Black Friday Dilemma: How to Balance a Sale and Customer Relations

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The thread centers around the challenges and considerations of hosting a Black Friday sale while managing customer relations and availability. Participants share their experiences and strategies for conducting sales during this busy shopping period, particularly when they may not be physically present to handle orders.

Discussion Character

  • Anecdotal
  • Opinion-based
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant, identifying as a consultant, expresses concern about running a Black Friday sale while being unavailable to take orders, questioning if it might overwhelm local customers.
  • Another participant suggests using email and voicemail for order collection, emphasizing the importance of secure payment methods.
  • Several users mention the idea of setting up a catalog show on their website to facilitate orders and manage customer expectations regarding pricing adjustments.
  • One participant shares their plan to include a note in their invites about the sale, acknowledging that some customers missed a recent event.
  • Another participant inquires about what others are offering for their Black Friday sales, indicating a shared interest in promotional strategies.
  • One participant discusses their use of Constant Contact for email marketing, noting the frequency of communication with customers.
  • A participant raises a technical question about creating email templates in their Personal Website System (PWS) for sending out sale information.
  • Another participant responds that they do not use the PWS for emails, indicating a limitation in exporting contacts.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Views differ on the best approach to conducting a Black Friday sale while being unavailable, with some participants supporting the idea of email and voicemail orders, while others express concerns about customer relations and communication frequency.

Contextual Notes

Participants share personal experiences and strategies related to holiday sales, emphasizing the balance between promoting sales and maintaining customer relationships. The discussion reflects a variety of approaches and tools used by consultants in their sales efforts.

Who May Find This Useful

Consultants looking for insights on managing holiday sales while considering customer engagement and communication strategies may find this discussion relevant.

M
mrssyvo
Messages
1,929
I have a bit of a dilemma, and I would like your advice. I had a Holiday Bazaar at my home last week, and I invited all of my customers that live in my area. Not too many of them came, however. I have a large customer base from several areas in the state. I would like to do a Black Friday sale, but I will be gone from my home for the entire weekend, away from my computer. Does it seem silly to do a Black Friday sale if I will be unavailable to take the orders, and do I offer it to my locals customers also. I do not want them to feel bombarded by me, and since I send out monthly newsletters, they will be hearing from me again the first of the month. Also, I would like to encourage the husbands to buy for their wives for Christmas, and want to include an incentive for them to buy as well. I am not quite sure how to pull this off, but I have done phone/internet sales the past 2 years, so it is somewhat a tradition. I thought about waiting until Decemebr, to give a bit of a break, but I could use the sales for Sell a thon. All opinions welcome.
 
Could you make it into an e-mail/voicemail sale? You could use the time stamp to see when they called/e-mailed for any hourly specials you may want to do.

I'm doing one next Friday as well - I gave everyone my cell # just in case I need to leave the house. :)
 
I would tell them to leave phone messages or emails with the orders and that you would call back to get the card numbers since you don't want them leaving that on an unattended machine.
 
You said you've done Internet sales, so you must have a website. Post the rules on your website, setup a catalog show under your name and email out the invites from your website (or send one to yourself and forward to your address book since there's no way to import guest lists!). You'll know what hour they submitted based on the email copy you get in your inbox and they can securely type in their credit/debit card info. Let them know that their orders will be adjusted by you for the specials and will not reflect when they enter the order, but you will confirm the amount prior to submitting it.

JCPenney and Kohl's have no problem telling you about their Day after Thanksgiving Sales, even though they just had Veteran's Day sales last weekend. If you include locals, just put a note that because so many couldn't attend the Holiday Bazaar, you decided to have a Black Friday sale to help them save $$ while Christmas shopping.
 
I think you could do fine just doing the email and voicemail orders. Everything that's been said is very good info. I'm doing one on Black Friday and Saturday and I'll be away from my home for Friday. I'm planning on including that in my invites when I send them out today. I'll give them all a call on Saturday and will collect pymt from them when I call to confirm their order. I wish you the best of luck with it all.
 
what are you offering as your Black Friday Sale... I am in need of doing one.. I am short for my incentive this month..... HELP
 
I am curious as to what everyone is offering for a Black Friday sale too. I won't be home either, but doing the sale from my website sounds like a good idea.
 
