Calling Old Customers

[BDOptimism]

Hi All,

Do you think it's wrong for a self-employed person to call old customers to gain their business back if it was the self-employed individual that let them go 1-2 years before?

 

[UrbanRetail]

What was the reason for letting them go in the first place?

 

[BDOptimism]

What was the reason for letting them go in the first place?

To stop business for personal reasons/plans

 

[UrbanRetail]

To stop business for personal reasons/plans

If when you parted ways you suggested contacting them when you were back or they suggested it, then I'd certainly go for it

 

[BDOptimism]

If when you parted ways you suggested contacting them when you were back or they suggested it, then I'd certainly go for it

Right. The main point of this post is to garner opinions, but before I posted, I had in mind the fact that it was me who let them go for whatever personal reason it was - it doesn't matter. Health/Plans/Financial...etc. I sent a text to them all to let them know of what I was planning to do. I never said that I'd get back in touch, but I don't think one could rule that out either at that time. I was thinking of getting in touch with them all just to offer it to them with the caveat that if they had already found the replacement, that they are to continue with the individual they now have. I've already done that even - i've had one or two people who wish to come back from a list of about 40 customers. Perhaps I've been feeling bad about this without the need to. There may be one or two customers who didn't even get that message that I had stopped, so I've been thinking of including an apology in my offer to them to carry out the service again, just in case.

 

[AstEver]

You do not end a relationship, be it a personal or business one, by ignoring the other person or party, or texting a message. You call, send a letter or meet in person, especially when you are a sole-trader because it is your name and your reputation. But this is a standard of behaviour that many do not care about in business today.

In my opinion, there is nothing wrong in contacting them, as long as you did not burn your bridges that time, but do it with style and show them that they can rely on your service.

 

[promdressers]

Absolutely go for it. Have you email addresses? Reintroduce yourself and explain in very general terms that you are back.Do not give the impression that you EXPECT their custom, but that you need everyone to be aware. Do not slag the competition, but push your good points. Do not be tempted to secure business by being cheap.

Slightly different but when I first went back to my original trade as self employed, I phoned (no emails then . ) every one that I knew to say I was starting being SE from a date. I was not looking for bookings, but I said that, from experience, every time someone buys, sells or books something, someone will say “if I had known I know someone cheaper, better, quicker etc”. So I am letting everyone know.
The remarkable thing was, I quickly had to buy a diary as I started getting bookings. I hit the ground running on my start date, and never had a day without work.

Good luck.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

Hi All,

Do you think it's wrong for a self-employed person to call old customers to gain their business back if it was the self-employed individual that let them go 1-2 years before?

If you can offer a good service or product it is wrong not to call them

 

[AllUpHere]

If you can offer a good service or product it is wrong not to call them

Look at you getting all philosophical on us.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

Look at you getting all philosophical on us.

Hindsight educated me but a wasted youth brought me my struggles

 

[BustersDogs]

I did this. I gave up the cat sitting part of my business, then came back to it a few years ago when I gave up a different part of my business. I contacted all my previous clients. Some were happy with the person I'd referred them to, or had found a new cat sitter on their own, but a few came straight back to me and have been with me ever since.

 

[estwig]

Don't apologise, it draws attention to the fact there maybe something to apologize for.

Focus on the positive, tell them they were a great client to work with and you enjoyed working with them. Your offering is now bigger, better, stronger than ever because of............ and you would like the opportunity to help and work with them again, as such you are willing to offer a free widget/cat/death of their enemy, whatever the special offer is.

 

[Ashley_Price]

Certainly nothing wrong with contacting them again. As @BustersDogs above says, you may find some have gone elsewhere, but some will be very happy to hear from you.