Looking Forward To A New Era of Success,and How to Capitalise on Good Past Experiences
I write this blog to encourage anyone who has been through similar trials, and to show again that failure can also give birth to success
Well, I make no attempt to hide that from 2012 to 2014 was the biggest business financial disaster of my life! I have spent the last 3 years recovering and making the most of what I have been able to salvage from my experience as a business owner, to finally be able to try something new.
After 15 years of successfully trading as a Cafe, Garden Centre and Bonsai Expert, it took just 2 years of painful experience to close the doors.
Horrific and discouraging as this may sound, I have always been able to financially navigate myself into a position of recovery.
I always believe that from disasters can arise the most inspiring solutions. I would never had thought that despair can give birth to Joy, and likewise failure gives birth to success.
I was able to grasp onto good experiences and practices, which taught me not to throw out the baby with the bath water! but rather to hold on to those good seeds that will one day grow again.
Here are some of those good things I brought forward which have helped me to recover:
1) Good reputation - Always build trust and good reputation with not just your customers, but all people. For example,when I had closed the doors to the business I had done so in a reputable way, and did my best not to declare bankruptcy. I had managed to pay almost every supplier, inland revenue etc. Keeping these relations healthy keeps the door open to possible future trade and relations.
Of course your customers are important and having a cheerful disposition goes a long way. Your attitude must be helpful, polite and proactive, all Elements I managed to retain which saw me through difficult times.
2) Showing loyalty to your customers ensures that they too return that loyalty
Thank God that the 15 years of trade wasn't a complete waste of time. I had met some incredible people. Many of my customers had become great loyal friends, and the loyalty was reciprocal. During those 15 years I had built up a pretty good customer mailing list. Whatever you do, if you ever close your business, never ever get rid of your mailing lists. This was for me an incredible life saver. I went from almost having nothing, to where I am today because of my mailing list. These were specific clients and friends i had built up over the years interested in the niche market of Bonsai, and this has enabled me to work from home for the past 2 years, it is Pure Gold!
3) Repeat Custom - The question is how do we entice customers to keep coming back. The secret is providing a service with the product you are selling. This certainly worked for me and the customers alike. It was a service they not only wanted but also needed. We would increase the number of times they came back in a year by 20,30,40 or even 50 times by providing Holiday Care, Pruning Service, Repotting Service, Hospital Care, Styling Service and much more including Workshops. All this for their Bonsai.
Every time they returned they would purchase something else: tools, bonsai food, more bonsai, pots and the list goes on. In this way the Average customer value was increased by about 400%.
Hopefully, my plan is to take the good things which have helped me get back on my feet again, and to apply them to my new venture online here at WA.
Although I lack experience and knowledge in affiliate marketing and websites, I am eager to push on, learn and succeed, and even though I may ask some stupid questions, its all for a good cause,
Wishing everyone Happiness and Prosperity
Mario
Recent Comments
2
Thanks Mario for sharing
You are welcome!