used money software for years.  She also works with a spreadsheet to monitor spending on certain items, from one month or week to the next.  Tricia says “I don’t think I’d have this much control without software.”

• Plan ahead.  Tricia uses the computer to map out all of her fixed expenses for the entire year.  “That way, I see immediately when I spend on extras!”

Do you ever wonder what it really takes to keep your customers loyal?  I recently read some posts written by leading sales and/or marketing types from across the country.  They definitely had a lot of opinions.  Many offered solid advice.  One wrote, “Create and deliver a superior customer experience.”  Another advised to “Develop mutual understanding on the ‘term’ loyalty.”  One seasoned professional suggested “giving value add services to clients.”  This is all well and good, but I think the answer is a lot simpler.  I think you gain customer loyalty by treating your customers like a friend.  Say “Hi” to them by name…”Hello Joe, Hello Jane, Hello Peter and Paul”  Learn if they have a significant other or a favorite pet and ask about said significant other or favorite pet when you talk with them.  People love to hear their own names and they want to feel relevant this big bad world. 

Take me for example.  I have been shopping at the same overpriced store for years and the main reason I do so, besides the close proximity to my home and the fact that they have what I need in stock most of the time, is….they always say “Hi Holly” when I walk in the door.  Like so many other people you know, I spend my days rushing from one task to another, trying to get as much done each day as possible.  It’s nice to get those things you need to get done at a place where everyone knows your name. It can be a small oasis in an otherwise stressful day.  People have always wanted to do business with people they like.  In today’s ever complex and busy world, it is more important than ever to give customers the feeling that they are important.  Give them a warm fuzzy before they make their way back out into the cold light of day.

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