We recently bought garden mulch and the business we ordered from made it as easy as shopping on Amazon. Here’s how it went.
While sautéing dinner and listening (maybe) to his yackity wife, my husband decided we needed mulch. Not wanting to buy from a box store, he googled “local mulch Watertown WI.” Immediately Bags and Bulk Landscape Supply Yard popped up and right there, front and center, was “Free Delivery, Order Now.” Within five minutes he ordered his mulch and it was delivered the next day.
Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.
An Easiness Self-Exam
Two years ago, I wrote about helping our customers BE our customers during COVID. These ideas are still relevant, not because of pandemics but because that’s just how it is. Competing with Amazon is a fact of life—when it comes to making things easy for your customer, how do you compare?
- How easy is it to shop from you? Can customers order online? Do you deliver? Do you accept returns?
- Do you take credit cards? It’s 2022 and we don’t carry cash. Even farmers market and art show customers ask to use credit cards.
- Does your business take reservations? If so, how? Must customers call only when you’re open or can they reserve online anytime?
- How easy is to contact you? Is your contact information easy to find? How soon do you reply?
- What about your website? Does the opening page provide the information your customers need most? Hint: Each industry is different. Restaurant or store customers need hours and location. Customers of a service industry, such as mine, need contact information.
- Lastly, most importantly, how do your customers FEEL when they’re your customers? Are you making it a pleasant experience? Do they come away feeling happy?
What I’m Working On This Month
Food, Faith and Farming Network is a caring, generous and humanitarian organization that gives voice to the sacred connections between land and people. I’m so honored to work with them.
What I’m Tuned In To This Month
- Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness, by Ingrid Fetell Lee: I read this book for design purposes, but really it applies to everyday life.
- How to Make Pesto Like an Italian Grandmother: Basil is coming into full season and pesto is a must.
- Always Home, by Fanny Singer: I’m obsessed with anything Alice Waters and want to read her daughter’s book.
- Kayaking in Wisconsin: Love it, go whenever/wherever I can. Here’s a helpful podcast for Wisconsin’s best.