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Made To Order Products Deliver Made To Order Stories [VIDEO]

Posted on 08. Jul, 2009 by Monique in Articles

When evaluating your current enterprise strategies, do you consider your custom product more of a hassle than a goldmine? Are you have trouble going from maybe on time to just in time? Stay the course and consider the inherent value that your made to order products deliver to your customers?

In the midst of economic opportunities, it is important to take time a formulate a game plan on how to do more with less. Now, more than ever consumers are becoming increasingly more narcissistic and want their buying experience to revolve around them. The truth is that businesses would do well to differentiate themselves from the competition by catering to this need. People want to feel like what they are buying is of high quality, affordable, and that no one else on the block or the planet for that matter, has on like it. From Courture gowns, to platinum-colored M&Ms that read, “My Life Would Suck Without Lean“, consumers are obsessed and in fact expect to have a wide variety of choices that exude their style and sense of individuality.

How Can Businesses Keep Fresh?

The first thing you can do is evaluate virtual touch points on your website. Customers are not just searching for jewelry, but rather custom jewelry.  Does your website reflect the fact that you offer custom jewelry?  If not, it’s time for a makeover.  The checkout process is also a point to review.  Does your customer get a range of options to customize their purchase?

Make Components Interchangeable

Often what can hold you back from smoothing out your lead time for made to order product is the design of the actual components.  Take time to zero in on how each part fits together.  Do you have universal connections, such as common hole sizes and drill patterns?  Standardizing can reduce the need to have a large number of unique components and simplify training for assembly.  Interchangability is key to keeping up with demand and designing for Six Sigma quality.

Deliver an Experience that Sells Itself

Once you overcome the technically challenges, it is important to understand the value that you are delivering to your customer.  Marketing your made to order products will be easier than ever.  A happy customer will be busting at the seems to tell someone else about their experience.  A story you won’t have to spend a dime to tell because the consumer will tell it for you.  In a flat world that is becoming more comfortable with free social media tools - everyone has a voice and can connect with friends, family, and business associates in an instant.  What would you want your customers to say about you? 

“I just bought this boring shoe that everyone else has.”

“I just made my own shoe with my own name on it and NO ONE else has one like it!”

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