5 Ways to Surprise & Delight Your Retailers
Building strong relationships with retailers is key to standing out from the competition. Going the extra mile to surprise and delight your retailers not only shows appreciation but also fosters loyalty and long-term partnerships. Below are 5 friendly and effective strategies to surprise and delight your retailers, leaving a warm and lasting impression.
- Give a Thoughtful Gift:
Include a small gift in outgoing orders. Maybe it's a little assortment of candy, a fun sticker, or a sample or two of your product. This could also be done through a special mailer that coincides with a holiday or new product release. A few years ago, we sent a Valentine mailing to our retailers that included a Valentine card with a few caramels and heart-shaped confetti to show our "love" and appreciation for their support. Simple yet thoughtful gestures go a long way in making retailers feel valued and appreciated.
- Send a Thank You:
Express your heartfelt appreciation through a personalized note. This can be added in an outgoing order, or could be a separately mailed card to your top customers. Try and add a hand-written aspect for that personal touch.
- Reward Your Die-Hard Customers:
Be sure to recognize and reward your loyal retailers. Consider offering them a special one-time discount or free product. Sometimes we will offer a special where you will receive 6 free greeting cards with a purchase of $250 and above. You could also include a special coupon code in the retailer's order to encourage them to place a reorder down the road.
- Send Restocking Reminders:
Let your retailers know about new product releases, variations of existing products, or seasonal offerings. With seasonal products such as Mother's Day or Christmas, I like to send an initial email early in the buying season to let them know these products are now shipping, and then an additional email later in the buying season in case they need any last-minute restocks.
- Focus on Exceptional Customer Service:
Exceptional customer service is the foundation of all successful strategies to surprise and delight retailers. Personalize your interactions, respond promptly to inquiries and feedback, and strive to exceed expectations. By delivering exceptional service, you not only enhance customer satisfaction but also create a warm and friendly environment for long-term growth and retailer happiness with your brand.
Surprising and delighting your retailers is about more than just gestures—it's about building genuine connections and lasting relationships. By incorporating of few of thee ideas above, you can stand out from the crowd and build long lasting relationships with your retailers!
pssst...learn more about building retailer relationships in my course Connect & Convert where I share my exact retailer outreach and follow up strategy!
