There are many ways to grow a customer-focused business, but in tough times, bravery and creativity are a must.
This week I listened to Adam Goymour from Roarr! in Norfolk talk about reopening his attraction with a difference; I talked to a friend about taking her catering business on the road and I wandered around the unique shops at Burwash Manor in Cambridgeshire before sitting down for a coffee. Nice week I hear you cry!
And yes it has been. But it's also been thought-provoking. What these three businesses have in common is that they have taken or are taking some risks to change, grow and make the best of a really difficult situation.
Let's take Burwash Manor. It's a family-run farm. That's what it is at it's heart, yet it's also a wedding venue, a place for nature walks, a playground, somewhere to buy fresh produce, to explore antiques, to drink coffee..... and more. But it wasn't always all of these things. It's grown and changed and listened to the customers it's serving.
The mix is perfect. It holds customers in a space for longer than any of those individual small businesses would were there on the high street, and every time I go, something small has changed. It's a great repeat visit and a real treat when you discover it for the first time.
Diversifying your offer is about knowing what you want to achieve, really understanding your visitors and what motivates them and researching your potential market. It's about building connections and loyalty as Roarr! has done and it's offering something new or different as Jen at the Cowshed is about to do.
Be confident and be brave. Take a considered risk and it will pay off.
I have experience of doing this to build a business. Let's talk about it and see how I can help. A fresh pair of eyes is always useful.
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