Have you
ever been on a cruise? If you have, you will recognize these things about the
cruise.
Cruises
have Onboard Credit Card for all expenses. Do you accept credit cards and do
you have a credit easily available for your customers?
Cruise provide a long list of extras and add-ons:
•
Soft
drink cup
•
Shake
and Juice glass
•
Art
auctions
•
Drawings
to encourage seeing all shops
•
Shops
•
Limited
time sales
•
Approved
excursions
•
Liquor
•
Beer
and wine
•
Upgrade
dining
•
Room
service extras
•
Transfers
to and from the ship
•
Photos
•
Videos
•
Naturalist's
books and videos
•
Room
upgrades
•
Frequent
travelers benefits
•
Deposit
for future cruises with benefits
•
Spa
with dozens of pampering options
•
Aerobic
classes
•
Wine
tastings
•
In
room refrigerator with soft drinks and bottled water
•
Laundry
•
Laundry
services
•
Tuxedo
rental
•
"Garage
sale"
•
"Kid
free" zones
•
On
board classes
•
On
board tours
•
Casinos
•
Extra for Internet services with various
packages
One
online site states "On a 7 day cruise a couple will average $400-$600 in
extras." Another site tells cruisers to expect to spend an additional
40-60% above the cruise fare. The cruise lines are very good about offering
add-ons. Do your customers spend 40-60% more than the basic repair or
replacement cost?
Cruises
have coupon books for on board and at ports. Customers are looking for “deals” to save money. Are you giving
them coupons and add-on discounts?
Cruises
have constant marketing even on in room television. Do you have a constant on
going marketing campaign?
Cruise
ships have daily newsletter with schedule, coupons, and marketing. Do you Techs
have handouts and literature to give to the customer?
Cruise
ships have seminars on the ports and the cruises port activities to sell
extras. Does your website or blog have educational material for the customer to
learn about new products and services?
Cruise
ships recommended places to buy in port (the cruise line gets paid to do this).
Do you have add-on products or services that a subcontractor might provide that
you receive a referral fee for?
Cruise
lines have frequent cruiser cards with perks. Do you have a preventative maintenance
plan with extra perks for repeat and ongoing customers?
Cruise
companies have monthly magazines, e-magazines, and other mailings and e-mailings.
Do you have a newsletter that goes out at least twice a year and monthly
e-mailings?
Cruise
lines have group discounts. Do you have affinity cards for employees of your
commercial accounts with a discount?
Cruise
ships have special cruises for those with special interests. Do you have
products and services for those with special needs and do you market to them?
An example might be backup sump pumps in areas that have a high water table.
Cruise
lines cater to special groups such as:
•
Handicap
•
Different Economic Groups
•
Smokers
•
Couples
•
Singles
•
Kids
•
Old
•
Young
•
Sedate
•
Active
•
Women
•
Men
•
Families
Do you
actively cater to special groups with your products and services?
Cruise lines are selective in the people they hire. They must cater to customers, be friendly,
they are well trained, they are clean cut and neat, they all wear complete
uniforms. Do your Techs and in house employees fit this bill?
Cruise
lines have systems in place in every operation. Does your company?
Are you
offering a list of options for your customers? Are you constantly marketing in
a variety of forms? Do you cater to special groups? Is your presentation from
the beginning to the end of a transaction with a customer friendly, with clean
cut neat professionals who use a proven system to make it a wow experience for
the customer?
If you
have been on a cruise you can relate to each of these. If you have not been on
one, you should try it and see these things for yourself.
