How to ‘Keep the Green in Evergreen’
We’re fortunate to have great shopping choices in Evergreen Park. Yet our local businesses are competing with others in the greater Chicago area, suburbs, and online. What can Evergreen Park businesses do to stand out from that crowd and help keep shopping dollars in our community? Quite a lot, actually. Here’s a primer on how to ‘Keep the Green in Evergreen’:
Focus on your customers
Make personal service a top priority, and you’ll have repeat customers who enthusiastically recommend you to others. Have your employees greet customers, offer to help, and make sure they are satisfied. “Evergreen Park is special because of the personal connections we make that show we matter,” said Nicki Seidl, president of the Evergreen Park Chamber of Commerce. “Personal connections cannot be outsourced.”
Share your expertise
EPCC members are business owners and executives with extensive experience in their fields. Sharing some of that knowledge can benefit local residents. When you attend professional development events or read timely articles in your field, look for information that might interest Evergreen Park residents. Then share it! Write a press release for local media, a guest column on the Chamber’s website, an email to your customers, a blog post on your website, or a social media post. Offer helpful tips in a friendly, accessible style.
Give back
Show that you care by reinvesting in the community in some way. You could join the board of a local nonprofit, donate goods or services to a family in need, volunteer for a charitable organization, or establish a scholarship for a deserving student.
Reward customer loyalty
Create a loyalty program for returning customers—with discounts, advance notice about new products or services, and information on special offers. It could be as simple as a monthly email to your customer list, a coupon, a list of specials, or a punch card.
Host engaging events
Give your customers a reason to visit you. Organize special events that are fun to attend, useful, or both. Use these opportunities to strengthen your personal connections with local residents.
Join the chamber
Studies show that people are more likely to shop with a business that belongs to a chamber of commerce. Why? Chamber membership adds credibility. It shows that a business is professional and actively involved in the community. And it provides a host of benefits through networking opportunities, free publicity, professional development, and more. Join the Evergreen Park Chamber today!
Connect with customers
Use every tool at your disposal to build relationships with your customers. Maintain a website that is mobile friendly and updated with new information. Build an email list of customers and write to them regularly. Post on social media. Send postcards, brochures, or catalogs in the mail. Make personal phone calls. Get in front of your customers as often as you can, and let them know they matter!
‘Keep the Green in Evergreen’ is the chamber’s motto and a phrase every resident and business person should keep in mind. When consumers are more aware of the power they have to keep their community strong through their spending choices, chances are they’ll do just that.
