Customer Service and Your Promotional Products

by: Gareth
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Word Count: 522

It is a known fact that customers who are satisfied with a particular service may either rave about it to their friends or just keep quiet unless asked for feedback -– whereas customers who are particularly dissatisfied are bound to rant to just about everybody in their immediate family, family, friends, acquaintances and even neighbors from far and wide –- quite a lot of people, then. And here we could just take one particular customer, multiplied by all the people he or she knows, and there goes bad business for the product supplier/manufacturer –- yet another thing you should consider when going into the promotional products business.

I maintain that a promotional products entrepreneur who provides good customer service will always, truly be a step ahead of a snooty entrepreneur with same quality of products. When you think about it, wouldn’t it be really ironic to be in the promotional products business (where a lot of cheer and creativity abound) but be surly, grumpy and uncommunicative as well? It doesn’t go hand-in-hand – so as you start planning out how to launch your promotional products lineup, better start working on your people skills as well.

Here are some of things you can provide by way of customer service:

Information – Yes, a T-shirt is a T-shirt. However, what is it made of? Why is this fabric more expensive than this? How can your customer maximize this simple T-shirt as a promotional product? Be very educated in the specifics and nitty-gritty of your products so that you can provide accurate information to your customers as well. Some of them may need just the basics, but some customers will also need the added assurance of knowing exactly what they are buying.

Creativity – Yes, a pen is a pen. However, how many ways can you jazz up and redesign this pen? Suppose the customer wants it sophisticated for company giveaways? How about if the customer wants it in a funny-looking shape for party favors? Promotional products are extremely flexible. Make good use of that advantage.
Imagination – Some customers will come to you knowing exactly what they want, and which promotional products they want to purchase. There will always be those, however, who will come to you only knowing that they want to throw a Valentine’s Day ball and need promotional products for the souvenirs. In cases where they do not have any specific theme in mind, it would be good if you can throw in some ideas, get their imagination working. Remember, the more extensive your ideas are, the more promotional products will go into that checkout bag!

Numbers – The more items sold, the better for you. Similarly, if a customer wants to buy in bulk, they will also get a lot of savings. You don’t have to be a math expert to figure out that a bulk purchase can benefit everyone, nor do you have to be exceptionally good at numbers to be able to point out which number of items will work for the range of items needed. Be realistic and upfront when it comes to your promotional products and you will rake in the rewards.

About the Author

Gareth Parkin is the co-founder of Ideasbynet, the UK's largest online source of promotional products and promotional gifts. He has taken the UK gift market by storm by the application of modern business thinking and the latest search engine marketing techniques. For more details on promotional products visit www.ideasbynet.com

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