This morning while doing my weekly stop at our vegetable vendor in St James, the idea came to me. Why doesn’t Ras, the owner of the hole in the wall purveyor of fresh fruit, vegetables and provisions offer his customers a banana? I say a banana because of what happened this morning. I was buying bananas and always deliberately choose a bunch that’s not quite ready as yet. That way they last a few days into the week. The thing is I always invariably want to try one on the spot. So this morning I took a ripe one and added it to my bunch. Ras’s assistant told me I could have it for free. It was easy for him to do that because he knows he throws them out at the end of the day. The one I had was so ripe, that a small bit of it at the end had to be thrown out.
So what if Ras got a nice basket with a chalk written sign that says; “Have a banana on us?”. It would be a nice touch as he’ll win even greater loyalty (I see the same people every Sunday) among his faithful and his food costs probably would be no higher. For sure also, you can bet that people will tell others.
So what’s the equivalent for your business?…..I was at Laughlin and Degannes yesterday to do some car repairs. It would have been nice to have a newspaper to read as I waited. What would that cost them? Or if you’re an Ad Agency and have some extra time in your art studio, maybe you should offer a T shirt design on us. KFC could give all kids left over toys from past promotions. Pizza Hut could offer persons waiting to pickup their pizza a book to read on the history of pizza. Superpharm could offer seniors to sort out and label their medicines. The key is to use something that you have in excess of (bananas or time) and for which you have already paid and to transform it into a customer benefit. Can AA Laquis do blood pressure checks for every customer coming through the door….the kits are there..the staff is there….what’s the problem?
Have a banana on us?….what’s your banana?
