While I was getting ready for a now rare date to go see a movie with my husband the other night (Thanks for twin-sitting, dad!), I was tempted to grab a nice cold Diet Pepsi out of my fridge and throw it into a purse, but I stopped myself. I knew that a beverage at the movies would set me back about $5 or so, and that the cans of soda I’d just bought at CostCo cost me around $.27 each. This is not fuzzy math.
But then I stopped and thought for a moment. The business model of the movie theater is such that it makes the vast majority of its profits on concessions. In fact, theaters rarely make any money on ticket sales themselves, or at least not nearly what they make on soda, popcorn and candy. So, I reasoned, if everyone took the action I was contemplating, in the long run, how would any theater stay afloat? And did I care?
Well, the answer is, “Yes, I care!!” And as business people and owners, we should all spend some time reflecting on how we behave as consumers. We expect our customers to appreciate the service that we give them and understand that we are in business to make profit, employ people, and provide goods and services to companies and individuals in need of such services and goods. But do we treat other businesses the same way?
What I am getting at is, “Do you give as good as you get?”
I hear a lot of print shop owners and sales people grouse about eroding margins, price battles, and the daily struggles to stay afloat. Believe me, I understand that position. For years, I was in the trenches fighting those same battles to maintain business and capture new customers in an in a contracting market and increasingly competitive world.
So here’s my point. We should walk the walk and talk the talk. And maybe, JUST maybe, it’s time to let our customers in on some of the secrets.
Have you ever considered explaining some of the reasoning behind where your prices come from so clients can understand why you charge what you charge? How about right now? Would any of you be willing to share how you come up with some of the pricing that you charge? I’m not asking for trade secrets, just a little insight into how you decide what to charge. And is it always the same for everyone? I’m just curious.
So I started out talking about one issue and ended with another, but my point it this: you should try to have your actions be in line with your intentions and expectations. And the more people understand WHY you charge a certain price, the more informed a decision they can make. I don’t mind paying $5 for a soda at a theater because I want the movies to always be there for me.
Let’s hope your customers feel the same way about you!
- Categories:
- Business Management - Marketing/Sales
Blogger, author, consultant, coach and all around evangelist for the graphic arts industry, Kelly sold digital printing for 15 years so she understands the challenges, frustrations and pitfalls of building a successful sales practice. Her mission is to help printers of all sizes sell more stuff. Kelly's areas of focus include sales and marketing coaching, enabling clients to find engagement strategies that work for them and mentoring the next generation of sales superstars.
Kelly graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Political Science and, among other notable accomplishments, co-founded the Windy City Rollers, a professional women's roller derby league. She is also the mother of two sets of twins under the age of ten, so she fears nothing.