CT18fireman
05-30-2007, 10:19 PM
I ask this because as a owner of a small business I always use to make it a point to meet with each customer, discuss every job in person etc.
Now more and more I find my self getting and doing a lot of business over the phone and via e-mail. Not for my lack of effort but mostly because my customers are too busy.
Now I am not talking about larger jobs, but small things from mowing to small installtions and construction.
Case in point, this week I was running a load of mulch up to a customer who lives in the city (NYC) during the week. I have been working for them for 2 years. I do all their mowing, snowplowing and maintenance, have built two small retaining walls, topped their driveway with new stone, and numerous smaller cleanups.
When I pulled in with the mulch load they came out and introduced themselves. It was the first time in 2 years they had been there when we were (we are there at least once a week). As they said "its not right that we have not been hear to meet you before", I thought that this is where business is going. I have a lot of local vendors and dealers, but a lot of stuff even for my business is bought via internet etc (not materials, but office stuff, business cards, shirts, safety equipment, some repair parts)
Wondering if others are in the same boat and what you can or have done to try to change this. I am brainstorming ways that my company can communicate in person more.
Now more and more I find my self getting and doing a lot of business over the phone and via e-mail. Not for my lack of effort but mostly because my customers are too busy.
Now I am not talking about larger jobs, but small things from mowing to small installtions and construction.
Case in point, this week I was running a load of mulch up to a customer who lives in the city (NYC) during the week. I have been working for them for 2 years. I do all their mowing, snowplowing and maintenance, have built two small retaining walls, topped their driveway with new stone, and numerous smaller cleanups.
When I pulled in with the mulch load they came out and introduced themselves. It was the first time in 2 years they had been there when we were (we are there at least once a week). As they said "its not right that we have not been hear to meet you before", I thought that this is where business is going. I have a lot of local vendors and dealers, but a lot of stuff even for my business is bought via internet etc (not materials, but office stuff, business cards, shirts, safety equipment, some repair parts)
Wondering if others are in the same boat and what you can or have done to try to change this. I am brainstorming ways that my company can communicate in person more.