Can you sell ice to an Eskimo?

Selling ice to an Eskimo? Mad or what? It may be your immediate reaction to this proposition. But, have you wondered Eskimos too might need your assistance in choosing the right ice while ice is all around? Couldn’t get yet?

I think I have made too many questions already. Your head by now might start spinning unless you have been comfortable enough to pay attention to the underlying myth of all those statements / questions. Let me take that onus for you – my beloved readers and friends.

Assisting an Eskimo in choosing the right ice: 

When a customer pays visit to your gift store in many a case he / she had done his / her home work for the right purchase. Again a few would always be there who would come to your shop first and then decide what to purchase. The customer in reference in the second category; i.e., choosing the gift post arrival at your shop is a separate class altogether who can comparatively be moulded with ease to confine his/her purchase within the options / products available in your store. But, the first set of customers who already have to your gift store with a pre-mindset will be stubborn to a great extent on their choices. Hence, convincing and selling them the items available in your store would more or less amount to selling ice to an Eskimo.

How to sell ice to an Eskimo?

The first and foremost tip in this case would never such customers to be on top your head while fiddling with their egos; but keep recommending products in a persuasive manner and take them along to a wide range of products with distinctive features and prices (obviously to the extent your store will support). Hammering with the recommendations, suggestions and perhaps a bit of imagination on your part by reading the customers’ mood you can make a big difference.

At the end of the day we are all human. Despite of our so called professional attire and cover on the face at heart we all love a little bit of appreciation, a personalized care while shopping. These things don’t cost you; but demand your business acumen for closing a sale. More importantly, it helps in winning a customer for life.

 

Walking an extra mile for your customer:

Here I wish to highlight value added services that you can add as an extension of your gift store business. This is simply intended for creating a niche for yourself as there may be a hundred gift stores on the same street where you are. Besides, it creates a sense of relief on the part of the customers too. How? Just consider a case where your customer wants to send a gift, say a bouquet, to Hyde Park right at 6 o’clock in the morning on next day. She (your customer) stays on Oxford Street, not very far off but unsure of making it by 6 on her own and don’t want miss the opportunity to be the first person to wish her best friend for the marriage anniversary. She’s in a fix – just take that burden off her and do it. Be sure that you have won a customer for life.

As I said, we all are human. A little personalized touch makes a huge difference in life.