Referrals – Do you give them & get enough of them?

15/08/2012 by Leave a Comment

 

Typically, August is a little quieter time for us so I thought it would be a good time to have a ‘Mini Review’ of recent work that has come in and review the stats on how our clients found us.

 

The stats were quite interesting:

42% came through our shop/office doors in Bear Street

37% came from referrals / recommendations

15% came from Networking Events

2% from Adverts

2% from Website

2% from Sales calls


Then it got me thinking some more…

It has given me a clear picture that we really rely on referrals from people that either know our business or use us. It has also made me think that if I rely on this form of ‘word of mouth’ activity to get more business this must be the same picture for every business out there.

How much do I actively refer to businesses I know and use to those around me?

How often do I look at the needs of the people around me and think “I know a business that can offer you the solution to that” and then give them the details?

I like to think that I do refer and I am thoughtful but I know deep down I could do better – So I have set myself a 30 day referral challenge – for the next 30 days I will be mindfully looking a friends, family, clients, business peers, suppliers etc… looking at their needs and seeing if I can refer a business I know or use to provide the solution.

How do you feel about referrals – do you give them? Do you get enough of them?

Filed Under: All Blogs, General Business, Networking, Testimonial

South West Office Supplies delivers the goods . . . in 1 hour 15 minutes

05/03/2012 by 1 Comment

Yesterday I realised that I was running out of A4 laser printing paper. I have consciously reduced the amount I print and now proof on screen whenever I can. Paper stocks last longer so a rush on printing sometime catches me out.

I always order stationery and printer supplies through South West Office Supplies so when I saw them tweet, I tweeted that I needed to order two reams of paper. Imagine my surprise when 1 hour and 15 minutes later the paper was delivered to my door. What fantastic customer service from a great North Devon business!

I recommend South West Office Supplies for all stationery, printing, office and equipment supplies.

Filed Under: All Blogs, Testimonial Tagged With: , , , , , ,

When buying stationery do you buy on price only?

03/02/2012 by 4 Comments

An envelope is an envelope right?

You just want to put a cheque in the mail to pay a bill and you’re not really bothered about quality, so a standard window envelope will do.

It’s often assumed that if you hunt down one of the big nationals websites that they’ll be cheapest, after all they spend a lot of money making sure their website is on the front page, and often the headline price looks so good, you just go and buy it.

Think again, check out what local businesses have got to offer, not only can some of them beat the headline price of some of the nationals, they’ll deliver them free and pop in to say hi at the same time.

Service with a smile often – at least that is what my stationery supplier offers.

So, when making that purchase, add North Devon into your search and you’ll be surprised what you find, some great local businesses.

Don’t want to search – check out my local stationery supplier HERE!

 

Filed Under: North Devon Business, Testimonial Tagged With: , ,