By Chris Cook

You’re up early watching a bit of the morning news while enjoying a cup of coffee, deciding whether you should fix some breakfast or just stop by your favorite breakfast spot on the way to open the doors once again. Yes, it is another day in the life of a mobile electronics retailer. You may be suffering the effects of a bad year thus far but you feel the tide rising and are hoping this recession will soon pass and all will be back to normal (whatever that was). So let’s look at normal.

What is the standard for our business and type of customer? The car audio demographic is thought to be predominately male from 16 to 24 years old. Is that who is coming in your door? Or has there been a shift to a broader demographic that requires a different approach or product offering? Has the target demographic changed their product purchase interests? All great questions that for the most part escape answers. So tell me, who is coming through your door and what products are they looking to purchase? What if we are searching for normal, hoping to breathe a sigh of relief, only to find out that normal now means something much different for your business than it did before the recession?

When reviewing all the changes taking place in the market for automobiles, wireless devices, traditional autosound and everything else that falls into our category, we may very well be witnessing a permanent shift in consumer lifestyle that now involves saving more and spending money on products that they either really need or really want and are willing to save for. This shift means that now, more than ever, you need to maximize every customer’s experience. You can’t let them leave the store without letting them know that you are there to help them save money while adding value to their automobile. The consumer experience is the key to success. As a mobile electronics retailer you must make every customer feel as if you are a trusted friend looking out for their best interests.

Treat their automobile with the utmost respect as well. Paying attention to the details, like a clean and organized store that presents an image that directly appeals to their needs will go a long way toward building a solid base of repeat and referred customers. Do that and you can celebrate a job well done and live to work another day. Now get in your car and take the long way home so you can listen to the great sound system you had installed with pride. Don’t forget to stop and pick up dinner!