MANAGING POTENTIAL GROWTH FROM A MAJOR INFLUENCER PARTNERSHIP
I run a small online retail business. We’ve been invited to partner with a major influencer to showcase our products. This could lead to a big increase in sales, but I’m concerned about handling the increased order volume and whether our current infrastructure can manage the potential growth.
What should I do? Please advise using 7SFS
Here’s how you can approach this opportunity using the 7 Steps Fulfilment System (7SFS):
1. CELEBRATE & BE GRATEFUL
Celebrate that your business has attracted the attention of a major influencer, which indicates your product’s appeal and market potential. This partnership has the potential to significantly increase brand visibility and sales.
Be grateful for the opportunity to work with an influencer who can help take your business to the next level. Also, recognise your team’s enthusiasm about this growth opportunity.
2. ALIGN YOUR FULFILMENT VISION
Align this opportunity with your long-term goals. Consider how partnering with an influencer can fit into your overall business strategy for growth, scaling, and brand recognition.
Define what success looks like in this partnership. This could include increasing brand awareness, boosting sales, acquiring new customers, and improving your market positioning. Ensure the increased sales can be sustained while maintaining quality.
3. KNOW YOUR WIN
Success in this situation is about capturing the increased sales while ensuring your current infrastructure (website, inventory, shipping, etc.) can handle the surge without compromising quality or customer satisfaction.
Identify the key metrics for success, such as order fulfillment times, website uptime during traffic spikes, inventory turnover, and customer satisfaction. These metrics will help you gauge how well you’re handling the increased volume.
4. KNOW YOUR CLIENT'S WIN
The influx of new customers from the influencer’s audience will expect quick, smooth transactions and quality products delivered on time. Make sure you are prepared to meet these expectations.
Work closely with the influencer to communicate realistic shipping times, stock availability, and any product limitations upfront to their audience. This transparency can help manage customer expectations and avoid potential disappointments.
5. SIGN WIN-WIN AGREEMENT OR NO DEAL
Assess your current infrastructure and team’s capacity to handle a potential spike in orders. If necessary, explore outsourcing fulfillment or hiring temporary staff to manage the additional workload during the promotion.
Collaborate with the influencer to set expectations around content promotion, timing, and deliverables. Agree on the scope of the partnership and ensure it aligns with your business’s ability to handle the increased demand.
6. DELIVER WITH EXCELLENCE
Implement systems to manage an increase in orders. This may include upgrading your website’s capacity to handle traffic surges, improving inventory management, and streamlining your fulfillment processes.
As orders increase, ensure that the quality of your products and services remains high. Create a plan for ensuring quality checks and smooth operations, even if order volumes rise quickly.
7. ACHIEVE WITH JOY
Celebrate the successful launch of the influencer partnership with your team. Acknowledge the hard work that goes into preparing for such an opportunity and the success it brings to the business.
After the partnership, reflect on how well your business handled the increased demand. Use the lessons learned to improve your operations, infrastructure, and customer service. This will prepare you for future growth opportunities and similar partnerships.