RESOURCES
Customer Service
- Customer Service has become a lost art in this age of technology. While technology is a fantastic tool, don’t forget the power of “personal contact”. You create opportunities when you create reasons for “contact”, specifically, “continual contact”. When you make a sale, complete a commission or add someone to your mailing list, ask if they would like you contact them periodically about your exhibitions, new work, workshops, open studios, etc. Ask them for their preferred method of communication:
- Message with their assistant/secretary (time limited executives live by their assistants and their suggestions).
- Postcards (make sure you have their mailing address guest books at exhibitions become invaluable)
- TIP: Ask for their business card!
- Email (personal/business)
- Ask your clientele if they are members of any organizations that might be interested in having you as a lecturer about your art; this might be work-for-free scenario, however, it could create opportunities and you’ve got a built in reference with your client being a member of this organization.
- Saying Thank You: Always followup a sale with a handwritten thank you. Several SAQA members include a fiber postcard as a thank you. And make sure to include 3-4 business cards with the mailing.
- If you are selling materials (e.g. hand dyed fabrics, threads) you may want to send a follow-up email customer satisfaction email after shipping the materials; ask if they liked the product, to please send you photos of completed projects and what products they would like to see in the future.
