Every day I take the 45-minute train to and from the office. I use this time to reflect on my day, read a book, and my favorite: do a little mindless shopping online.
This morning on the train I thought, as a surfed through one of my favorite shopping apps, what is it about these online stores that keep me coming back? If I’m not willing to squash my habit, what at least can I take away from it? Also, I think it’s only fair to share some of these great spots with our readers. Two birds, one stone. So here they are: best online spots to shop, coupled with a BizDev takeaway for each:
This is your standard daily deal site. There are quite a few of these, but I’m sharing this one because, well, it’s my favorite. Every day, Rue-La-La releases several online “stores” from top name brands, all holding only a few of each item with prices slashed shockingly low. You have 20 minutes to grab the item and make the purchase, or else it leaves your shopping bag and is put back on the shelf for the masses. And when it’s gone, it’s gone…no waiting list for the next one. The shop opens at 8:00am PST, and then all hell breaks loose. My stream of conscious goes as follows:
“oooh that’s really cute, but kind of pricey….but it is 50% off… buuuut I still have to pay my credit card bill, so I’ll pass……..ok let’s check it again…HOLY CRAP!!!! THERE ARE ONLY 5 REMAINING!!!! I WILL NEVER EVER IN A MILLION YEARS FIND THIS DEAL AGAIN. MUST. BUY. NOW.
And that is how I’ve come to own an “originally $300 but now $150” pair of Fendi sunglasses. I found out later that they were from the summer of 2006 collection, and I could have gotten them for the same price on Amazon. Nicely done Rue.
BizDev Takeaway: Find a way to make your product extra valuable to your potential clients. Whether it’s a great deal, limited quantity or time, or a specialized service. This won’t make sense for all products, but think about whether it does for yours.
My love affair with Zappos started years ago. I had a pair of shoes show up with a small tear in them. Nothing major, but I emailed with a note asking for another pair. They did, AND gave me VIP status. Guess what, today I could care less about the shoes, but don’t mess with my VIP status. It means free overnight shipping, as in really free overnight shipping. Not that BS free overnight shipping that is ACTUALLY 3 days because they don’t count Monday thru Wednesday as actual days.
BizDev Takeaway: Awesome customer service is the gift that keeps giving. You’re going to mess up. Make it right, don’t do it often, and your clients will forgive you. Also, never overestimate the power of the words “VIP Status.”
Head-nod to my colleague and fellow blogger Cara McDonald who told me about this one. Stitchfix costs $20 per month. You fill out a profile, answer some questions, and submit your social media profiles. Every month your “stylist” picks out 5 items she thinks you will like, and mails them to you. You keep what you want, and send back what you don’t. You review each item so your stylist understands NEVER to send you bejeweled jeans again.
Beginning from the day I send my box back I start anticipating my next box: will I love it? hate it? what if I want to keep everything? I email my stylist notes, about things I want. I take WAY too much time writing my reviews, imagining she is laughing and thinking “gosh, that Jenna…she’s just so funny, I’ll take extra care with this month’s box.” I post things to Pinterest thinking she is following me. I keep more items in my box than I should because I don’t want to hurt her feelings. Although my stylist is likely a different person every time, I don’t care. In my head we’ve built a relationship.
BizDev Takeaway: Take some time to get to know your potential clients. Ask them questions. Ask for feedback. Then, once the relationship has begun to build, deliver something that feels custom to their needs and shows you listened.
Take some time to think about daily habits. Where do you spend your money? Why? What is it about that coffee shop that keeps you coming back? Is it their customer service? product? How can you incorporate these tactics into your own business development strategy?