Oriental Trading Under New Management
I love Oriental Trading. I’ve used them in business when planning a corporate training session. I’ve used them for prizes at the World Friendship Carnival, a Girl Scout fund raiser. I’ve used them for birthday gift bag prizes and sometimes it is just fun to visit the site when you are looking for a distraction. You’ll always find something fun and colorful and inexpensive.
This past week I was surprised to find in my mail a letter from Sam Taylor, the new CEO of Oriental Trading Company. Attached to the letter was a $10 gift card good for any purchase over $30. (when you consider the inexpensive prices – ten dollars is a big value)
It was as if Oriental Trading was hanging up a sign that announced “Under New Management.” In the letter Sam says:
“While I may be fairly new to the business, I’ve been here long enough to learn that you, Deborah, are one of our loyal customers, and I want to personally thank you for your business.”
I’m impressed. What a nice way to reach out. I wasn’t in need of a purchase at this time – but his letter, and sincere thanks for my past business and the $10 has prompted me to go on line and make a purchase.
Call me a sap – but his approach reached me. Oriental Trading could have just sent me the coupon – I’m signed up on line and recieve their “free shipping” emails all the time. But it was his personal interaction; his thanks for my past business that caught my eye and kept me from pitching the coupon like I do so many others that come in the mail.
I have to be honest – I didn’t read the rest of the letter – it was pretty much marketing-speak – but my eye did travel to the call out box that announced a new rating and review section on their website - however, I was unable to find it on their site. Ooh, a miss.
So what’s the message? What’s my point? Get personal with your customers. Be humble. Be grateful. Be generous. Be open to their thoughts and opinions and seek out their comments. It caught my attention.
Would it have caught yours?
I was confused at first too but then I figured out the new rating & review section isn’t really a “section” so it’s not called out on the home page — it’s just that reviews are now attached to most individual products.
Go back to the site and click around for a product you’re interested in, and you’ll find a 1-5 star rating on the product with customer reviews (if any were posted) for that product.
Melissa