CLV
and
"Velvet Rope Customers" last updated 2009 Jan 13 |
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CLV
Customer
|
, | In several of
these "teaching units" in business, and marketing and e-business courses
I teach, I have mentioned CLV - which is a fairly simple concept.
Basically, the idea is that if you fuss over a customer to make sure they repeatedly purchase your product, you will make a lot of money over several years - so.... it makes sense to do a lot for the customer in the beginning because over the "lifetime" of the relationship they have with you, you can sell a lot of product and recover the costs of incentives, free shipping, gift wrapping and other things you did in the beginning to hook them in. It is also understood that one of the best ways to grow a business is take the existing customers you have, and make them long-term repeat customers. WTGR |
Velvet
Rope
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, | In some clubs that focus on high paying customers, or customers they want to attract from a narrow target market segment, the doorman uses a Velvet Rope policy. This is a slang expression which comes from the actual practice of using a velvet rope across the entrance to the doorway of the club, and the doorman looks out over the people lined up and picks only those people that are dressed in a way which seems suitable for the type of clientale they wish to have. |
While this elitist practice of "picking" customers can be upsetting for the average person who wants to be a customer, it can be rewarding for the club because it means they end up with a very "high quality" customer who will spend lots of $$$ on drinks and food, and also be attractive so the other customers will think they are in a hot place - which in turn serves to make the place even more hot and increases the customer satisfaction. While some people complain that this is shallow and petulant, the owners simply say that if you don't like this, you probably aren't the type of rich shallow customer we want to attract anyway. |
Velvet Rope & CLV | , | So how does
it relate to CLV?
Well, if you pick your customers carefully, such that they fit the products and services you are offering, chances are they will be satisfied customers and you can sell them a lot over a long long period of time. The consequence of this approach means that adopting a Velvet Rope policy can lead to CLV, which can in turn save you money on marketing promotions to the public in general. Instead of wasting money on mass advertising at large, you can focus on your niche market, and, for some special types of products and services, it works. |
CLV
applied |
, | Student Adam
Y. in MGT D06 in September 2006 found a good example of a consumer
electronics company that uses the Velvet Rope policy to make sure it is
focusing on the best customers to enhance CLV.
Adam found this story in
the online edition of the
In an email, Adam explains I found a story on the ‘velvet rope’ strategy and the impact of Customer Lifetime Value we had discussed in class. Many of the major mass merchandisers (such as in this story, Best Buy), have developed large customer databases from customers shopping online and in their retail stores, detailing their purchase habits and are now using them to see if they are desirable or undesirable. This is a good example of a firm using customer information by gathering data from Point of Sales Terminals and Online retailing website and using the information gathered to profile customers based on their CLVs. This is done in Best Buy’s adapting to the 6 environments, but most importantly, the competitive environment: Best Buy is adapting to the competitive environment of Dell and Walmart moving into TVs and portable electronics. Walmart, in particular, is experienced and poised to succeed by focusing on the high volume, but low margin customers, Best Buy decided it was best not to focus on this sector, but instead, focus on wooing and drawing the high value customers that they current have in their customer database. This allows them to maximize the return invested in the marketing by only funnelling the best customers into the store and keeping the ‘devil’ customers away, who eat into the margins of the stores. Thanks Adam, WTGR |
CLV
applied focus
get rid
|
, | Wall Street
Journal: Classrom Edition article Adam referred to was written by
Gary McWilliams and carried on their site in January 2005. originally at http://wsjclassroom.com/archive/05jan/bigb_bestbuy.htm The Customer Isn't Always Right: Best Buy Wants to Keep the Wrong Kind of Shopper Out of Its Stores McWilliams explains
McWiliama writes
|
CLV
applied in the
|
, | When it comes to applying the principles of developing CLV and applying an exclusionary Velvet Rope policy, this is sometimes more easily done by companies "marketing in the infomation age"; who have the resources of web based databases and communication through email and text messaging to develop the CLV side, and exclude the undesirable customers from passing the Velvet Rope. |
CLV measured | , | "How
to Measure and Manage Customer Value and Customer Profitability"
From a "White paper" from
the SAS company
"SAS is the leader in business
analytics software and services, and the largest independent vendor in
the business intelligence market"
Why do customer-related costs
matter
Should we pursue the most
profitable or the most valuable customers
|
CLV measured | , | "How
to Measure and Manage Customer Value and Customer Profitability"
author Gary Cokins gary.cokins@sas.com
explains
Customer retention. "It is generally more expensive to acquire a new customer than to retain an existing one—and satisfi ed existing customers are likely to buy more and also “spread the word” to others"A shift in the source for competitive advantage. "In the past, companies focused on building products and selling them to every potential prospect."“One-to-one” marketing "There is now a shift from mass marketing products a seller believes it can sell to better understanding each customer’s unique preferences and what he or she can afford."Expanded product diversity, variation and customization. "As product and service-lines proliferate, such as new colors or sizes, complexity increases. As a result, more indirect expenses (i.e., overhead costs) are needed to manage the complexity"Power shift to customers. "The Internet is shifting power—irreversibly—from sellers to buyers. Thanks to the Internet, B2C consumers and B2B purchasing agents can more efficiently explore more shopping options and more easily educate themselves. Customers have an abundance of options; and now they can get information about products or services that interest them in a much shorter amount of time." |
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