I am doing a week long sale. If interested in the email, pm me & I will forward to you. I use Constant Contact and love it. I also send a monthly newsletter. Sometimes they get 3 emails in one month.
 
black fridaycan someone tell me if it's possible to create your own email "template" in our PWS for something like this? I have almost 500 email contacts in my PWS and want to send out my black friday info to them..problem is, I don't have these contacts in my regular outlook express address book? Or does someone know how to export those contacts to my outlook express?
thanks bunches
 
I don't think you can. That is why I dont' use the PWS for emails. Not sure how to export them though.
 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Black Friday Dilemma in direct sales?

The Black Friday Dilemma refers to the challenge direct sales consultants face when trying to balance offering significant discounts during the Black Friday sales period while maintaining strong customer relationships. It involves finding the right pricing strategy that attracts customers without devaluing the brand or alienating loyal clients.

How can I offer discounts without hurting customer relationships?

To offer discounts without damaging customer relationships, consider providing exclusive deals to loyal customers or creating bundled offers that add value rather than just slashing prices. Communicate transparently about the reasons for the sale and emphasize the benefits of your products to maintain their perceived value.

Should I prioritize sales over customer service during Black Friday?

While sales are important, prioritizing customer service is crucial for long-term success. Ensure that your customers feel valued and supported during the sales period. Respond promptly to inquiries, provide personalized recommendations, and follow up after the sale to reinforce positive relationships.

What strategies can I use to engage customers during Black Friday?

Engaging customers during Black Friday can be achieved through various strategies such as hosting virtual events, offering sneak peeks of upcoming deals, or creating social media campaigns that encourage interaction. Consider sending personalized emails or messages to your customers to make them feel special and informed about your offers.

How can I measure the success of my Black Friday sales while maintaining customer relations?

To measure the success of your Black Friday sales while keeping customer relations intact, track not only sales numbers but also customer feedback and engagement levels. Use surveys to gather insights on customer satisfaction and analyze repeat purchase rates post-sale to assess the long-term impact of your promotions on customer loyalty.

You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar Pampered Chef Threads

How are you handling Black Friday & Cyber Monday sales on your website?
  • winklermom
    • Pampered Chef Sales
Replies
14
Views
4K
Jolie_Paradoxe
Thinking About Having a Black Friday Sale
  • pc_jessica
    • Pampered Chef Sales
Replies
7
Views
1K
rlombas
Black Friday Table Set-Up: Tips and Legalities for Walmart Parking Lot
  • naekelsey
    • Pampered Chef Sales
Replies
14
Views
4K
leshelman
Is a Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale Worth the Effort?
  • vmgcooks
    • Pampered Chef Sales
Replies
27
Views
6K
Kisha1210
Thanksgiving/Black Friday Sales?
  • confusedturtle
    • Pampered Chef Sales
Replies
4
Views
2K
Wildfire
How can I make the most of a Facebook Black Friday party for my business?
  • sarahsellcm
    • Pampered Chef Sales
Replies
8
Views
4K
chickey
Should I Send My Black Friday Sale Email This Friday or Next Monday?
  • wadesgirl
    • Pampered Chef Sales
Replies
18
Views
3K
babywings76
Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale: First Order Already In - Just Have to Laugh!
  • babywings76
    • Pampered Chef Sales
Replies
4
Views
1K
Wildfire
Preparing for Black Friday & Cyber Monday: Check Out Our Offers!
  • ShelbyMichalek
    • Pampered Chef Sales
2 3 4
Replies
102
Views
15K
esavvymom
Last Chance Black Friday Sale - Don't Miss Out on Savings!
  • ragschef
    • Pampered Chef Sales
Replies
4
Views
2K
tpchefpattie
Back
Top