Do you have “be back” days? You know, those days when you have plenty of browsers, but few buyers?
An acquaintance, with a browse-worthy shop in a tourist destination, said to me the other day when I asked how business was:
“If the Be Back Bus pulls in tomorrow, I’ll have a great day!”
To which I, having NOT been asked for advice, gave it anyway. “Well, heck,” says this incorrigible opinion-giver, “all you need is
Be Back Coupons.”
Just imagine: they say “Thanks, we’ll be back” as they head for the door, and you give them a coupon good starting tomorrow to a few days past that.
What have you just done by handing out this coupon?
- Made your business stand out in a sea of sameness (especially if they are diligent browsers and are spending the day shopping in who-knows-how-many stores)
- Given them a reason to remember your store specifically, when they decide two hours later they really wanted that [fill in the blank]
- Left them smiling as they leave (who gets a present leaving a store without making a purchase?)
- Given YOURself the opportunity to be gracious (“Why, you’d like to use that coupon right now for that [thingamabobby] you were undecided about? Sure, please do… after all, there’s no sense using gas just to come back tomorrow, that wouldn’t be very eco-friendly, would it. Shall I wrap it up for you?”)
- Possibly given them a teeny push to reconsider a purchase, possibly saved a sale, probably had fun, interacting with potential customers.
Some days, I’m so brilliant. Some days, I can’t contain myself. Even though at least once a week I SWEAR I’ll stop offering my opinion on everything that people say. But, then, I did get the promise of a steak dinner out of an excited shopkeeper. (Gift certificates always welcomed.)
Photo of a bee’s back from thefwoosh.com, whatever that is.
Auntie Kate The Resale Expert 
[…] hand out “Keep in Touch” business cards with all your social media, and consider giving BeBack coupons “so you can shop in a more relaxed way in the next week or […]
What a great idea. Our location is great for foot traffic as people are coming to the plaza for other business- dog grooming, tennis racket repair or visits to the quilt/weaving/bead shops. However, some of the shoppers browse, look at their watches and exclaim something to the effect that “the dog groomer will be done soon” and make a quick exit to retreive their pooch. We will start using this idea to get these browsers back into A Second Thought Re-Sale Shop.
What a great idea!!
That’s a GREAT idea!! It is so tough to have a consignment biz in a resort town…Everyone asks me how business is…followed with: it should be a busy weekend because such-and-so-event is going on at Mt. Snow…I’m frustrated because there are plenty of locals who SHOULD be stopping in and don’t…and when they do, they’re very BROWSE-Y!! Definitely will put to work the coupons…Thanks for the idea! 🙂
It’s nice to read an article by an expert on the merits of something you’ve been doing all along, Thanks Kate! I been using a “coupon on the way out” since we’ve opened. Just another tool in the shop owners tool box. I usually just write a percentage off on the back of a business card. I think it gives it more of a personal touch. Either way, I see a lot of these cards come back.
Thanks Michelle. Hope someday your shop will be able to join us at HowToConsign.com so that you have many more folks to use this with!