[Karan]: Naturally, I'm quite a shy person. That sound you just heard was of my friend's ribs pinging with merriment in response to that statement. No, really, I am quite shy, and can find meeting new people a bit of a challenge - it certainly can take me out of my comfort zone. But this is starting to change.
In a previous life I worked for a motorsport company and would regularly stand up in front of a room full of people and espouse the virtues of our sport, team and sponsors etc, but it was all so huge and corporate. Ian had a theory that I became someone else whilst wearing the team kit; reverting back to my true self once home. And he may have been right.
Meeting new IKD Customers was initially much harder because it's the start of a much longer relationship and, oftentimes, even friendship. Working in someone's home, and designing them a room they will live with for a very long time, is a big responsibility, and so we like to get to know our Customers as well as possible. This involves a lot of time, discussion and listening, but it really bears fruit because the Customer always gets what they want, and we acquire another glowing testimonial. But not only that....
As you are probably already aware, IKD have been trading since 1992, and we now have a very large Customer database, of which we are very proud. What we have found in our (almost) eighteen years of business is that it can surprise you who knows who; it's a small world - and this is where networking comes into its own. From a commercial sense, if you have one satisfied customer who recommends you to all of their friends, who recommend you to their friends etc, you have enough work to keep you busy and to grow a business. This works in the negative sense just as well, where you can find yourself out of business in a hurry thanks to the ire of dissatisfied Customers. Ian and I are always mindful of this trusim: a satisfied Customer will recommend you to five friends, but a dissatisfied ex-customer will disparage you to anyone within earshot. You know it's true.
Nowadays, it's all networking a-go-go with other small business owners, but not necessarily to sell more kitchens, bedrooms or bathrooms (although we do, and that's great), but more for support, advice and development. With Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin making connections with new people (you would never have met otherwise) so much easier, the pool of support and information is infinate. The new connections I have made since Christmas have changed my thought processes, marketing strategy and general outlook on life, so I have therefore decided not to participate in shyness any longer. From now on I will attend every networking event that'll have me, and strike up conversations all over the place because, one way or another, it's good for business!
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