Brand V Relationship

No posts for a while clients have taken preference and yes, I know I tell everyone just a short post will do. I guess Twitter has been taking up the spare space. It has been useful between clients and twitter I have been thinking about how we as entrepreneurs and small business set our price.

 Pay for good service

Service and Relationship

It has always been true that people will pay for good service I have been working with two companies that are totally relationship based. They have no web presence or brochures and are both very successful. The small upmarket family or five star hotel chains will gain and retain customers by providing an experience based on service. Their customers have an expectation and are happy to pay for it.

 In our present economic situation, the media is telling the masses that we are on a road to know where. The fear created is translated into “I need to spend less, get better value, and look for a bargain.

 Brand Loyalty verse Customer rapport

 As a small business, we are best place to counter this trend. Let me explain, we all use the big supermarkets and have a relationship with the brand but there is nothing with which to identify, no personality. Although we have brand loyalty if Asda has a better deal than Tesco this week we shop there instead.

 Brand loyalty does not mean emotional loyalty. Many of our biggest names they have no personality the only place they can go is to drive the price down and push the low price value button.

Emotional Attachments

The entrepreneur that takes the time to build rapport with the customer will gain loyalty. This is can be translated into price. Because when we truly value the person that is delivering the service, we care about them there is an emotional attachment and the price is not that important.  

Sir Freddie Laker

We have all see this in action the new publican that takes over a failing pub and turns it around. One of the most famous business personalities of my youth as Sir Freddie Laker. He broke the airline monopoly with Laker Airways. But more than that, he was the face and personality of the company. When it went bust in the 82 recession, the British public sent him money to help.   Here is a great Freddie laker anecdote he went to set up another airline.

Price your self-right, justify it by offering great service value, and show some personality, your customers will reward you for it.