Why Smarties & Candy Can Lead to Success

Children May be the Key Consumer Influencers To Business Success

Win over children and you can win over the biggest influencers of all time (anyone who has kids, knows exactly what I mean).

Roy Prevost, in his book entitled Turbocharge Your Retail Business, tells about a story of a small business retailer who has things figured out.

It has to do with a pharmacist who runs his own store. He has a fool proof way of gaining influence into many of his customer’s households, he gains the influence of the children. He has become somewhat of a legend in his hometown. He goes onto explain that he has a simple strategy that any retailer can do.

A pharmacist explains:

“Whenever a parent and a young (five years or younger) child enters the store, I approach them, and with the parent’s approval, I crouch down beside the child and ask in a very gentle way: ‘Hi, My name is Bill… what’s your name?”

“The child, shy or not, will say his or her name. (for the purpose of this story, let’s say it’s ‘Stephanie’)

“I then say, ‘Stephanie, do you know what day it is today?”

“Stephanie will then usually shyly say, ‘I don’t know!”

“Then I will say, ‘This is your special day! Come with me…”

“Then I take the child by the hand and walk them over to a candy display that I specifically put together for that purpose, and hand the child a mini pack of Smarties. Then I say, “This is for you because it’s your Special Day. And remember, my name is Mister Smartie!”

Does this strategy work? You bet!

Will that child ask his or her mother to go back and visit Mister Smartie? I guarantee it!

The strategy is so simple, it make you wonder why more retailers don’t do the same thing, or something similar.

Children are one of the biggest influencers in any household. Why not get them on your side?