Almost anywhere you go in the USA today, you find a Wal-Mart or Home Depot flaunting their ability to serve the needs of the DIY customer. They offer discount prices, large inventory on hand and overwhelming size. The challenge they pose can be daunting but with the successful small business ideas you can find the way to compete aggressively with the national chains.
One of the first things to do in order to take on the challenge of remaining as a successful business in the face of the challenge of the mega-store is to revamp your business plan Identify the weaknesses of the chains and use such successful methods Tools and supplies as customer service and specialized inventory. As an independent DIY store owner, you have the opportunity to cater your store and service to the needs of your local market in ways that the national chains cannot.
WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO FIND SUCCESSFUL IDEAS?
The first step is to pay close attention to the needs of the people who live near your store. You should ask yourself questions about their ages, their main problems with their residences, and whether you want your customer to be the homeowner or the local handy man. You should also spend some time speaking to potential customers, and ask them what service would be most important for them to have.
Sally’s hardware store is an example of such market analysis. Sally realized that the demographics in her area had changed radically. It was now the case that over 50% of the homes in her area were owned by women, and over 60% of the rentals were rented by women. As a result, it was more likely that a woman would head to the hardware store for repair parts and advice than a man. So she made sure to use her feminine name for the store. She invested tremendous focus and resources to the development of repair assistance center, which was prominently featured at the entrance to her store. She made sure that all her employees were knowledgeable in DIY projects, and even conducted short trainings and demonstrations for customers.
In addition, make sure you have the right specialized inventory for your locale. If you are near water, you should have equipment boat accessories and repair service. If you are near high income residents, you may want to specialize in security systems. Remember that it is more effective marketing to pick an area and be a specialist in your store, than to try and be everything to everybody.
HOW DO YOU DETERMINE YOUR COMPETITIVE EDGE?
A quality sales & marketing plan [http://www.successful-small-business.com/small_business_marketing.html] will make sure you identify for your business their unique selling position. What it is that makes you stand out from your competitor. As a small store competing against the mega-store national chains, one of the strongest marketing methods you can offer your customers is excellent customer service.
HOW TO EXCEL AT CUSTOMER SEVICE IN DIY BUSINESS?
The CEO of Ace hardware stores, Howard Jung says that the only small hardware stores that are struggling are those that “did not make customer service their highest priority”.
As a small business you have the advantage of hand picking employees and providing the appropriate training. The most successful businesses make a point of hiring employees that are enthusiastic about their products. In a music store you would hire a music enthusiast, and the same principle holds true for a DIY hardware store. It may mean that you have to offer higher than average salaries than other places. But, by treating your employees well you ensure that ultimately your customers are the beneficiaries.
High levels of customer service also mean going the “extra mile”. Some good examples are having a company policy of answering a customer immediately and never “getting back later”. In some cases it means ordering custom parts that you do not regularly carry, just to help and satisfy the customer.