Keep your ‘why’ in mind

List values that everyone on your team supports.

Have you recently asked yourself why you own or work at a gift shop? When you stop to think about it, it is a question that must be answered if you are to be truly successful in running your enterprise.

When asking yourself why you own or work at a gift shop, it forces you to look at your values. When you list values that your gift shop espouses and your team supports, then you can position your business to provide the service that your customers want and need.

Apply your why

Your gift shop customers are first buying that “something special” that you offer. That something special comes from the values you have identified from your “Why.” If you and your team have identified the key values of caring, honesty and fairness and support those values with your day-to-day efforts, then chances are you will be providing the kind of customer service the people that buy your merchandise are seeking.

"When asking yourself why you own or work at a gift shop, it forces you to look at your values."

Imagine that a customer visits your shop and purchases an item. The customer was not totally excited about the purchase, but he thought it would do. This customer leaves your store, but he returns an hour later wanting a refund. He found something nicer at another gift shop and would like to return the product he bought from you.

You or a team member could point to a sign that says, “All sales are final.” But is that response in line with the values of caring, honesty and fairness that you and your team identified that would guide you in running your business?

It has been said many times before: People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. Living those identified values would demonstrate that you truly care.

The spinoff effect is that your customers and your team members know you truly believe in those values of caring, honesty and fairness.

By consistently responding to the challenges your business faces with your “why” in mind, your shop will earn the respect of all those who encounter it.