Full transcript here:

Let's talk about one of the most important things that you’ll need to do to have a successful shopping business. In fact, there isn't a single personal shopping business that doesn't do this well. And that one thing is this. They know how to identify and bring in new clients to their businesses. Whether you're just starting out or looking to expand your client base, these tips and strategies will set you on the path to success. Let's get started!

First things first, it's essential to understand who your ideal clients are. Knowing your target audience allows you to tailor your marketing efforts effectively.

One of the most common client profiles for personal grocery shopping are women, frequently moms with kids. They can be both working moms and stay-at-home moms, typically from upper-middle-class backgrounds who live in well-to-do neighborhoods. They highly value their time and are often very selective with their groceries, especially when it comes to fruits, vegetables, meats, and dairy products.

Many clients have specific needs that make having the same dedicated personal shopper especially appealing. For example, someone in the family with food allergies requires careful label reading. Or children who are very particular about who comes to the door. And even families with one or more pampered pets are great candidates for your shopping business. These clients appreciate having the same personal shopper every time, someone who gets to know their tastes and preferences. They also value the ability to shop at any store, as well as the flexibility to go to multiple stores, including farmers markets, ethnic stores, pet stores, restaurants, and even the dry cleaner.

It is best to target clients who value their time. Clients focused on saving money are not a great fit for personal shopping services. However, they often still do save money when they use your service because they pay in-store prices without the hidden markup that gig apps charge, as well as benefit from in-store coupons and store loyalty programs.

Another ideal client segment includes local businesses that need groceries, such as daycare facilities that offer onsite meals, catering businesses, gyms, yoga studios, and professional offices with onsite kitchens and breakrooms. These clients often require frequent and large grocery orders. These orders are often very profitable, so may even be worth your time to unpack the items for your business clients.

Direct Communication with Potential Clients

Building a strong client base starts with direct communication. Here are some effective ways to reach out to potential clients:

Personal Invitations:

- Reach out to previous clients from other gigs or jobs. These are people who already know and trust your service. Send them a personal text or have an in-person conversation to introduce your new business.

- Any clients who have complained about the service of gig apps are a great place to start. They are likely looking for a more reliable and personalized experience.

- Use the Invite Client feature in the Boss app to send a direct phone invite. This is one of the highest-performing lead sources across the Dumpling platform.

Face-to-Face Conversations:

- Whenever possible, introduce your business through face-to-face conversations. This builds trust and allows for immediate feedback.

- Talk to friends, family, and pretty much anyone who will listen about your business. Tell people why you started your business, how the service works, what sets you apart, how you approach shopping and item selection, and how you can benefit them.

- Carry business cards or flyers with you to hand out during these interactions.

- Wear a t-shirt with your business name to stand out while shopping, and always have business cards with your business website.

- Highlight the benefits of your service: the same personal shopper every time, someone who understands their preferences, never worrying about out-of-stock items, pay in-store prices, and even use their store loyalty card. Emphasize the benefits your services have provided to other clients.

Meeting Potential Clients at Events:

- Meet potential clients at events you're already attending, such as local school or church group gatherings. Engage in conversations and offer your business card to interested individuals.

Local Partnerships:

- Partner with local businesses such as realestate offices, gyms, daycare centers, and senior living communities. Offer special discounts or promotions to their customers to try your service.

- Attend local events such as farmers' markets, food festivals, and local fairs to showcase your services.

- Join your local Chamber of Commerce to connect with other business owners and potential clients in your community.

Ask for Referrals from Clients

Referrals can be one of the best ways to find new clients, especially those similar to your best existing clients. However, asking for referrals can be challenging. Here’s how to approach it:

Be Direct but Polite:

- When you have a good relationship with a client, don't hesitate to ask for a referral. Be direct but polite in your request. Here’s a typical way to do that:

- "Hi Carla, I'm so glad that you're happy with the grocery shopping services I provide. I'm currently looking to expand my client base and was wondering if you know anyone. A friend or neighbor, who might benefit from a personal grocery shopping service like mine. I'd really appreciate it if you could introduce me to one person in your network that might be a good fit."

Avoid Referral Discounts:

- We don't suggest offering referral discounts because saving money is often not what motivates your clients to refer. They usually refer because they want to help you or the person they're referring.

- After receiving a referral, follow up with the referred person promptly. Thank your client for the referral and keep them updated on any new developments.

Advertising Strategies

There is a time and place for advertising strategies, though often they are only successful after you've established your business with a number of regular clients, oftentimes based on the strategies I shared earlier. Generally, it's not recommended until you've completed hundreds of orders for your regulars. That being said, some personal shoppers create Facebook pages for their businesses, with frequent posts about new items at stores, deals, and what looks fresh at the store. Others post on Nextdoor. Some even create online advertising for Google and Facebook. These can be good strategies, though often result in low conversion rates, making this more expensive compared to other strategies focused on direct communication with potential clients.

Print advertising can be effective as well, though only when very targeted. For example, flyers at wealthy retirement communities or in the lobby of luxury condos.

To conclude, bringing in new clients to your personal grocery shopping business requires a combination of understanding your audience, direct communication, building relationships, leveraging referrals, and carefully considering advertising strategies. By implementing these strategies, you'll be well on your way to growing a successful and thriving business.

I’ll leave you with this! New business owners who directly invite 10 potential clients using the Boss app are 10 times more likely to be successful than those who don’t. So get your business off to a good start and invite your first potential client today!

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