Episode 28: Making Personalized Recommendations
Episode 28: Making Personalized Recommendations
Hey there, Assistant Manager! Welcome back to "Smoke Break." I'm Mike Hernandez, and today we're talking about a skill that can boost your sales while making customers feel valued - personalized recommendations.
Here's the thing - anybody can suggest products. But making truly personalized recommendations? That takes skill, attention, and genuine interest in your customers.
Let's start with the foundation - you've got to pay attention. When a customer is buying a sandwich, take that extra second to notice what kind. Are they grabbing a turkey club? Maybe suggest our chips that pair well with it, or that new iced tea we just got in. The key is making it relevant to what they're already buying.
Product knowledge is your secret weapon here. You can't make good recommendations if you don't know your inventory. Know which drinks go well with which snacks. Know which items customers frequently buy together. This knowledge comes from observation and experience.
Here's something important - timing matters. Don't bombard customers with suggestions the moment they walk in. Wait until they've selected something, then make your recommendation. "I see you're getting the chicken wrap - we've got a great fruit cup that goes perfectly with that" works a lot better than hitting them with suggestions before they've even started shopping.
Keep it natural and conversational. You're not a salesperson pushing products - you're a helpful friend making a suggestion. There's a big difference between "Would you like to add chips with that?" and "Hey, these kettle chips are amazing with that sandwich if you're interested."
Now, here's your challenge for the day: Practice making three personalized recommendations based on what customers are actually buying. Pay attention to their response and adjust your approach accordingly.
Before we wrap up, let's do a quick check. What's the key to making effective personalized recommendations? Is it: A) Suggesting the most expensive items B) Making recommendations based on what the customer is already buying C) Recommending the same items to everyone
Take a moment to think about it. The correct answer is B - making recommendations based on what the customer is already buying. Relevance is everything.
Remember, as an assistant manager, personalized recommendations aren't just about increasing sales - they're about showing customers you understand their needs.
That's all for today's "Smoke Break." If you found this helpful, don't forget to subscribe to our channel and share with your fellow convenience store leaders. And for more in-depth content, head over to c store thrive .com.
Until next time, keep those recommendations personal and relevant. This is Mike Hernandez, signing off!
