Customers are pouring in; you can hardly keep a handle on it. And then one day the numbers begin to trickle. You wonder why. Is it the economy? Perhaps. Folks are more careful than ever with their money, especially when it comes to big ticket items or services suddenly thought of as “frivolous.”

What can you do? What will it take to keep your customers begging for more?

These ideas will help:

• Have a family craft day. It doesn’t matter if your store sells shoes or toboggans; crafts bring families in to a business in droves. The craft doesn’t have to be costly or large, it just has to be an idea that most families want to get their hands on such as a bird house or a hand-made kite.
• Put together a free demonstration. Cooking stores can put together cooking demonstrations, but so can a book store selling a new cook book. How about an author signing, a lecture series (museums often do this with favorable results) or a demonstration on one of the products within your store. Story time works well at the library, why not in your children’s clothing store?
• Give something away free to the first 100 customers.
• Have a discount day. Send out coupons to your loyal customers before the big day.
• Invite a cuddly friend. You know the ones; Big Bird or Oscar the Grouch or Santa Claus. Take free photos.
• Ask for feedback at a Feedback Box. Get feedback on interests, problems the customer is having in finding items or in understanding a product. Find out what they suggest for improvement. Award a winner once or twice a month with the best idea.
• Have a business card drop. Award a winner a month.

If you keep your customers happy, the results are easy to figure. Suddenly, they are no longer thinking about money; they are more concerned about your excellent service.