Customers
![Picture](/uploads/7/6/5/7/76575983/published/group-23-medium.png?1592421819)
So far, we have looked at developing a good business idea, checked that you can make or do it thought about the money side of things.
Now you need to think about something that every business needs – customers. This can be hard as we don’t always know who are customers will be until we start selling things.
However, it might be possible to imagine the type of people who would be interested in your product or service.
Now you need to think about something that every business needs – customers. This can be hard as we don’t always know who are customers will be until we start selling things.
However, it might be possible to imagine the type of people who would be interested in your product or service.
![Picture](/uploads/7/6/5/7/76575983/published/jessica-thumbs-up-medium.png?1592422231)
1 - Features and Benefits
Think about what your product or service. You did this in unit 1. These are known as features. Now think about what your business idea does.
What is it about your business that will make people want to buy from you? These are known as the business benefits.
Try to think about what the customers will like from their point of view. For example if you offer a dog walking service, will the customer like it because they will get more time in the evening if the dog has already been walked.
Try to think about the benefits of your business idea. Does it save time or money, is it make from natural resources, help save the environment, something else?
Think about what your product or service. You did this in unit 1. These are known as features. Now think about what your business idea does.
What is it about your business that will make people want to buy from you? These are known as the business benefits.
Try to think about what the customers will like from their point of view. For example if you offer a dog walking service, will the customer like it because they will get more time in the evening if the dog has already been walked.
Try to think about the benefits of your business idea. Does it save time or money, is it make from natural resources, help save the environment, something else?
![Picture](/uploads/7/6/5/7/76575983/published/employment-support.png?1592422202)
2 - Customers and consumers
It is also helpful to know about the difference between customers and consumers. Customers are the people who buy from you. Consumers are the people who use your product or service. Sometimes they are the same people and sometimes they are different.
If I buy myself a plant, I am the both the customer and the consumer. If I buy some flowers for my wife, I am the customer and she is the consumer.
This can be important to understand so we have a better idea of how people will spend their money. Money people will pay more for a gift for someone else.
It is also helpful to know about the difference between customers and consumers. Customers are the people who buy from you. Consumers are the people who use your product or service. Sometimes they are the same people and sometimes they are different.
If I buy myself a plant, I am the both the customer and the consumer. If I buy some flowers for my wife, I am the customer and she is the consumer.
This can be important to understand so we have a better idea of how people will spend their money. Money people will pay more for a gift for someone else.
What can you do?
![Picture](/uploads/7/6/5/7/76575983/published/job-think-1-medium.png?1592422295)
This is where you think about who would want to buy your product or service. You will need to think about things like:
- Where would customers come from? To start with they may be people you already know but it is useful to think about who else may want to buy from you.
- Are they individuals or businesses? Is it for a group of people or is it for one person only? For example, a training course would be for a group of people. A dog walking service would be for one person only.
- How will you get your product or service to them? Will they come to you, or will you visit them or use the post?
Hopefully, you have now decided on your business idea, are confident that you can do it and that it will earn enough money.
You also know who you customers are likely to be a bit about how to contact them to tell them about your product or service. You are almost ready to get started. However, there is one thing that we have not yet spent time thinking about – Support. The fifth and final unit in this series looks at support and how to get it |