He who is waiting for something to turn up might start with his own shirt sleeves. ~ Unknown

One of the most important things we can do to ensure customer loyalty is to treat them like the VIP they really are. Failure to do so can be extremely costly. Not only do you loose them, but also any referrals they might have otherwise provided.

As an example of what not to do I will relate a personal experience. After purchasing a sports jacket for my husband as a gift at a well known menswear store we returned to discuss a possible exchange. The staff was friendly and helpful. The shopping experience itself was pleasant enough.

Although they did not have the correct size replacement, after checking, they assured us that a replacement was available. They took down our information and promised to contact us as soon as the jacket came in.

I hesitate to tell you how long ago that was. However, that is the real issue here. It has now been over a year since this promise was made and we have yet to receive any further correspondence or contact in regards to this issue or any other for that matter. I am sure you fully understand the impact this has had on our customer loyalty to that menswear store.

I have always had a love affair going with anything Italian. The art work, the music, the wine and food, the sizzling hot Italian lover out there waiting just for me; it’s enough to make me dizzy with delight. I dream in Italian at night.

When I met the “hot mamma”, Gloria D’ Eliso Mount, she instantly captured my heart. Gloria is everything I love about Italy. She is that person you have always wanted to know and are so grateful when you finally meet. When she sees your car pull up un- expectantly she throws the door open wide and rushes out to greet you. “Hot Mamma” knows how to make you feel at home. But wait, that doesn’t quite sum it up. She doesn’t just make you feel at home she knows how to make you feel as if you are the most important person on the planet. Her love is-- well, huge.

I’ve learned a lot about loyalty and love from Gloria. I have also learned a lot about running a business from her because she operates her business, My Little Taste of Italy, in the same arms-wide-open loving way as she runs her personal life. Her customers are not just people that buy stuff from her; they are her friends for life.

Gloria just naturally understands relationship marketing. She didn’t go to a high ranking marketing school; she didn’t read it in a book. Hot Mamma came to the planet with the knowledge; her heritage and up-bringing gave her all she needed. I watch as she packages up her Valentine orders. She doesn’t just ship out a bunch of Italian cookies in a box (which, to be perfectly honest, would be sufficient--the treats leave you weak in the knees), she puts the love that makes Valentine’s Day such a special holiday into each box. In go the cakes and cookies (the new Hot Mammas are my favorite) then in goes the little wedding bubbles, and red waxed lips, or the birthday card, balloon napkins, etc. She then wraps it all in festive paper or uses a decorative box. She is the epitome of love, humor, and passion rolled into the form of an Italian baker.

In my next life I want to be an Italian cookie in Hot Mamma’s kitchen.

Subject: {first name} You deserve a special gift.

Dear {first name},

This check is not redeemable at any bank - however it could be one of the most valuable gifts you'll ever receive.

You see, this check is worth {$xxx} towards your very own {product/service}.

Imagine how wonderful it would be to enjoy {benefit of your product/service}. At last, you could do away with {some problem your product/service provides}.

You had originally {shopped/asked for a quote/catalog} some time ago, but I never heard back from you. That's why I wanted to make you a special offer. In order to "nudge" you along and take that next step. If you decide to go ahead with {product/service} before the expiration date on this check you'll save {$xxx.xx} off our already low prices.

So if you've put off {getting/having} {product/service} because of the price or some other reason, now is the perfect time to reconsider. Why not give me a call at {xxx-xxxx} and discover why over {number of people} {have used/bought/benefit from this valuable/remarkable product/service}. You'll wonder why you waited so long.

Or if you have any further questions or concerns, I will be happy to answer them for you. But please don't wait because this special offer is only good until expiration date on this check.

I really hope you'll be able to take advantage of this tremendous opportunity.

Sincerely,
Your name
{your title}

P.S. If you would like more information on {your service} just go to our website at: {www.yoursite.com}.

This is just one idea for an actual email campaign that we welcome you to personalize and utilize. If you need a complete email campaign or phone script specific to your industry or service please contact us at info@nibrocmarketing.com and we will be happy to assist you.

Is it time for you to fulfill your greater purpose in your business and know that you can have prosperity as well?

Do you want to attract all the right clients you need, knowing that you are giving excellent value and making a difference in people's lives?

You probably don't want to focus on money and yet you want to feel abundant and bring prosperity into your business. You might be tired of struggling financially while you dream about how your business could make a difference to many people.

The true problem is that you want to realize your real purpose and be able to express that meaning through your business, and at the same time you want to bring prosperity to yourself and others.

So how do you bring Purpose and Prosperity together in your business? It has to do with acknowledging the spirit of your business or the vital force within yourself and your business. Within this context of spirit, Purpose and Prosperity co-exist. You cannot have one without the other.

This month our feature subscriber is Tammy DePew- Smith.

Tammy has worked at home since 1999 when she opened her virtual assistant business - On Call Secretarial Service. She started out with 2 clients, but her client base soon grew enough so that in 2000 she was able to quit her outside job and work full time at home.

In 2003, she become the owner and Moderator of The Parent's Working From Home & Loving It Network on Ryze. Over the years, she has met many work at home parents trying hard to make their work at home businesses a success. And, she came to realize that one of the most important steps to a successful home based business is knowing how to market that business. So, with that thought in mind, she created WAHPromotion.com, a marketing resource site dedicated to promoting work at home businesses.

But, after a while, Tammy begin to miss her first love, her Virtual Assistant business, and so she sold WAHPromotion.com and is now in the process of creating a web site for her new venture - On Call Virtual Assistant and Web Design. She is also in the planning stages with another business which will offer online classes in subjects such as SEO and Web site Design. So, watch for the grand opening of both of these in the near future.

If you are interested in the online classes or are looking for a VA with webdesign experience Tammy can be reached by email here: flasecretary at cfl.rr.com

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