KBSA - Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Specialists Association

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Keep calm and carry on

09 January 2012
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When I wrote my last message, I was reflecting on the downwards trends and predictions for general trading. It wasn’t looking good for manufacturing or retailing, but I have been really heartened after chatting to several members. Whilst we can’t ignore that things are still quiet, and every bit of business has to be worked for, one Midlands member in particular had a surprisingly good Christmas period.  And after chatting to him, it became apparent that it was due to a mixture of things which  we could all benefit from.

Firstly – the internet. I’ve mentioned before that this is a vital tool in your marketing resources – and this member  proved the point. He’s really upped his activity – taking  on board the fact that it’s vital to keep your site updated regularly – special offers, new product, news – anything to keep people engaged.  He’s also taken the plunge and invested in a marketing person who understands about the internet (digital marketing), and as a result, now finds himself at the top of Google when people are doing local searches. He even had a visitor that travelled over an hour to his showroom, after  finding him and liking what they saw.

He also opened during the Christmas/New Year period – with fantastic results. He’s seen that people are more relaxed and have time to browse – they’re in the festive mood and receptive to spending. Indeed, several placed orders that will see him through to the spring.

And finally – he mentioned one very vital point. It’s important to be informed about what’s happening, but not to the point where we let it cripple our thinking. This member  looked after the internet, invested in its future, opened when others were shut and literally got on with his own business.  A great motto for us all!

Graham Ball
KBSA CEO