Images_June_2020_Digital_Edition

KB Connecting with customers now Marshall Atkinson explains why now is the time to consider new ways of interacting with customers and shares seven tips to help make this work for your garment decoration business A r e you working on the ‘new normal’ for your business? You should be. What I mean by this is that going forward how you are used to interacting and marketing to customers may not work the way it used to. So right now – before you start back up in full swing – is the perfect time to be considering how you are going to be working, communicating, marketing, interacting, and serving your customers in the months and years ahead. Here are seven approaches that you can start working on right away... 1. Demonstrate empathy These are trying times for everyone. People all around you are suffering from financial, mental and health setbacks. If there was ever a time to show that you care about other people, the time is now. Every gesture and outreach that you make will build goodwill for you and your company in the future. There are only three questions you should be asking: How can I help? What do you need? Are you okay? This phase may last a while, so avoid coming on strong with marketing and sales. Imagine you are attending a funeral. If you wouldn’t do or say something at a funeral, don’t do it in your normal sales effort. Otherwise, everyone will look at you like you have three heads and walk away. Some may be visibly upset that you are not there for them in this time of need and blast you on social media. You may have already seen a few companies get flamed online. Don’t join that club. 2. Reduce physical interaction Despite all of the warnings from health experts and doctors, plenty of people are still bopping around like the coronavirus doesn’t exist. In many businesses, workers are not wearing masks or gloves and there is not a visible cleanliness routine. It is a societal effort to limit the spread of the coronavirus contagion during this pandemic. The end is not yet in sight. This also means that if your business demonstrates better care and concern for others by constantly cleaning and disinfecting, it is a huge win. Have all employees practice social distancing. Gloves and masks are mandatory. Encourage correct behaviour from all of your employees. You have to do it too. People are watching. Use your phone and document how you work. How you clean. What your employees are wearing. Sometime in the future, we can all go back to being slobs, but right now is not the time. Remember, if there is a lack of communication in how you do things, people will make up their own story about what you do. Your job is to show them that you are on top of the hygiene work and that you care about their safety and health. Prove it to them. 3. Reconnect with intent Before the pandemic started what was your purpose and mission? It may seem as though you have lost Over the past 30 business days or so, I have spoken with an average of ten people a day www.images-magazine.com 48 images JUNE 2020