Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Loyalty isn't just for dogs


Loyalty. We use this word freely when we discuss concepts like love and marriage. We show loyalty to our "home teams," and to our employers. We boast about how loyal our dogs are to our family. But how does loyalty affect the way we shop or do business?

My car battery died recently. My neighbor helped get the car "jump-started," and when I mentioned that it was probably just time for a new battery altogether, he suggested a mechanic around the corner. He made it abundantly clear that this mechanic was not the cheapest or the fastest in town, "but he always gives it to you straight, and when he fixes something, you can bet it's fixed," my neighbor added. This mechanic created a loyal customer in my neighbor through the most uncanny method-- by building trust.

My guess is that these trust relationships are what fosters customer loyalty in most people. I shop at Hy-Vee for groceries because I know their meat is top quality, their produce is always fresh, and they allow me to "drive up" for my groceries (especially great when I have the kids in tow). I have another friend who only wears Nike Brand shoes, after an unfortunate incident with a pair of Adidas sneakers more than 20 years ago...whe she was 8 years old.

In this volatile economic sea, small businesses are relying on loyalty more than ever, just to stay afloat. As an industry trendsetter in customer loyalty programs, Swipe-Rite and SaveSome Solutions can help your business develop a "smart" loyalty program that will help attract and retain customers now, and evolve to meet your customer needs as your business grows.

We believe that creating trustworthy relationships with your customer base is the best way to ensure the strength of your business. Why? Because we have seen it work by applying the principal of "trust" to our own business.

How is your business fostering trust and loyalty? Tell me: @AmySwipeRite

Let us show you how we can help your business today (877) 465-8033


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