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When running a cake business, you will need to figure out how to raise loyal customers. Especially if you’re just starting, you could benefit immensely from people who already trust your brand. Putting a premium on customer service not only makes customers happy. It also boosts your business’s reputation, making it easier to attract more customers and fuel your business’s expansion.
Then again, improving customer service is a complex matter. It requires using the right strategies and coming up with the right things to say that can help forge greater trust. Fortunately, there are a few ways you can do that will lighten the load and help build a loyal fanbase. Here are a few tips for boosting customer appeal that will bring you sweet victory:
1. Craft a welcoming brand image
First impressions last and depending on how well you deal with it, you could end up destroying your cake business’s image before it could begin to take flight! Branding makes a big difference when it comes to getting positive publicity for your business. With this in mind, come up with a brand kit that attracts customers and convinces them that you’re the perfect partner for every milestone they’re celebrating.
The first step is to come up with an interesting brand story. You may have started your business as a hobby. Maybe there was a time in your life that pushed you to take up baking. Whatever it is that made you want to start a cake business in the first place, share it with your target audience.
Aside from an interesting brand story, your brand kit should also include the visual elements you will be using as decorations for your physical establishment and the promotional content you will be publishing on social media. This helps build familiarity and could create a connection between you and your customers when implemented correctly.
2. Always emphasize quality control
The worst complaint you could ever receive from a customer is when they buy a product that doesn’t pass industry standards. While some will give you a free pass when you sell them cakes that taste bland, there will be scenarios where you will have to encounter customers with strict palates.
The best way you can deal with this is by focusing on the source. Prevention is always better than trying to manage a brewing reputational crisis. When you’re ordering bulk ingredients, choose only suppliers that use state-of-the-art quality control equipment. For example, it would be beneficial if you bought almonds from a supplier that uses TDI Packsys bulk-flow x-ray platforms to ensure these ingredients are free of contaminants and impurities that your customers could otherwise notice.
Aside from making sure your ingredients are safe and passed quality checks, you should also incorporate quality control systems in your workflow. This would require training your staff in materials handling as well as checking the final products for possible allergens and ensuring the consistency of the taste and appearance of your cakes.
3. Be proactive when dealing with customer complaints
No business is perfect and that goes for your local cake brand. Small orders are one thing, but it’s another if you made a mistake when preparing a custom cake for a major event. Every complaint has value no matter how insignificant it may seem. Things will only get worse for you if an irate customer decides to leave a negative review and move heaven and earth just to convince people to avoid buying a wedding cake from your store. Deal with the problem head-on. Offer discounts or propose to replace the defective order at no cost. It won’t be a loss when you leave the customer pacified and satisfied.
4. Involve customers in innovations
Customer satisfaction is also fostered when you allow customers to take part in promotional events. Beyond that, you can also involve them in coming up with product innovations. Loyal customers would be more than willing to lend you a helping hand in expanding your product line.
To do this, you can give away free samples and have them write down suggestions on how to improve the product before it becomes an official offer. Aside from that, you can also start a social media poll asking them what new flavors to include in your lineup.
5. Take an active role in your community
Customers know that they’re not dealing with a simple cake store when your business takes an active part in local advocacies. Joining fundraisers and donation drives is not just a surefire way to enhance brand awareness. It’s also a valuable opportunity to build linkages and show your target audience that you’re not in the business just to make money.
Consider organizing bake sales each month with the proceeds being donated to local charities. You can also partner up with non-profit organizations as a sponsor for community engagement initiatives. Not only will your business gain appeal but it will also solidify itself as an influential partner for community-building.
Endnote
There’s a lot more you can do to put your cake business on the map and attract new customers but the tips above should be enough to boost its reputation.
