Learn About Marketing from your Corner Shop

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Talk about survivors!

The corner shops that are still around today have encountered many obstacles and competitive threats from bigger stores but many are still in business with very loyal customers.

These are my observations and based on the local shop near where I live. They sell basic groceries and a few fresh vegetables, newspapers etc. Over the years I have watched them grow their business, added a few extra services and products and have a thriving business. It should also be noted that they operate not far from major supermarkets and their prices are not the cheapest.

So why are they successful?

• They open early so customers can buy their newspapers from the shop on the way to work or after they have gone for a morning walk. Observing this they added a coffee machine so now you can now get a  good coffee plus a muffin if you wish as well as the newspaper. Incremental sales.

• On the weekend there is usually a queue of people paying for their newspaper. The shop now has fresh rolls, pastries, croissants etc and most customers walk out with these plus their newspaper every weekend. Extra sales with little effort.

• There are elderly people in the neighbourhood so they offer free delivery with their purchases. Regular customers.

• They now have a service where you can drop your dry cleaning in and pick it up later that night up to 11pm. Extra profit as they get a commission from the dry cleaner without adding to their costs.

• The local area likes deli foods so the back fridge is loaded with great food that you would normally associate with just a delicatessen. Higher margins on these products.

Successful small business marketing does not have to be complicated, so what additional services or products can you offer your customers?