|
Views from Across the Pond
Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2011, 5:40 p.m. EST
Quality Pond Products, Service Promote Longevity
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Trevor Cole
 |
| Set your business apart with good customer service -- consistently and without exception. | How long have you been in business? A recent newspaper article profiled several local businesses that have been around for at least 100 years. The businesses varied from a restaurant, a travel agency, a jewelry store, a shoe repair shop, a funeral home, a grocery store and a car dealership. I wondered what these businesses might have in common to have such longevity. Many of them are family-owned and have been passed down through generations.
Will my store be on this list in 90 years? So far, my 8-year old daughter vacillates between wanting to be a lawyer like her mother or a business owner like me, or maybe a dentist or “the lady who paints your toenails.” Whether your business is passed on through generations of family, bought out by a trusted employee or acquired by a conglomerate, what is the key to your long-term success?
Since how many of these centenarian businesses are located downtown in what used to be the city center, I suspect that location is less important than tradition and service. Given this age of the Internet and the ease of travel, the physical location of your business might not be as important as the unique product you sell.
One of the restaurants on the list -- the oldest in Alabama -- is located in what some consider an unsavory neighborhood, yet we consistently patronize them because the food is heavenly and the service ua first-class. It’s a tradition.
My father-in-law’s nursery, located next to our store, has been in the same location since 1923. At the time it was founded, the location was considered in the middle of nowhere. Long before the urban sprawl caught up, however, people drove out there for the quality products and well-known expertise.
How do you provide quality products and expertise while remaining relevant, profitable and adaptable over the years?
- Offer a product that everyone wants, and then know how to sell it.
- Set your business apart with good customer service -- consistently and without exception. Customer service is more than making the sale; it’s providing the follow-up. An honest, simple approach: We’re here to serve you. If you’re going to buy our product, we’re going to back it up.
- Be adaptable. How on earth does a travel agent founded in the days of steamship travel continue to flourish? They offer service considered second-to-none. They’re the experts. They live what they sell.
I want my daughter to chose her own path. If that involves taking over my business, great! If not, my long-range plan is for someone else to take over my business.
I have a good core team that is trained well and motivated. Several might be interested in taking over a good, solid business. Either way, I’m laying the groundwork now: consistency, service and expertise.
« See All Editorial Blogs »
 Give us your opinion on
Quality Pond Products, Service Promote Longevity
Industry Professional Site: Comments from non-industry professionals will be removed.
Tips for leaving comments
Water Garden News encourages you to participate in this discussion. The views expressed in the blogs and the comments do not necessarily represent the opinions of Water Garden News or BowTie, Inc. The publication of these views should not be construed as approval or endorsement of them. We are happy to offer a home for your discussions, but please be respectful and follow the house rules.
|