Do you remember those days when important celebrations were marked by the giving and receiving of carefully chosen, hand-written cards containing lovingly written personal messages? Or those days when a handwritten note on a beautiful piece of stationery would arrive from a friend or loved one? Do you recall how it made you feel, experiencing the warmth of someone taking the time to reach out to you in such a tangible, personalized way, delivered to your door? I still love that feeling, which is why I am delighted to see a new and growing trend emerging in the artisan e-commerce space. Over the past few months, as my own online shopping habits have led me to seek out more personalized experiences from niche artisan brands, I have had the pleasure of receiving hand-written notes in my beautifully wrapped packages. Often written by the founders or designers, these notes create a sense of personal connection with the brand and add to the shopping experience. For me, it is a small gesture with a big impact, as it turns me from just another satisfied customer, to a loyal brand customer who will buy again. It’s something for any women entrepreneur to think about as she takes her brand online and looks to build digital connections and touch points. It is here that the small business has a distinct advantage over the big companies. You can more easily create that ‘by-hand’ and highly personalized experienced that consumers are wanting.
Have yourself an inspired entrepreneurial day! — Melanie