Charlie Tuzzi is the owner of Cameo by Copeland Cleaners and Winzer Cleaners.
At Cameo by Copeland Cleaners, our team specializes in a wide variety of services for clothing care across New York and beyond. We’ve been able to carve out our place in the industry and refine our practices through decades of hard work. With this article, my goal is to share tips for how to create a lasting legacy for those who aspire to be business owners, regardless of industry.
Stay up to date on industry standards.
In our industry, a big part of providing high-quality service to our customers is using the latest technology to ensure our customers’ clothing receives the best care based on their needs. No matter your industry, it’s important to stay up to date and understand everything you can about changes your industry might be experiencing. Do your research and join associations of similar businesses to gain additional insight.
Focus on convenience.
Convenience is a huge factor in our modern society. Put yourself in the shoes of your customer. With busy lifestyles filled with demanding work schedules, family obligations and social gatherings—they’re constantly being pulled in a million directions. Think of ways that you can make their lives easier. For example, we offer online scheduling and complimentary pickup and delivery services in order to cater to our clientele’s busy schedules.
Prioritizing customer convenience should be seen as an investment. You’re investing in your customers along with your team. In my experience, your customers will notice this appreciation for their busy lifestyle and that alone will keep your business top of mind for them in the future when they’re seeking out services.
Offer specialty services.
We offer cleaning services for garments that other establishments frequently turn away—clothing made with delicate materials like silk or suede or more unique garments with leather and fur. We also work with brides post-wedding to ensure their gowns stay in pristine condition for years to come. And we provide tailoring and repair services. While many people consider this an antiquated service, we had faith in the practice and have kept it alive within our business.
Your industry may be different from mine, but you can look for gaps in the market where you might be able to better serve your target demographic and become the go-to for difficult or unique situations. Start by doing your research and looking at your competitors.
Promote customer loyalty.
Clientele can be finicky, and if you don’t win over your customers, they can easily shop around for other options. The primary technique we use for driving customer loyalty is by providing superior service because our customers notice the difference. You can also drive customer retention by offering special discounts and deals to returning clients. This can range from month-long sale pricing to event loyalty cards encouraging people to visit again.
Curate a strong online presence.
Building your brand from the ground up can be next to impossible without an online presence. Your brand should be visible through social media, SEO and digital advertising.
We utilize social media to get the word out about our brand and services and also use paid ads to direct traffic to our website. We also consistently monitor and re-optimize our website to ensure high search engine rankings. This manifests in both physical and digital traffic for our business.
Being a resource to your clientele is another thing that can make your brand shine and you can do this by offering up thought leadership via social media or a blog.
We also use our website as a resource for our team. Customers can use our digital forms to contact our team directly. This allows us to secure meaningful leads and act upon them quickly. Consider implementing lead generation forms into your digital marketing practices. Social media will also allow you to connect in meaningful ways with your customers. People want to feel heard, so keep this in mind when you’re overhauling your marketing tactics.
In conclusion, adaptability and versatility are essential for successful businesses. By applying these principles, you can give your brand the opportunity to thrive.
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