Everyone wants more customers.
More Facebook followers. More website traffic. More orders.
But sometimes we make getting customers way more complicated than it needs to be.
At Pineapple, a lot of our growth has been organic and word of mouth. And today, about 90% of our customers come back.
So what's the secret?
Pick Up the Phone
Seriously.
Pick up the phone. Get in your car. Stop at local businesses. Bring samples. Introduce yourself.
That pizza place around the corner? They need something.
The gymnastics school? They need something.
Schools, restaurants, construction companies, gyms, realtors, landscapers, contractors, sports teams—you have tools that allow you to serve almost anybody.
Everyone needs someone. Why can't that someone be you?
Facebook is great. We use it too. But don't build your entire business around posting something and hoping somebody messages you.
Sometimes you have to go find the customer.
1 Out of 50 Is Still a Win
Let's say you contact 50 businesses and 49 tell you no.
Sounds terrible, right?
Not necessarily.
Because that one yes can turn into 50 orders.
Maybe it's a school that needs shirts every year. A restaurant that continually needs uniforms. A contractor who needs apparel, decals, hard hats and more.
That's why I'd take 20 consistent customers over 100 one-time customers all day long.
100 one-time customers = 100 sales.
20 great customers who keep coming back can eventually turn into hundreds of sales.
Treat Every Customer Like a VIP
This is where businesses screw up.
They work incredibly hard to get the customer—and then once they have them, they start taking them for granted.
Think about car insurance.
Most of us have to have it, and there are a million companies trying to sell it to us. Why do we shop around?
Price matters. But so does how we're treated.
If you've had the same agent for five years, they know you, answer your calls and make you feel like you're their client, you're probably a lot less interested in leaving over a couple bucks.
Your business is no different.
Make it personal.
Answer the phone. Remember people. Take care of problems. Deliver what you promised.
That's how you turn a customer into a repeat customer.
“My Products Are Great, But Nobody Is Buying.”
Then I'd look at two things:
How many people are actually seeing what you're selling?
And...
Is your product really that good?
And when I say product, I don't just mean the shirt.
Your service, presentation, communication and delivery are part of the product.
There are a million pizza places.
Yet we all have our pizza place.
Why?
Maybe the pizza tastes better. Maybe the service is better. Maybe they know your name when you walk in.
Whatever it is, they gave you a reason to choose them.
You need to give your customers a reason to choose you.
If I Had to Start Over Tomorrow...
I'd get in my car.
I'd start calling every business around me while stopping at businesses along the way.
Schools. Restaurants. Gyms. Contractors. Offices. Anyone.
I'd bring samples and show them what I can do.
Would most say no?
Absolutely.
But I don't need everyone.
I need the first one.
Then I take care of that customer like they're the most important customer I have.
Because one can turn into 50 really fast.
Pineapple Wisdom
Be a hustler. Be creative. Be personal. Be the best.
We can give you the tools to make incredible products.
Now go find the people who need them.
Everyone needs someone. It might just be you. 🍍
Now tell us in the comments: What's actually getting YOU customers right now?