Wednesday Wisdom: The Gift of Re-Engagement

Wednesday Wisdom, Inspiration, Success Strategies for Women Entrepreneurs, Female Business Owners, Small Businesses

The old white mansion stood solid on the corner piece of property. Its columns, with a pink flowering plant still blooming above the porch floor with rustic leaves swirling around its base due to the wind, welcomed guests under its roof. Inside a glass paned door led to a stunning foyer. To the left of the entrance way was a fireplace with enough windows to welcome in the late autumn-colored day, and a conference table adorned with golden-leafed plants.

It was the perfect setting for a first-time return event in the Mohawk Valley, specifically Rome, New York, where our hostess Michelle Shauger’s office resides along with the building’s owner Kim Cook, CPA. Not knowing how many women might attend, Michelle and I decided to take the chance and see. We were both content with whoever showed up knowing some women remain tentative about public events.

To our joy, fifteen wonderful business women joined us as we sat around the long table, like an early Thanksgiving Day gathering, sharing a meal and conversing about strategies that got us through the worst part of the pandemic. What was amazing was the fact that the most often noted success strategy was re-engaging on a more intimate level with customers.

Whether it was dropping off free books to clients, having personal Zoom calls with long-time customers just to stay in touch, adapting services to cater to clients who were timid about doing business face-to-face or even signing documents, or treating special clients to gifts accompanied by Zoom calls to show them how to use the sent gifts. Old fashion customer service opportunities arose and helped these woman-owned businesses survive.

Today’s Wednesday Wisdom, the week before the most grateful holiday of the year, contemplate some of these strategies and implement them yourself or have a brain storming session with your staff on ways to honor, gift, and show customers your appreciation. You know your clients better than anyone else.
Also, realize you have different customers with varying tolerance levels for risking their health post-pandemic, and custom design options for different groups.

What is important is they know you still care about them especially this time of year, which should carry into a happier 2022.