A significant part of customer service is engaging with your customers. Interacting with your customers shows that you have an adequate understanding of what good customer service is. Good customer service will make your customers feel less like they are just around to give away their money, and more like they are a priority, reminding them that they add value to your business. Knowing how to treat your customers will be very beneficial in the long run!
Why engage with customers? Relationships: By engaging with your customers, you will build new relationships with people. This could simply be with customers that you see on a regular basis, or even business professionals within the community! Forming new connections will eventually lead to building relationships. New connections can provide you with new ideas, resources, and perspectives. Having a relationship with your customers is what will make them want to come back. Customers will be more inclined to visit your establishment and spend their time and money there if they have a relationship with you. To build relationships, you must engage with customers. Loyalty: Consistently interacting with your customers allows you to build trust. This also plays a part in building relationships with your customers. If your customers can trust that you will provide what they need, have prices that they can afford, and can help answer any questions they might have then they will continue to go back to you. Their loyalty to you means that you always have customers you can count on, even when times get tough! Satisfaction: The satisfaction of your customers is your highest priority. Satisfied customers mean repeating customers! Part of customer satisfaction is engaging with customers. Figure out what the want/need, why they are stopping in, etc. Engaging with them will show that you want them to have a good experience, and that all their questions are being answered without them even having to ask! High customer satisfaction also boosts customer retention! How do you engage with customers? 1.Social Media Many people use social media on a daily basis. Social media is a great tool to engage with new and returning customers. Making frequent posts on social media and staying active lets your customers know what’s going on with your business without you having to directly tell them. Though not everyone is active on social media, many of the younger generations are, and as social media is used more and more by future generations it will become even more of a useful tool. For example, One-Eyed Cookie Lab stays active on Facebook. Posting multiple times a week, listing all products that will be sold, along with pictures of their sweet treats to provide a visual. Posting regularly and utilizing social media makes engaging with customers quick and easy. 2.Reward System Creating some type of rewards system shows that you are engaging with customers. Making customers feel special and important to your business will make them want to come back… which also means you will have customers loyal to you! Six Hundred is an example of a business implementing a rewards system in the community. At Six Hundred, returning customers can receive $10 off after spending a certain amount. This type of engagement is a great way to give back to your customers. 3.Personalized Shopping A meaningful way to engage with customers is by personally addressing customers. Introduce yourself and use their name while interacting with them. Personalized shopping will let customers know their needs are being met, while catering to the needs of individuals rather than customers as a whole. This could include custom orders, making specific product recommendations, etc. This creates a unique experience with the customer. At High-Point Graphics you will always have a personalized experience. With custom orders, banners, embroidery, and much more you are guaranteed to be taken care of as an individual. 4.Feedback Encourage feedback! Always ask for honesty from your customers as it can help your business. This could be through emailed surveys, “Tell us how we’re doing” QR codes on receipts, asking in person, social media comments/posts, website reviews, etc. Your customers’ opinions are so important, and by asking for their feedback shows them that what they think matters. Figuring out how you can enhance your customers’ experience can only be done if you know what they need from you! An example of receiving feedback is after making a purchase at Gathering Grounds, you can select a smiley face or a frowny face to express how your experience was. Actively asking for feedback allows you to engage with customers as you are allowing them to communicate how they feel you have done. 5.Mail/Email Sending out flyers, letters, or even new products that your business may have directly to your customers is an effective way to engage with them. Another great way to engage with customers is sending thank you letters or emails directly to them after making a purchase or even randomly. Showing your appreciation to your customers will show that you care about them and make them feel valuable! Four Acre Clothing sends out emails that inform customers when there are new products being released and any events they will be a vendor at. Sending out mail or setting up an email that customers can subscribe to is a great way to engage with you customers. 6.Events By hosting or participating in events, you can engage with many customers at once. Depending on your establishment, you can host many different types of events that cater to your business. These events could be holiday based events, deals your business may be having, or even events associated with First Fridays or any of the events Logan County has going on downtown! The Syndicate consistently hosts events. Nearly every weekend, there is live music open to all. By welcoming in the community and offering things that others can experience with you, you will more than likely have returning customers! Engaging with the community while giving them something to look forward to will be valuable to you and your business. There are many events that go on all throughout Logan County. To stay in the loop, check out: https://www.experiencelogancounty.com/events.html Engaging with your customers and taking the time to practice good customer service will benefit not only your customers but also your business. The experience that your customers have in your establishment is meaningful to them and will leave an impact!
