Adding Value in Modern Business

Adding value in Modern Business is not necessary means adding high cost in our side. In fact, many companies has implemented low budget-high impact strategy. Let's say Shell Petroleum, their price are relatively higher than Pertamina. But they proved themselves as a tough competitor of Pertamina which statisticly has more experience and strong brand image in Indonesia.

When you fill up your fuel in Shell, you can ask them to clean up your mirror. It's simple thing, but it added an important value through it. Many customers are choosing their gas station because of this simple stuff. In this case, gas is the main product and in my opinion, its product value are exactly the same (or maybe a little better?)between Pertamina and Shell.

Another example, Wal-Green, one of the best convenient store in US that has more than 3000 stores around North America. Most of their stuff are relatively higher in price compared by its competitor. But they keep growing and growing in market share, profit, and amount of new stores opened every year. While I was work there few years back, I realized that one of their strength is company culture (besides its strategic location). In Walgreen, employees HAVE TO treat customers as best as they can! They need to greet each customers, offer an assistance, pick up the phone at third ring at most, and so on.

It's all a simple stuff that doesn't cost a penny! But it has a positive impact, it can build relationship between shoppers and employees, and indeed it strengthen their loyalty to the store. In general, Wal-Green store are small to medium sizes, which means it's much easier for them to show hospitality to their customers rather than big stores such as Wal-Mart. This way, they can both reap a good margin and win customer loyalty.