4. Reallocate labor flexibly to different activities.
For example, in response to a severe decline in revenue, more than 40 restaurants, hotels, and cinema chains optimized their staffing to free up a large share of their workforces. They then shared those employees with Hema, a “new retail” supermarket chain owned by Alibaba, which was in urgent need of labor for delivery services due to the sudden increase in online purchases. O2O players, including Ele, Meituan, and JD’s 7Fresh followed this lead by also borrowing labor from restaurants.
5. Shift your sales channel mix away from face-to-face towards new channels
For example, cosmetics company Lin Qingxuan was forced to close 40% of its stores during the crisis, including all of its locations in Wuhan. However, the company redeployed its 100+ beauty advisors from those stores to become online influencers who leveraged digital tools, such as WeChat, to engage customers virtually and drive online sales. As a result, its sales in Wuhan achieved 200% growth compared to the prior year’s sales.
It seems obvious that developing a clear marketing strategy – one embraced by all internal groups – before deploying a slew of marketing tactics can drastically improve the success of your marketing program. However, many new product marketing launches don’t reach their full potential because of a breakdown in communication and a lack of focus. The most effective path to a successful launch includes identifying clear goals and objectives, and zeroing in on consistent positioning and messaging.
This article posits that there has been a fundamental shift in the way brands are perceived and the value they provide. But why? Blame increased consumer skepticism, the “millennial mindset”, the importance of value over status, or the increasing power of community to provide help and insights, but whatever the cause, brands must understand what is changing so they can adapt. The author proposes some new guidelines brands should follow when shaping their strategies, communications and behaviors to face this new reality. While some may already be part of your brand strategy, others are worth calling out, specifically: a) be sure to find and communicate your brand’s meaning and purpose, b) participate in communities; they are critical to brand acceptance, and c) customer service can be a brand-defining attribute. Read the article for more fascinating insights.
Relying too heavily on data when trying to create authentic customer experiences seems to have back-fired for some companies whose recent actions have caused significant damage to the customer trust they had built up and all but taken for granted (think: Facebook.) Marketers should remember that customers are human beings, not just numbers on a spreadsheet or sequences in an algorithm. So how do marketers meet increasingly sophisticated customer experience expectations that tend to be based on data, when those same customers are using more ad blockers and other privacy protection tools? This article suggests that the innovative use of AI technologies and curation platforms may be part of the solution to data overload.
A seismic shift is under way that many businesses cannot ignore: thanks to new technologies, instead of waiting for customers to come to you, you can address your customers’ needs the moment they arise—and sometimes even earlier. It’s a win-win: customers get a dramatically improved experience, and companies boost operational efficiencies and lower costs.
“Melts in Your Mouth, Not in Your Hands!” For any business to succeed, it needs to uncover its USP or unique selling proposition; without placing a distinct and memorable stake in the ground, it is in danger of falling into the black hole of “everyone else”. Research your competitors to see what sets you apart and create buyer personas (detailed descriptions of your ideal customer) to help you make a list of everything that makes you different. Use your unique selling proposition in everything you do to help make better connections with your customers.
The term "strategic ambiguity" might be enough to send your heart rate racing and your stress level into the stratosphere. However, this article acknowledges an under-appreciated reality: we often find ourselves managing in situations when it isn’t clear where we’re going or how we’ll get there. Discover some practical approaches you can take to emerge from periods of change a stronger manager and an exceptional leader.
We’ve all said it, we’ve all done it …. New Year’s resolutions. But, the real question is, who is still looking at those resolutions we made months ago? Not many. A new calendar year symbolizes a new beginning. Many of you are probably thinking about personal resolutions, but how about establishing New Year’s resolutions for […]
Many small business owners know that successful marketing can play a huge role in their growth. It is very common for us to hear these owners have great ideas for what they want to do, but they all have the same issue: due to lack of people and resources, they fall into the trap of […]
Following a slowdown in e-commerce sales over the holidays, Walmart today is readying a new strategy to attract online shoppers with an increased focus on..
