We Went In Empty Handed, But Came Out…

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You know what? I actually typed out a whole long entry for this. But I wiped them off on second thoughts. Too long-winded.

So now, I'm just going to go in to the meat. Straight to the point.

In the last entry, I talked about an encounter with a cab driver in Kuala Lumpur (KL), Malaysia, during our holiday there. And how we persuaded him to lower his cab fare.

Got some nice comments and email feedbacks. I thank you folks for that - from the bottom of my heart!

Today, I want to talk about something else. I want to talk about a trip to a store (a chocolate boutique) during the same trip in KL, whereby we went in empty handed, but came out....you guessed it...FULL of products!

Why?

1. Personal Attention

The shop assigned a staff to us. Specially for us.

He tended to us, catered to our questions. Brought us around. Let us try various chocolate samples. Even letting us try more on our request. Carried our basket as well.

And finally also completed the payment for us.

Fantastic service!

2. Great Product

Their chocolates tasted heavenly! The durian chocs was the one that REALLY got us hooked.

My my...

Absolutely sinfully.......GOOOOOOOOOD!

Your sales can be good, but if your product sucks - the business fails all the same. The chocolates got my 'quality' checkbox ticked! E-MoneyMarketing seal of approval, if you will!

3. Up-sell

Initially, we weren't too keen on buying the chocolates. But when the sales person got us hooked on the durian chocolate, the floodgates just opened.

Like a torrent of gushing water breaking past a dam!

Whatever that person recommends, we just bought.

What does this show?

When you get a person to commit on an initial sale, you can then easily up-sell him again...and again...and again.

One simple first product sale + up-sell + follow = DRAMATIC increase in profits!

FOLLOW UP! Always do!

4. Good distribution channel

A good quality product deserves good sales and distribution channels. You need awareness and exposure to let other knows your product actually exists and of course, the value it brings.

The taxi driver I mentioned earlier was obviously an affiliate of the chocolate boutique. He got a commission from the products we bought. And that incentive alone got him to bring us to the store.

Even though we did not request him to.

Very cunning. But that's how marketing should be done.

Popularity: 9% [?]

Personal attention and being helpful to the customer will always yield results. I’m convinced of that.

Of course, good chocolate doesn’t hurt either. :)

Hi El,

Yep. Good quality product always never hurt. Many people wonder why they can’t sell. Sometimes the answer is right before their eyes - the quality is lacking!

Cheers,
Jag

I think I need to move to Malaysia. Sounds like heaven.

That cab driver seemed really nice. You also have some good bargaining skills aswell. But it was a good idea to lower the cab fair. I wish we could do it in other countries aswell.

Big Wave Trading Fan,

Hi. Interesting keywords you have in your nickname. You use elliot wave to trade?

Yes, Malaysia is a nice place. But Singapore is better! Okay I’m biased! =)

Andrew:

Finally, someone comments using his real name! Yes, the cab driver was pretty nice.

If you had read the last entry when I bargained with the other cab driver, that kinda was enough for me.

Wasn’t really gonna bargain on my last day there. Just thought I enjoy myself to the fullest.

Cheers,
Jag

You must have met a super sales person - they can sell snow at alaska! Can you believe it? :D I tell ya!

Hi Bingo online,

He wasn’t really that great. But he was decent enough. Provide good enough service. Quality of product was top notch.

That was enough for him to get my sale.

Cheers,
Jag

Good staff are the cornerstone of any business. If I come across a rude shop assistant it really turns me off. Thanks

Definitely a lesson in marketing and customer service to be learned from this experience you had. And it doesn’t hurt that they were selling something that is pretty much irresistible to most people.

The combination of a great product and great sales tactics is pretty much unstoppable!

Cuban Cigars:

Rude sales staff are my pet peeves too!

How to sell on Ebay:

Great product + great sales tactics + good follow up = great business profits!

Thanks guys for your input!

Cheers,
Jag

All this talk about chocolate makes me hungry, and it is bedtime!

But seriously, this is a great lesson on why being a good/friendly salesperson is beneficial to you and your company. And it doesn’t hurt that the product is delicious!

Ah I know what you mean when you talk about shopping :D

whenever i see somethign that ‘dings’ on my head, i just need to buy it!

I think that if the customer service stinks that they may as well shut the doors. Unless they have some niche product and you have to put up with them. Otherwise you can go elsewhere and get some great smiles and low prices.

Your store will stand out the more helpful you are in solving the customers problem. If they can smell: “commission” they might run. If the sense: concern and problem solver - they will return.