If you have recently set up, or are running an independent business, you may find it difficult to break into the industry fully and see your profit rising without first attracting loyal customers from the community around you. When it comes to being independent, you really do rely on your customers for your success, so it is important to focus on your reach from the get-go. Below are some tips on how you can best heighten your presence in your local area and begin to grow in popularity and success.                                      

Get Out In The Community

Make a real effort to get out in your local community and talk to people about your brand and the products you offer. In such a commercialised, corporate world, potential customers are very much drawn to independents who need their support to stay afloat. Putting a face to the social media and marketing campaign will only work in your favour. Customers like to know they are valued, so explaining how their support will help you in the industry and listening to their advice and constructive criticism will help to show you are driven to succeed and care about your customers and their needs. There may also be a gap in the market which customers are aware of that you were not, and you could potentially fill that gap with your business if you have the means.

Team Up With Other Local Businesses

Although you may be in competition with other businesses in your area, it is a good idea to make yourself known as an ally to the other independent businesses near you. The owners will not only be able to give you some advice to have a successful startup and launch, but also recommend you to their customers if you do the same for them. Teaming up will also be beneficial as you can run independent nights, or group discounts that run across all the stores, to entice customers into shopping independently. You have to give your customers a reason to shop with you rather than with a competing business chain.  

Cater Your Marketing To Your Community

When it comes to marketing your business, you will already have a well thought out campaign in place for the online side of your business that heightens your local SEO campaigns. However, if you have expanded to a local store, it is important to make potential customers aware that your shop is there. Simply taking a few hours a day in the week leading up to your opening to give out flyers and put up posters will get people talking about it, and word of mouth will do a lot of the legwork for you. You could also plan a launch evening for your business with a free glass of prosecco and a percentage off everything in store to get people through the door and experiencing why your business is better than your competitors. Taking down email addresses of everyone that turns up and signing them up to a loyalty scheme, or fortnightly newsletter, will mean you can keep in contact with your customers and keep them up to date with new product releases and sales.

Hopefully, this has given you some food for thought on how you can grow your presence in your local community, and continue to strive for the success your hard work deserves.