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Survival for Mom-and-Pop Computer Stores?

Posted by Cliff on from the playing-by-darwin's-rules dept.

Jeramy asks: "Hello, In February I entered into a partnership with a friend and now own and operate a 'mom and pop' computer store. In this day and age of PriceWatch and $599 systems from Wal-Mart, it is very frustrating (to say the least)to try to sell anything computer related to anyone. Customers walk into the store trying to haggle down our relatively low prices (relative to what we pay plus shipping to get it here) like we are a discount fish market. So my question is: Since 'every day low prices' are not possible, what can a local store do to attract customers?"

1 of 91 comments (clear)

  1. Re:The answer: differentiation by HughsOnFirst · · Score: 3, Informative

    Yeah "Differentiate the product."
    That's easy enough , but what's the product?
    If it's a commodity that you are selling you are the product.
    Service, hand holding, installing software, doing upgrades, bla bla bla.
    Think like a consultant. Find a niche. Or a few niches. Sell to artists. Sell to Musicians. Sell to Farmers. Figure out you customer's businesses I knew a Mac consultant that made an excellent living making house calls to (mostly) scriptwriters as far as I could tell.

    Another thing to consider, visit businesses that have cult followings. If you are near NYC, visit Tekserve on 23d street. They are a Mac Shop and do mostly service, but there are a remarkable number of folks who drop in to buy something just because the vibes are so good. The bad side of a cult following is you end up with a bunch of customers who hang out all the time. The good side of a cult following is you end up with a bunch of customers who evangelize for you. The crowded restaurant effect doesn't hurt either.

    Remember the store is the product, not the stuff you are selling.