DW's Blog

Never Do Anything Out of Habit

by DW Green — March 13, 2024

Ask yourself: Is this really the best way to do it?

A worker asked: “Why did you do it this way?” The answer, “Because that’s the way we’ve always done things.” The answer frustrates every good boss and sets the mouth of every entrepreneur watering. The worker has stopped thinking and is mindlessly operating out of habit. The business is ripe for disruption by a competitor, and the worker will probably get fired by any thinking boss.We should apply the same ruthlessness to our own habits. In fact, we study philosophy precisely to break ourselves of rote behavior. Find what you do out of rote memory or routine. Ask yourself: Is this really the best way to do it? Know why you do what you do—do it for the right reasons.

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by DW Green — February 28, 2024

Ever wonder how many consumers in your market area have never set foot in your store?

Often times when sales and customer counts are flat or declining, a bold, new visual look and go-to-market strategy can shake up a market. Unveiling a new advertising look can create excitement with customers and employees alike. Plus change is normally a good thing. Non- shoppers are the biggest source for new primary customers and new revenue.Advertising and marketing that is developed in the context of themes and storytelling is the best way to attract the attention of non-shoppers. And the presentation of those themes and story’s must be applied differently to each marketing platform. For example, the print ad that is posted on the website must minimally become an interactive tool to add sale items to a shopping list. A searchable item list is better. It’s very important that advertising and promotions are well integrated into all marketing platforms, including in-store signage. This message and activity integration builds momentum, resulting in more sales and more customers. What makes this all work so well is the planning. The sales benefit alone from just sharing a great plan with employees is amazing.No question that the retail shopp...

by DW Green — February 21, 2024

People are emotionally connected to grocers, as utilitarian as grocery shopping may seem.

This is a repeat blog post from 2019 and ties in nicely to Adam’s post today on loyalty. Though the competitive landscape has definitely changed, the content of the message here, is even more significant.I’ve been an advocate of emotional branding for more than twenty years. A company’s ability to connect emotionally with their customers is a huge, huge benefit and competitive advantage. But it doesn’t happen on its own. Emotional branding needs to be a cornerstone of a company’s brand. It needs to be stated and implemented in every daily activity performed.I read an interesting article by Amit Sharma, in the April 18, 2019 Harvard Business Review, entitled What the Grocery Stores Holding Their Own Against Amazon Are Doing Right. The following is an excerpt from the article.“Emotional connection is another driver of loyalty; our survey found that 50% of consumers are more likely to buy again from a brand that connects with them emotionally or reflects their values. People are emotionally connected to grocers, as utilitarian as grocery shopping may seem. For example, Trader Joe’s, which ranked highly in th...

by DW Green — February 14, 2024

Engage customers through compelling narratives, foster stronger connections and brand loyalty.

I’ve noticed a troubling trend in email marketing: many retailers are increasingly narrowing their email content to merely an image of their weekly ad, supplemented by links directing recipients to view the complete ad and recipes on their website. While the intent may be to boost website traffic, this approach often neglects the fundamental purpose of email communication. Instead of focusing solely on driving visits, emails should prioritize storytelling. They should convey the benefits of the company, its offerings, and reasons to believe in the brand. Email marketing presents a unique opportunity to engage customers through compelling narratives, fostering stronger connections and brand loyalty. Let us design an email blast for you today!