Customer retention is essential to maintain the growth and sales of a business. Amidst the increase in the prices of everything in the country, strategically finding the best way to operate as an entrepreneur can contribute to the effective running of your business daily. 
Customers are less likely to continuously patronize a business that does not favor them. They move in the direction that covers their daily wants at a minimal price, and most times, they are reluctant to adjust to an increment in the price of goods and services. 

When it comes to delivery, the removal of fuel subsidy has affected the price of fuel and this has become a major issue for entrepreneurs who have customers that use delivery to get their orders. Customers would also try to find a means around the delivery cost, by finding a closer place that renders the goods and services they require.  This is a two-face issue in which both the buyer and seller are entangled. However, the loose end is majorly tied to the seller who needs people to buy whatever they sell to ensure the sustenance of the business.

How can you keep customers amidst high delivery costs? 

For a business to survive, it is important to retain customers, how can you retain customers that patronize your business? Try these 5 acts to keep your customers to yourself. 

Be Open

Customers are easy to convince when they have a good relationship with their entrepreneur. Call your customer’s attention to the challenges surrounding their transactions. Politely give reasons affecting the change in price and apologize for the inconvenience.

Get your product from affordable places

Prices of products vary depending on who sells, and where you are buying the goods from. However, as an entrepreneur, find places that sell the same goods at a minimum to keep your customers. For instance, If an item of N30,000 increased to N50,000 from Chinedu’s store and the same can be bought for N42,000 at Mimi’s Couture, Chinedu’s store is most likely to lose customers to Mimi’s Couture. There is no way that is more beneficial than to keep your prices at a more subsidized rate over your competitors. Also, help your customers to stay glued to patronizing your service by building a level of trust that makes your customers believe you.

Maintain a good customer and buyer relationship

Do not be overwhelmed by the changes in prices or be rude to your customers. Call to check up on them, be friendly, and share updates on the price of things they buy. There are times when you tell them there is an increment on what they offer and they respond harshly and impolitely, do not let it get into you. Rather, help them see things from your perspective

Get your own dispatch rider

The cost of hiring a dispatch rider that is not yours tends to be more expensive than yours. As an entrepreneur, there is no better way to adjust to the rate at which the price of things are expensive than to strategically find a way around it to keep your customers forthcoming

Give discount

Giving a discount on a customer’s goods is like buying them a ticket for a movie as they will keep coming to patronize you. When you deliver to them, give a discount on the dispatch as well. One thing is your profit has a way of coming back to you. 

How To Build a Relationship With Your Customers!

The continuity of patronage from a seller to a buyer is based on the relationship that the entrepreneur has been able to build successfully. For you to retain a cordial relationship with your customer, these 5 ways will put you through: 

Good character

As an entrepreneur, your character portrays the kind of person your customer wants to patronize. When a potential customer or clients approach you respond to them with utmost attention, and a smiley face.  

Help them out with other stuff that you don’t have

Your customer might want something that you do not. Try to help them get it from customers around you or better still give an easy recommendation that will ease the stress of going around.

Keep in touch

Customers love to feel valued.  Once in a while reach out to them via text or calls or celebrate them on their social media page. 

Be able to tolerate your customers

As an entrepreneur, you will meet people with different personalities. Your ability to tolerate them will help you succeed in building a relationship. 

Give them a listening ear

Sometimes a customer might have a lot on their mind, pay attention to them and show concern. When they start talking, make an effort to listen, do not shush them. 

The main point is to show good courtesy to your customers. This will keep them around you for a very long time.