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For over 16 years, Elle A. Design has been a pillar of creativity and innovation in Logan County. What began as a one-woman operation has blossomed into a thriving design studio known for its unique blend of artistic flair and technical expertise. Lindsey McGlone, the Owner and Creative Director of Elle A. Design, discovered her love for art at five years old. This early passion for creativity laid the foundation for what would eventually become a successful design studio. Lindsey always knew she wanted to be an artist, and in 2008, she turned her lifelong dream into a reality by founding Elle A. Design. Initially, Lindsey managed everything on her own, dedicating countless hours to her craft and her clients. Eight years into her journey, she decided to take a leap of faith by hiring a teammate – Chelsea Bray, Lead Designer and Copywriter. This decision marked a turning point for Elle A. Design, as Chelsea’s talent and dedication brought a new dimension to the studio - Lindsey says that Chelsea has become her right-hand girl and that hiring her has been one of the best decisions she has made. The team continued to grow, adding Lane Yoder as a Designer, Photographer and Videographer and most recently, Kate Powell as a Designer. Together, they have transformed Elle A. Design into a full-fledged brick-and-mortar studio, serving hundreds of clients not only in Logan County but across the country.
Why should I get involved?
Involvement in your community shows dedication and commitment to your business and the people you serve. Whether you’re a newer business, or your business has been around for a while, it’s never too late to get involved! How can I get involved with the community? There are so many ways to get involved with the community. Think about what you want out of your connections in the community. Do you want to meet new people? Give back to those in need? Offer your expertise to others? Or just have fun and relax? Consider your desired outcome to help guide your next steps.
What are the benefits to getting involved? By getting involved in the local economy, you are making an impact, whether it would be big or small. Volunteering and getting involved gives your business the chance to give back to the community, while giving you a feeling of gratification. When your business makes a positive impact, you also create a positive image for your brand. Volunteering in the community also opens opportunities to network and make connections with whomever you are volunteering with/for. Getting involved won’t harm your business - there are no downsides. Start getting involved to help you and your business expand and grow! Networking helps contribute to professional development, builds and strengthens relationships, all while allowing you to connect with new resources. Regularly attending networking events and connecting with the community will be extremely beneficial to you as you work on growing your business. Here are some ways networking will help your business flourish:
1. New Connections By networking and attending events within the community, you can build professional, long-lasting relationships and make connections that will add value to you and your business. These relationships can aid you when times are tough, or they can even just be familiar faces that you see on a regular basis. The Chamber hosts regular networking events, including our First Thursday Coffee each month at various coffee shops around Logan County. 2. New Resources Your new connections that you make can help you gain new perspectives, while also providing you with new knowledge. By bouncing ideas off one another, businesses can help each other grow by sharing their expertise. Our quarterly Member Meet & Greets are a great way to get to know other business owners and leaders who can aid you in ways you might not have known about! 3. Be More Visible Networking will ultimately lead to more visibility. Making it known that you are out in the community and representing your business will make more people knowledgeable of you and your business. When people are looking for a product or service, you want to be the first one to come to mind! 4. Positive Image Regularly attending professional events will show that you are involved and willing to make an appearance in the community. This creates a positive image for not only you but also your business! 5. Increased Opportunities Your involvement and connections will give you more opportunities. You may be offered certain job advice, and new doors may open up after networking. This is especially true for our Young Professionals events held throughout the year. What are some ways you can network within the community? There are endless ways that you can network within the community. This could be grabbing coffee with a neighboring business, popping into a new store to introduce yourself, or even simply connecting with a business via social media or email. Keeping up to date with events in Logan County is a great way to network. Getting involved – and staying involved – will allow you and your business grow. Stay up to Date with all of the Chamber’s networking opportunities! https://members.logancountyohio.com/events For over seven decades, Lakeside Pro Bass Shop and Mini Golf has been a cherished establishment in Logan County. Founded 76 years ago as Lakeside Landing by Gertrude and Jesse Pittard, this family-owned business has evolved into a beloved community hub for fishing enthusiasts and families alike.
The West Liberty Business Association held their Annual Dinner on Thursday, January 18, 2024. It began with a social hour and membership drive with music provided by Rise FM. After that, WLBA President Heather Chamberlain welcomed all the attendees and a prayer was offered by Jeff Vernon. The meal that followed was prepared by Paul’s Catering. After dinner, Chamberlain welcomed West Liberty-Salem Band Director Paul Waibel. Earlier in the year, the WLBA was made aware of a few students that needed some additional funding in order to be able to go to Disney with the WL-S band. Several members of the WLBA donated money for these students to be able to go on this trip. Mr. Waibel thanked all of those members for helping to make this trip a reality. Some highlights of 2023 for the WLBA are as follows: Increased membership by 45%, finalized their 501c3 status to be recognized as an official non-profit organization, and purchased a trolley along with the Lion’s Club and the Village.
