Sheplers: 116 Year Old Company Engages Customers to Select a Logo for New Apparel Line

THE PROBLEM: Consumers are distracted by all the competing messages and media clutter. How can you ensure that your offers and messages are relevant to them?

THE SOLUTION: Ask them for help and guidance! Trust the wisdom of their recommendations and requirements.

Many marketers would be resistant to the idea of trusting the guidance of customers for something as critical as a logo design. A happy exception is the legendary country and western apparel retailer Sheplers, which traces its history back further than a century, but recently launched a cutting-edge e-mail campaign to its customers that effectively turned them into marketing consultants!

Sheplers, it turns out, is launching a new independent clothing line: Gibson. Rather than simply announce the Gibson line, the retailer sent out this email:

HELP WANTED

Sheplers is developing a new line of men's and women's clothing and we need your input... VOTE NOW by clicking on your favorite logo below!

There follows, below those words, a collage consisting of four intriguing, very different, possible logos for the new Gibson line. Which one will Sheplers customers prefer? Only time will tell. Whichever it is, I have a feeling the marketer will begin the new clothing line with a major market advantage: It will be communicating with a base of advocates and evangelists ... not just "selling" to a base of passive observers.

With its e-mail message, Sheplers made the bold decision to leverage the loyalty of its customers -- and turn them into valued partners. At the same time, it reinforced that loyalty by asking for input ... and showing respect for the customer's insights.

How can you leverage the loyalty of your customers? What opportunities to share feedback, offer ideas, or express their preferences can you offer customers via e-mail, social media, or research interviews?

Consumer empowerment is a reality. Customers expect input, interaction, and dialogue with their favored   merchants and service providers. You can only be assured of providing what customers want by asking them for their guidance. Now more than ever, loyalty and customer engagement go hand in hand ... and reinforce each other!

TRY THIS:

Use e-mail, social media, or telephone interviews to get guidance from your customers about your next big brand launch, special offer, messaging, or any other important initiative.

Be humble and trust the wisdom of your customers. The insights they provide will help you build deeper, more engaged relationships.