Furniture Retail Tip #10 From Grandpa Mike-e-e! at 90 - Senior Fling!

It seems that generation gaps these days don't generate. The young 'uns hook onto the elder patterns and the elders hook onto whatever Walmart has on special in a choice of three colors and four sizes.

Talking about really large generation gaps, Grandma and I have been stretching across one super one for the last 12 years with groups of 4, 5,and 6 year olds in early childhood centers doing a read-a-long, sing-a-long, dance-a-long with my book titled: "Where's The Green Pea?" that includes original music and lyrics. The "kids" are the children of scientist parents from across the globe who do research in a top-quality Westchester laboratory.

And the reason I use quotes around the word kids is because these children (especially the girls with their hair bangs) are as adorable and wise and sweet as can be.  Once you teach them something factual you'd better make sure you stick to the same facts the second time around because they're sure to catch your boo-boo. But since Grandma and I have studied our audience, and have fine tuned our presentation, we satisfy them every time.

Generation gap? Uh! Uh! Not if you've first studied your customers and market.

Here's another example. One Saturday night I took my best gal to the "Seniors Prom" at the neighborhood high school. We were delighted because having been married during the war years we never had a prom opportunity. It was great! As the high school seniors did everything possible to please the 100 senior citizens who paid twenty bucks a head to support the Children's Leukemia Fund.

Generation gap? Nope. The kids did their homework and besides a delicious buffet they included a rose for each guest and a color photo of each couple to be mailed home. Music for the dancing senior customers? Of course. And not a single arthritic moan was heard on the dance floor to blemish Glenn Miller and his band by a DJ. It was a real senior fling!

Yes, these students and their school staff did their homework and the grades they earned were all "A"s.

What has all this goulash got to do with the furniture business?

Simple. When you target consumers do your homework first class. If you are looking to satisfy members of the Generation X, Generation Y or the Baby Boom, use your noodle and build your product and service presentation to meet their needs and preferences. Take time to shop retailers in other industries such as clothing, food services and technology to get ideas... Do some reasearch on the internet... Brainstorm with your employees... Host a focus group... Subscribe to magazines they like... Then do it all up right... with a smile.

Result? They'll love you, talk about you and come back regularly for more. Otherwise? Like the first graders mentioned above they will catch your boo-boos, and notice your lack of preparation.  

Oh! Yes! I made sure to have my Bubbila back home again before the 11 p.m. curfew.
Thanks, again, for listening.

Grandpa Mike-e-e! at 90

Got a question? Got a comment? Great!! E-mail: grandpamike-e-e!@furninfo.com