Success with Dollar Stores Requires Relationship Building

There are so many skills those seeking success with dollar stores must be able to offer to their new dollar store business.  Strategic thinking, planning, business operations, employee management and leadership are just a few examples.  Yet none are more important than the ability to develop and maintain relationships with those your business depends on for success.  Some of those falling into this category include product suppliers, employees, customers, fellow local business owners and managers, and many others.   In this article I present some of the benefits of investing in the development and continued nurturing of business relationships.

•    Strong relationships mean others know you, and will think of your dollar store business first when they have a need.  In many cases this means those you know will shop in your store as their first choice.  In other cases it means they will pass on details and a recommendation to shop with you to others who they know.  These referrals will then come to your store to investigate and make purchases.

•    Strong relationships can work to open the door to opportunities.  By establishing new business relationship and growing existing business relationships ever-stronger you open the door to a boundless number of opportunities.  This effort may result in special buying opportunities, new sales, great operational ideas, and new opportunities, all of which are very helpful to growing your business.

•    Strong relationships allow you to know others and as a result, you can help each other.  Everyone you meet brings different strengths with them.  In some cases they may need what your business has to offer – dollar store merchandise, introductions to others you know, but they do not know, or even some extra help with a problem or challenge.  In other cases your dollar store business may need whatever it is those you know have to offer as you work to achieve greater levels of success.

If you are seeking success with dollar stores do not overlook the importance of relationship building.  If you do not already have skills in this area, then build your knowledge by reading, attending networking business groups, or even by registering for classes on the topic at your local college.  The level of your success with dollar stores depends on the relationships you create and nurture more than you can ever imagine.  Focus on starting and developing business relationships as one of your key areas of focus to grow your dollar store business ever-stronger.