Posted by Deborah Chaddock Brown on January 28, 2009 under Connecting Moments, Customer Moments, empathy, making a difference | 
I love going to Connecting Touch for my monthly massage. I learn more about business and walk away relaxed and refreshed. Today was no exception. The owner, Jack Hayes, was telling me about a new program he’ll implement for the month of February.
“I wanted to find a way to give back to the community,” Jack told me. “Times are tough and I have been trying to think of a way to do something of value. And that’s when I thought of a food drive!”
Starting in February every customer who comes for a service with a canned good or non-perishable item will receive a coupon for a free hand paraffin treatment. (I’ve had them and they are a wonderful way to restore dry, cracked wintery hands). He’s contacted the Akron Food Bank and made arrangements with them for the donations.
It is a great idea. A simple, yet vital way to help his customers give back to the community.
People are looking for ways to help others. Is there some way your business can give back to the community? What ideas have you seen work? Have you heard about the new Hyunadi stimulus program? Buy a car this year and if you lose your job they’ll take the car back so you don’t have additional debt you can’t handle. Talk about being empathetic to a customer’s concerns!
Consider adding a program in which your customers are able (with your help) to give back to your community. You just might find that giving back will drive traffic to your door!
Here are instructions to give yourself a hot wax paraffin treatment at home, but if you are local to the Akron/Canton region, why not give Connecting Touch a call and let them pamper you. Just remember your canned goods!
Posted by Deborah Chaddock Brown on January 19, 2009 under Connecting Moments |
Today is the day we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Our soon-to-be-President Barack Obama has coined it a Day of Service – a day to give back within our community.
I remember years ago sitting in a marketing meeting for Pearle Vision – it was in the late 80s and we had over 1400 locations. A disagreement was taking place over how to spend marketing dollars. As a relatively new regional manager I asked a “silly” question – or at least that was how it was perceived:
“If each of the stores used their percentage of the marketing budget purchasing advertising within a three mile radius – wouldn’t that have the same effect if not better, as if we spent the money on television or radio nationwide?”
My idea was viewed as silly for of course you shouldn’t do anything unless you can do it on the grand scale. However, that is totally opposite of what Obama is asking of us. He says:
We need your service, right now, in this moment – our moment – in history. I’m not going to tell you what your role should be; that’s for you to discover. But I am going to ask you to play your part; ask you to stand up; ask you to put your foot firmly into the current of history. I am asking you to change history’s course.
Each person making a stand, making a difference in their own community.
In the email from David Plouffe, Campaign manager for Obama he says:
Monday is not only the eve of an inauguration that brings all of us so much hope, it’s also Martin Luther King Jr. Day — when we recognize the power of one man to bring about change by serving his country.
Help kick off an ongoing commitment to serve our communities by taking part in this extraordinary day of service.
Sign up to attend or host an event in your community and help rebuild America one neighborhood at a time.
The grassroots movement you helped build was always about more than an election. It’s about bringing much needed change to Washington and our communities.
I learned from Church of the Customer of another great resource to discover the local opportunities for giving back within your community. Visit US Service and enter your zip code for a place that needs your help today.
Today is a Make or Break Moment for our country. Each man, woman and child has the opportunity to make a difference.
What will you do?
Posted by Deborah Chaddock Brown on December 8, 2008 under Connecting Moments, Customer Moments, empathy |
Patricia Aburdene, who wrote the book Megatrends 2010 back in 2005, predicted that consumers would begin to spend money with companies that were kindred spirits. Companies that shared similar belief systems and gave back to the community.
“Going green” wasn’t really tripping off the tongue in 2005 but Patricia foretold that we would begin to care more about the environment and companies that proved they were green would be more appealing to the buying public.
We are just starting to realize that consumers have so many choices for where they spend their money that other things besides price, selection and availability are coming into play.
I just saw a new Subaru television commercial and it made me think of this very topic. Subaru announced the new Share the Love campaign:
From Nov. 24, 2008, through Jan. 2, 2009, for every new Subaru sold or leased, a $250 donation will be made to the consumer’s choice of five charities including - Our Local Tuolumne County Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels and Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
Buy a new Subaru and feel good about your purchase, not just because of the vehicle, but because they help you give to others.
Pearle Vision and Lenscrafters have been associated with the Lion’s Club for years. Bring in your old glasses and they’ll clean them up and make them available to someone who can’t afford corrective eyewear.
Just for Feet, a sneaker retailer offers discounts to customers who bring in their old sneakers. The used shoes are cleaned up, provided new shoe laces and then donated. This benefits the customer two ways: they get to feel good about donating their used shoes AND they get a discount on new ones for themselves.
My friend called the other day to say he’d replaced all of the lights on his Christmas tree with LED lights. “I’m saving the environment and using lights that reduce the risk of fire hazard in my home. I feel good about my purchase,” he told me.
What are you doing to give back to the community or our planet?
Have you told anyone?
Do consumers know what programs you have in place that benefit others? Is there a way you can work together with your customers for an even bigger effort?
How are you connnecting with the new conscious consumer?
