A lot of time and research is spent on figuring out what Canadian customers want. From what they can afford to what they prefer, there are stats aplenty on how they shop, what they use to shop and how they rate businesses for loyalty, among many other metrics.
Two recent surveys of Canadian consumers — from PriceWaterhouse Coopers and the Canada Post — pinpoint several “wants” that consumers are pursuing at the moment. Knowing what these are can help you differentiate your business and bring more insight into the way you reach them. Here’s a look at just a few of these factors as they relate to Canadian consumers:
Convenience and speediness are important
The Post’s survey cited these as the top three reasons why someone would shop at an online business: saving time, 24/7 access, and price comparisons. Having a robust and high-tech approach online to business is one way to be able to stand out.
They love loyalty programs
The PWC survey points out that 52% of consumers sampled would shop at a business that had loyalty programs for customers. It’s something to consider, as not only an enticement for more business but in giving a perk that feels unique to your own business.
Spending more in smaller chunks
It’s interesting to note in that same survey that 50% of respondents are going to a store or site less frequently, but they’re spending more when they do so. That denotes some intentional spending that maybe wasn’t as commonplace before. Having your site or store layout reflect the breadth of what you can offer — but making it convenient no matter the source — is something to consider.
Environmental stewardship
There was an interesting stat we noticed in the Post: 44% of shoppers will be more loyal to a business if they are focused on reducing their carbon footprint. This ties to the fact that 4 in 10 Canadians surveyed by the Post also are concerned about their own carbon footprint. It may be a good time to speak with suppliers about how they help the environment and to let customers know how you’re also doing the same.
Change when it’s needed (or stay on track)
There are plenty of other factors that drive a customer’s willingness to spend. But as demonstrated above, a lot of it comes down to those crucial factors of service, convenience and value.
It’s also clear that working with all types of customers requires a blend of personal dynamics and high-tech tools. Those two factors, when coupled with superior service, can bring great success to any type of company.
At ARO, we’ve made it our goal to bring empathy to the collections process while still helping businesses reach their fullest potential. Find out more about what we have to offer businesses at our website: https://www.aro.ca/en/
