Are you a buisness owner with good taste, a great product, and the perfect space but not sure how to get people to enter it and stick around? Looking for inspiration to start the flow? We asked 10 entrepreneurs what they do to build their customer base. Here's what we came up with.
FACE TO FACE
Bryant Jones from Bee J’s Cookies says:
Face to face interactions provide the best feedback from customers on what they love about our products.
TRY IT
Leo Orpin from Black Apple says:
Black Apple is Arkansas' first cidery, producing incredible hard cider in its natural state - clean and unadulterated with no preservatives. Our innovative process makes trying our variety of cider styles the best way for us to grow our customer base. We accomplish this through tasting events at retailers, bars, restaurants in the region or even by selling flights (samplers) in one of our two retail locations (Black Apple Taproom in Springdale Arkansas or Tree House in Bentonville Arkansas).
SHARE NETWORKS
Tali Benjamin from The Word Shop says:
I love connecting with other women business owners to share networks and skills that can enhance each person's/business' work.
TRADE SHOWS
Chelsi Wilkerson from Wilkerson Moravian Bakery says:
My favorite method for growing our customer base is trade shows. There’s no better way to start a relationship than being face to face. When you’re proud of your products, there’s nothing more rewarding than introducing them to new people. In the baking business, that includes giving out samples!
You can try all of the fancy marketing gimmicks in the world, but talk is cheap and we simply like to say, “Taste Tells the Truth” TM. We actually trademarked that saying. It has been an internal family mantra for a long time. Nothing tops seeing customers eyes light up when they bite into our Moravian Cookies, Carolina Cheese Straws and other products, or when a customer’s eyes fill with happy tears as our products unlock special memories for them. We even have customers make extra trips to come back and see us after having tried our Moravian Sugar Cake so they can tell us all about it.
In October & November of 2021, my family and I traveled around our home state of North Carolina sharing our pride and passion with thousands of people at four different shows. We are so honored to have been voted into the Village of Yesteryear of the Raleigh State Fair with an unanimous vote and to have been accepted into the Charlotte Southern Christmas Show, The Greensboro Holiday Market, and The Greensboro Craftsmen’s Christmas Classic. We were often told by customers that they felt it was rare and special that my father, siblings, and I were there working our booth ourselves. (A booth we built ourselves too.) Consumers will appreciate your presence and enthusiasm, and after meeting you in person, you are less likely to just look like another product on the shelf to them. One of the biggest benefits of the shows is the “Word-of-Mouth Marketing” that follows. The name recognition and trust that this builds is truly irreplaceable.
Nikki Savela from Cupcakes, BOOM! says:
Instagram has proven to be a useful source for growing our customer base.
IMPRESS
Ulymar Rocha from Stonebridge Imports says:
Exceeding customer expectations.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Shelby Olstad from Miggy's Bakes says:
I love growing my customer base through social media. Creating an online presence has been the number one way that my business has grown in visibility and new customers.
WORD OF MOUTH
Krishna Matturi from Sasya Foods says:
Word of mouth and customer endorsement - there is nothing more gratifying than our customers becoming our brand ambassadors because they love our products so much!
REFERRAL
Mandi Buchholz from A Little Of Bake Shop says:
I love customer referrals. I love being creative and having fun via social media and meeting new customers that way as well! The creative community can reach a variety of people through social media.
BE PERSONAL
Marissa Kendrick from Deleay Lashay says:
Connecting with them on a personal level, really I see my customers as friends. I Mostly showcase of my work through Facebook and Instagram. My favorite method is getting to meet my customer in person at an event or pop up, However do to covid, I do my best to build relationships through social media.
