I received such great feedback from my post titled "Do They Have Their Wires Crossed?" (March 18). I thought I'd post a shining example of how one consumer electronics store is actually catching some of those "fly balls" that have been whizzing their way.
Here's an excerpt from the email I received from Phil Melton, head dude in charge of brand promotion and marketing for Audio Advice, Inc. in Raleigh, NC:
"At Audio Advice, we've focused on the creation of memorable experiences for a number of years for every member of our customer base. Some of our most valued clients are women who chose to shop with us because of our focus on the individual.Check out our website, and you'll see pictures of our 3 year old showplace. Our facility was built to include a children's play area, a kitchen and simulated patio area, a living room, and a number of home theater rooms and audio listening rooms. Our entire interior was designed by an interior designer to be aesthetically interesting, as well as functional for our salespeople.
Numerous customers, both women and men, have commented on the creative use of color, lighting, and design features of our store. The systems in our rooms are created to illustrate the variety of applications available in audio, video, and home control systems.
This kind of attention to quality and the individual is not likely to be replicated by a big box retailer. However, at Audio Advice and in specialty retailers around the country, the service focus is alive and well."
Phil, if I had 99 other people in the room with me right now, we'd be doin' the Wave for ya. Audio Advice is a living example that with careful consideration and thought as to some of the simple ways to reach out, you can create an atmosphere that is intriguing.
And, you create a customer for life.
Phil tells me that they're in the middle of a re-design of their website, but pay them a visit anyway: Audio Advice