A new twist on what business you are in

Few of us sell products or services that our customers must have; we may have some items customers must have (some food, some clothing, some medicines) but for the majority of what we sell and do, it is not essential.

If that is true, then why do customers buy from us?

They are spending what we call discretionary money; you spend it because you have earned the money and want to enjoy spending it. So, where does the enjoyment begin?

It should begin with you; when you walk into your business and as you transfer that enjoyment to your staff. The staff, in turn, can transfer it to your customers. The enjoyment of spending money has to begin in, or with, your business.

Let's look at an example. The current discussion online is Amazon and their purchase of Whole Foods. Now Amazon can sell food. But what made Whole Foods different?

It is the same thing that makes Trader Joe's or Fresh Market different. The experience you have in each of these is different from the experience in the traditional grocery store

Amazon, along with the rest of the Internet businesses, have simply said, "If you are not going to make it a fun experience for your customer, then we are going to make it quick and painless"?

And yes, there are economic factors that come into play as they can sell to all the world as compared to selling to a smaller demographic area.

The same can be true for those that provide a service. Are you just providing a service or are you engaging and interacting with your customer?

Information from the US Labor Department says the average household spends more on entertainment than they ever have before.

The question to each of us is, "Are we entertaining to our customer"?