The start of Heaven’s Dew was rooted in a collective desire for innovation and a concern for overall health and environmental well-being. Formed amidst the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the founders – guided by a shared vision – crafted a plan to honor God by caring for creation. The name “Heaven’s Dew” was inspired by the blessing that the dew gives the earth, referenced in Genesis 27:28 which says, “May God give you heaven’s dew and earth’s richness – an abundance of grain and new wine.”
Big Orange Shoe Shop was opened in 1975 by West Liberty native, Ken Lehman. An avid fan of all things running, Ken founded the “Big Orange” Cross Country program at West Liberty-Salem Schools, where his team won four consecutive state titles in a row from 1976-1979. As Ken is a well-known icon for West Liberty athletics, Big Orange Shoe Shop (B.O.S.S.) is well known as an icon for the West Liberty community (and beyond!).
B.O.S.S. now offers silk screen and custom embroidery for teams, organizations or even businesses. Customers love the store because of its history and loyalty to not only the West Liberty community, but other local schools and community organizations, as well. Team uniforms and apparel are provided to Benjamin Logan, Triad and many others. You can also order and customize your school jacket with Big Orange Shoe Shop. Big Orange Shoe Shop has sponsored the annual BOSS Summer Run since its inception in 1977, where male and female age group winners receive certificates to the store. Proceeds from the BOSS Summer Run benefit the West Liberty-Salem Big Orange Cross Country program. The B.O.S.S. crew provides the t-shirts for the race, as well as other races like the Annual West Liberty Luminaria 5K. First place winners from the Luminaria 5K also receive certificates to B.O.S.S.! You will also find the B.O.S.S. crew set up at different sporting events and festivals, like the West Liberty Labor Day Festival – where you can shop their full store. It is important to them to support the community and give back when they can. “B.O.S.S.,” the store’s nickname from a time when Ken’s team was overcoming adversity and winning state titles still holds true to this day. After Ken, Pat & Jim Clement were owners, as well as Julie & Dennis McIntosh. Tim continues to hold the business to the same old-school high standards that the previous owners did and pushes through adversity like the Covid shut down and the challenges that come from being a rural, small-town business. One thing that stands out now is that Big Orange Shoe Shop is now the official uniform shop for AGC Automotive. They provide three full uniforms for each AGC employee, and this service has positively enhanced the success of B.O.S.S.
Please join us in congratulating Big Orange Shoe Shop as being the Logan County Chamber of Commerce December 2023 Business of the Month!
Located next door was a flower shop and on slow days, Kristie would join them to help create flower arrangements. They taught her a lot (more than either of them knew!) and before long, she was even creating vintage setups for weddings, such as unique arbors made of books and trees and adding seating areas! Not long after, a bride came to her in a panic when their florist could no longer provide for the wedding. Kristie used her years of creative experience and saved the bride’s wedding day (which was the next day) and wedding flowers! Since then, people have been calling and requesting wedding flowers and that’s really where Dorcey’s Flowers begins. Four years ago, Kristie moved the business to Logan County because she saw a positive change in the area that she wanted to be a part of. Initially opening in Bellefontaine, Kristie soon began looking for a bigger space as business continued to expand. Thankfully she found the perfect spot at 118 N. Detroit Street in West Liberty a little over a year ago. Timing was great for the larger space, as last year during the busy Fall wedding season, Dorcey’s had 14 weddings to prepare flowers for!
Kristie’s background is unique and there’s no doubt the creative industry is where she is supposed to be. She used to work in the film industry, where she created sets and costumes for Directors. Eventually, she became her own Director and even won an MTV Movie Award. Due to her creative past and experience, Kristie feels that she can execute any idea her customers come up with. The Dorcey’s Flowers marketing strategy is much like others with a focus on social media, but what sets them apart is Kristie’s view on customer service. She makes sure to go above and beyond for her customers. She also makes sure to be involved in the community and stresses the importance of being a Chamber member, which can help with business visibility. Kristie says that being a part of a Chamber is like being part of a business family and the networking that comes from it helps her business (and many others) thrive.
You can check out Dorcey’s Flowers for a special event this weekend, November 9-11, where the flower studio will be open for a retail shopping event. This one-of-a-kind event is a chance to do some holiday shopping and find some of Kristie’s “mistletoe magic” for yourself. On Wednesday, November 15, you can also join Kristie for a Holiday Wreath Workshop at BUILD Cowork + Space from 6:30-8:30pm. You’ll also want to save the date for the last Saturday in April 2024 for something special that is in the plans! Find more information about these events on Dorcey’s Facebook page.
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