I watched a very interesting video the other day that featured this company as arguably one of the best companies in the world that fully understands the definition of customer service. The company is Zappos. They started in 1999, and have been growing at a rapid rate ever since, largely due to their company values and culture. Every small and large business can reference this business perspective of valuing your employees and also valuing your customer as the #1 priority. Your customer and employees are the key players that keep your business running. Trust your employees to let them be themselves, let them be creative and empower them with the understanding that their ideas will be implemented and heard. Experience the success together…

Care about your employees as people. Care about your customer. Watch this video…
“WoW your customer “ These guys get it !

Love Your Customer

I have a question for America – are we really all in this together? For those of you who had the opportunity to watch the NCAA final four championship game last night I am sure you heard this message loud and clear. I found ironically, that many of the commercials sent this congruent message to their consumers. Whether this message was coming directly from a CEO of a fortune 500 company or if it was simply the overall theme, the commercials left a similar impact. This predominantly identifies the importance of speaking directly to your target consumer and key word marketing. Will consumers take advantage? I think yes.

Please see below for five strategies to help increase sales during a recession.

1) Focus your marketing efforts online. The internet is one of, if not the most powerful source for marketing today. Google Adwords is a simple, self-efficient tool to help with online advertising. Key word search and pay-per-click advertising campaigns can rapidly increase your ROI. Social networks such as Facebook, recently took advantage of this by creating specific profiles for business. – very important – make sure your marketing plan is focused. Some companies or people make the mistake of taking on a mass marketing effort with no strategic plan in place. Stay simple and stay focused!

2) Implement an effective grass roots marketing strategy. Start blogging. Focus on blogs that are geared towards your target market or target consumer. Blogs are great resources on how to get free exposure for your products or services.

3) Launch E-Mailings/ E-Newsletters. Especially if your company contains an ecommerce site. Successful e-retailers place a large emphasis and have maximized repeat and word-of-mouth business. Happy and satisfied customers are your best source of advertising. Strive to build a niche community with your customers. Write to them, send an e-blast, and keep them connected to your business, products and future.



4) Utilize all social networks strategically with a plan. There are a lot of them out there, so stay focus on the social networks that speak to your consumer and that will have a direct impact on your customers.


5) Create an incentive for your loyal customers. Do what you can to give back to your customers and work on building a social conscience environment. Try to get press in markets that you have no been able to focus on in the past which will help your retailers. We all appreciate the notion that we “are in this together”.

Many successful companies and organizations start in similar economic conditions that we are experiencing right now – a recession. It is proven that start up companies that can either thrive or survive in these economic conditions have a greater opportunity for being future market and industry leaders. Organizations that take on philanthropic ventures develop a niche group of consumers that are willing to jump on board the social conscious movement. Leaders from small and large organizations believe that the key to success is: understanding the emphasis of passion behind the company.

For individuals like Ethan Zohn, the passion for giving back is very evident. Check out our newest partner and information regarding his youth-led movement to raise money and build awareness for his foundation and mission to end HIV/AIDS in Africa.