Sales Pitch at the Gas Pump<< iPod Thieves Around the Beltway | Main | It's All About SMB Marketing >> This afternoon, I filled up our aging Volvo at a gas station near Montgomery Mall in Bethesda, Md. ($2.66 a galloon! Holy smokes!). While waiting for the tank to fill, the guy filling up on the opposite pump commented on my "nice shirt." I had just come from the Apple Store located at the mall, wearing a T-Shirt with an Apple logo. I wear the T-Shirt to intimidate the employees (friendly, I promise). Anyway, the guy asked if I had heard of Tiger, next version of Mac OS X due for April 29 release (I said yes) and what Macs I owned (daughter, iMac G4 and me a PowerBook G4). He smiled, reached out his hand and introduced himself as retail manager for Absolute Mac in Gaithersburg, Md. Smooth, and smart. He then went on to explain that Absolute Mac planned a big Tiger party on April 29, starting about an hour before the official 6 p.m. release. He said the bash would be family oriented and that there would be Tiger family packs for sale as well as the single computer packages. He hit all the right points, based on our conversation. This guy did right by introductions over the gas pump (standing there is pretty dull waiting, otherwise). Two Apple Stores, the one inside Montgomery Mall and the mini shop in downtown Bethesda, compete with his operation. He should hustle. Anyway, the not-more-than-two-minute exchange got me to thinking about small businesses, seeing as how Absolute Mac absolutely is one. I talk to lots of vendors pretty clueless about how to sell their technology goods or services to small businesses. And I wonder why. Vendors, everyday small businesses hustle for your business, whether the accountant, doctor, contractor, landscaper, real estate agent, barber, insurance agent, mechanic, convenience store owner or bicycle shop repairman, or many, many, many, many others. You interact with them everyday. You are their customer, and that makes them willing to talk and creates opportunity for you to learn their business better and their needs. They talk to you. Why aren't you talking to them? |
 Subscribe for free email updates:
|