Ultra high-end customers are known for being picky, impatient, and hard to please. The truth is, these customers have the same desires and time constraints that all people do, with the difference that they have the resources to assure their needs are met. This means they do not settle for second best, much less third or fourth. They have the money to spend on obtaining top-notch service.
If you want to develop a good rapport with this level of clientele, there are some simple steps that can take you there. Most of all, don’t forget that these clients are people just like you. They want to be appreciated, respected, and well taken care of.
1. Be responsive to requests: In many companies, the most elite customers will be given the direct contact number for someone in senior management. This person will respond promptly, day or night, to resolve any concern or request. This level of communication will make your high-end customers know that they are valued and that the company will do everything possible to take care of their needs.
2. Respect their time: High-end clients are very busy people, often managing business operations in several areas of the country or even the world, while also trying to take care of their own life. Be sure to be on time with all services offered to these clients and if you will be late call in advance to apologise and explain. If you leave these customers waiting, they will quickly move on to someone who won’t.
3. Say ‘Thank you’ and ask for feedback: Remember that these clients are your bread and butter. You know it, and so do they. Show appreciation to your customers for choosing you over your many competitors. If you provide a service, for instance, a private flight, be sure to follow up with a ‘thank you’ letter offering your services in the future. You may also want to include a form with a stamped, addressed envelope allowing the client to provide feedback about their experience.
4. Give your customers what they want, not what you think they want: There is a fine line between improving your service and providing upgrades that your clients don’t really enjoy. Try surveying clients, or do market research to find out what your demographic is really looking for. Do they need longer business hours? Private flights available on a Sunday? If these additions are what your clients really need, but you expand your business to include extra destinations, for example, you will be spending money without improving customer satisfaction.
5. Never stop improving your service: High-end customers are notoriously fickle when it comes to the companies they choose. A customer that has been with you for years may suddenly vanish if a competitor comes close to meeting his or her needs. No business can afford to be content and fail to improve, and that is especially true of businesses catering to the wealthiest clients.
Working with high-end clients is a great way to make money for your company, but this demographic provides many challenges. If you follow the five steps outlined above, you should be well on your way to creating a brand that wealthy customers will be excited to use and to recommend to their friends.
This guest post was provided by Brian Donahue, who has worked with one of the leading providers of aircraft fractional ownership, flight hour cards, and airplane leasing programs. With a focus on customer service, safety and comfort, an aircraft ownership program is the solution to your private travel needs.
Thank you to www.planetluxus.com for the picture
Thank you Brian – your post reminds me of a story I hear a few weeks ago. A speaker I heard had recently stayed at Claridge’s in London. She had asked in the bar for a ginger beer, a particularly English ‘delicacy’ that she enjoyed drinking occasionally. Claridge’s had some of her favourite brand in stock, and she was served a bottle. Not only that, but when she stayed at Claridge’s again a few months later, there was a bottle of the ginger beer in her room when she arrived.
Remembering to have that ginger beer ready for the next arrival…now that is top-notch customer service!
Thanks again, Graham!
You’re welcome!