Publix wins me over AGAIN!

Time and time again we meet with business owners, managers, and marketing department managers who have the same question. They want to know what they can do to increase market share. Many of them have great ideas for new products, new markets, new strategies.  Creativity is great, but sometimes, the best answer is staring them right in the face:  growing their current customers and solidifying those relationships.  After all, other companies would love for your customers to become disenchanted with you.

Two weeks ago I was reading the local newspaper (yes I still read the newspaper which may make you not value my “old-fashioned” opinion). Publix, my favorite grocery, was running their weekly ad.  What they were offering was an answer to my busy, overcrowded, time-starved home life. As a working mother, I struggle with preparing meals for my family because 1) I don’t like to cook. and 2) Let’s face it, the grocery is not where I want to spend my free time.  Well, what do you know, but Publix was thinking about me.  They offered a link: www.publix.com/mylist which offers menu planning, recipes, a checklist for your selections, and then – GET THIS:  You can type in your grocery’s address and your list will be organized according the layout of YOUR store.  Sounds like a time saving technique that I usually scratch out on the back of an old receipt, but they had made my task even easier.  And therefore, making it easier for me to choose Publix again.

Here’s the application part.  Listen to your customers. Think about them. What do they need from you? What’s on their wishlist? Try to find a way to make it easier for them to consistently give you their business.  Use social media or traditional advertising to spread your message. Give it a good effort and you might just be surprised to find your next marketing strategy – the one that helps you make second quarter numbers –  was only one aisle away