4 Things Pet Franchises Need to Stop Doing
Sometimes less is more, even in business. Many owners of pet franchises find themselves implementing a slew of tactics and practices in an effort to boost sales and increase efficiency. However, they tend to overlook the practices they should stop doing to focus on new things they can do. Here are 4 things pet franchises should stop doing right now:
Stop Using Outdated Technology
Most people think of outdated technology as old office equipment, such as computers that still run Windows 98. While older equipment is an issue, if the tools pet franchises use are outdated, then they can be just as much a hindrance as an old, slow computer. It may be out of your budget to update everything in the location at once, make technology a priority. Even if you have to work on it slowly, it is still worth the investment. You may even find you can consolidate your technology as well. For instance, newer printers offer multiple functions so you do not need an additional scanner, fax machine, or copier. Most newer printers are even wireless and Bluetooth enabled as well as integrate with cloud storage.
Stop Competing With National Retailers
Many pet franchises think their main competition is big name companies, such as PetSmart or Petco. While some of your demographic may shop there, you are fighting a losing battle when you’re just starting out. The best thing you can do is focus on the small to medium sized companies within your area. They are the biggest competition and threat to your business. Watch what these companies do and then find a way to compete at this level. In all reality, you should focus your marketing on people within five miles of your location.
Settling for Sub-Par Social Media
There is no denying that social media is huge for pet franchises. However, this does not mean you can just throw anything up on your accounts and expect success. Some of the biggest mistakes include posting the same thing to all your social media platforms, posting too much at once, and/or being too sales oriented in your postings. Do not assume that just because you use these social media platforms for your personal account that it means you know how to post for business. Take the time to understand how business social media works so you can see a better return on investment for the time you are putting into this. If this seems like too much work, hire someone to handle this for you.
Wasting Time
Wasting time is not only bad for productivity, it is also bad for the bottom line in pet franchises. There are many ways that people waste time in business. Think about ways that you can be more efficient during your day. What can you cut out? Look for ways that you can improve on your existing operations to keep from wasting time.
In order to sell your pet store franchises, you have to have the right people skills. There is a way to communicate better while simultaneously creating stronger relationships with everyone in your life. Conversation is the fundamental foundation for every relationship whether personal or strictly business. There are a few sure-fire ways you can create a stronger relationship with anyone you interact with.
It’s not only important to listen to people, but to ask questions to show you’re interested. Just like complimenting, only ask questions that are genuine. You may use the same set of questions every time you talk to various people and shuffle through them, but you should always make sure they are decent questions that have some thought put into them ahead of time. Also be prepared for people to ask you questions about your pet store franchises.