What Do Customers Want From Their Products?

Customer expectations continue to increase as technology advances, and business owners must meet these expectations to compete and retain customers. Satisfy customers and maintain your share of the market by giving shoppers what they want.

High-Quality Merchandise

The quality of your merchandise profoundly influences the reputation of your company. Customers expect high-quality products, and businesses that fail to meet this expectation are generally met with customer complaints and requests for refunds. Angry, dissatisfied customers are also quite vocal, and they can quickly damage your company's reputation. Satisfy customers by only selling products that meet or exceed their expectations.

Fair Prices

A company's pricing practices has a direct impact on customer satisfaction and retention. It's common for customers to shop around in search of a bargain, and most savvy shoppers know when items are priced well. A price tag that's too high quickly deters new customers, and inflating prices when items are scarce is another practice that might cause your regular customers to head for the door. Conduct research to determine the going rate for the products you sell, and price the items fairly to ensure your customers get a good value and you make a nice profit.

Occasional Deals

Customers want to know about upcoming sales, special promotions or exciting new product releases. Satisfy customers by communicating with them regularly to ensure they know what's happening at your establishment. New technology has made it easier than ever to keep your current customers informed and offer occasional deals. Post information about upcoming sales events on your Facebook or Twitter pages. Contact each customer on your email list to inform him about special sale dates. Create advertising campaigns on Google to reach out to local shoppers. Passing out flyers and hanging billboards are still effective as well.

Loyalty Discounts

Customers appreciate it when businesses reward them for their loyalty. Offer something unique or special to frequent customers to keep them coming in the door. It's no secret that many businesses make more money on repeat customers, and loyalty discounts give regulars a good reason to come back. Offer reward points that lead to discounts on certain products, or satisfy customers by giving them the opportunity to get an item for free after a certain number of purchases.

Effective Problem Resolution

When problems arise, customers want a quick, effective resolution. They don't want to jump through hoops to resolve problems that weren't their fault, so satisfy customers by responding to problems and complaints immediately. Replace faulty products if necessary, and issue refunds in a timely manner. It's also important to apologize to customers, as this too can have a very positive impact.

Customer expectations seem to have evolved in recent years, and the internet makes it much easier for dissatisfied customers to express their grievances and turn others away from your establishment. Satisfy customers by offering quality products at fair prices while making sure their overall experiences with your establishment keep them coming in the door.

Photo courtesy of stockimages at FreeDigitalPhotos.net