More Vs. Enough

Our culture has taught us that we should multiply our effort to maximise our reward. But a sustainable business—one that is both viable and brings us joy, doesn’t always necessitate exponential growth.

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Everything Speaks

The fundamentals don’t garner loyalty. Customers want an experience. People don’t just buy what we serve—they buy how it makes them feel.

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On The Face Of It

Our neighbours are selling their house. The selling agent said if they want to get the best price, they should give it a lick of paint. And so the decorators are outside today painting the railings. There’s no doubt that a fresh coat of paint will brighten the place up ready for auction day. But…

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Marketing Advice

We’re on our way to buy that forgotten pint of milk late one weekday evening when we spot a brand new restaurant. So, we stop to take a look at the menu in the window. Inside the place is deserted, apart from two smiling waitresses, stationed behind the double glass doors and one anxious owner…

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Words And Deeds

When we moved to our neighbourhood, the independent organic grocer was a community hub. The sales staff knew locals by name. The fruit and vegetables were plentiful and fresh. And customers were offered food tastings every day. And then bit by bit things started to change. The owner opened a store in a neighbouring suburb,…

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If You Want To Be Noticed, Start Noticing

We’re always looking for ways to get our customers to notice us. We spend time thinking about what new marketing channels we could explore. We work on strategies to get us more exposure. We test tactics that might improve our reach. What would happen if we shifted some of our energy to noticing our customers?…

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The Power Of A Shared Narrative

Many shoppers wandering the department store on Saturday are browsing. Some are buying. Most people the menswear assistant offers to help, decline. But one or two ask if a particular shirt or jumper is available in their size. The response depends. It depends on three things—the stock levels, the training the sales team received, and…

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