Can You Imagine A World Without. . .
Loading ...One of the questions in Gallup Organization’s customer engagement survey (AKA CE11) is “Can you imagine a world without?”
When Gallup sent out the survey on our behalf, our customers had to answer the question “Can you imagine a world without TNG.”
When I address a group of people with this question, I typically get the following companies mentioned:
- Apple
- Nike
- Coke
- Costco
- Walmart
Let’s take Apple for instance. If Apple vanished tomorrow, what would Apple users do? How has Apple shaped its customers lives and how much does its customers depend on the company each day?
Yet while Apple is now the biggest tech company value wise, it is getting thumbs down on several issues, recently its antenna problem with its new iPhone 4. Also, people are yapping that Apple is too big to care about its customers like it used to when it was much smaller and that Apple is too corporate. Steve Jobs in fact will address the antenna issue Friday; it will be interesting to get his take on this.
But what if Apple said we did our thing and we are retiring? What if Walmart said they want to be the new high price leader? What if Nike said watching TV is healthier than running so who needs athletic shoes? Can you imagine a Coke drinker drinking Pepsi?
What companies come to mind that you could not live without? I would bet the list would be less than five.
What does it take to be a company people can’t life without? Plenty. I will be talking more about that tomorrow.
In the meantime, TNG has ranked in the top 95th percentile with your customers as it pertains to that question. For that, we are quite proud. As we continue to rock and roll (remember Grand Funk Railroad?), we hope that you could not imagine a world without us.
Happy Thursday!
July 15th, 2010 at 9:09 am
I could do without all these. Hiller’s would be one that came to mind that I would be upset if they were no longer around. Also a small handful of locally owned places I shop. I like the fact Hiller’s sells so many Michigan products and clearly marks them on the aisle for ease in shopping. Unfortunately there are very few mom and pop places left, and they will all soon be gone. What are we going to do when we have no options on where to shop? I would rather pay more for items then shop at Wal-Mart and continue to have them dominate all other stores. I feel sad to live in a world today where everything is just Wal-Mart, Best Buys and terrible corporate chain restaurants. If we haven’t hit the tipping point on all this, hopefully we will soon and see an increase in locally owned stores and restaurants.
July 15th, 2010 at 10:03 am
Lush Cosmetics – I don’t know what my skin would do without their products! Also, the experience that I have everytime I go in their store is a memorable one. Talk about experts!
I also am very loyal to Verizon.
July 15th, 2010 at 10:17 am
I agree there are a lot of stores out there I can live without…namely Wal-Mart (you have to drag me into one of their stores screaming…). Most of the large chains leave me feeling indifferent. Anyway, I love Goody Two Shoes in downtown Northville. They are a family-owned childrens’ shoe store. The owner is always there and takes obvious pride in taking care of my kids and providing a high quality shoe for growing feet. They are not cheap but I feel confident that they will take care of my kids needs with a smile. Previously, I went to a specialty store at Twelve Oaks where I spent perhaps a couple dollars less but at best I was treated indifferently and sometimes downright rudely.
July 15th, 2010 at 11:04 am
TARGET! I know it is a big chain store and it is not the outstanding customer service that brings me back (although theirs is not bad)– it is the product quality for the price, the product mix (I can go in for diapers and leave with diapers, orange juice, a birthday card, outfits for the kids and a top for me–hypothetically speaking of course) and the general ambiance of the store (compared to other low-price stores). I am a big fan of Target and probably shop there on average once per week–usually buying more than I intended to!
July 15th, 2010 at 11:25 am
I am loyal to Target and Nordstrom:)
July 15th, 2010 at 12:20 pm
I cannot live w/o Nordstom. They are one of the few places I can purchase shoes that fit me (size 41/2). I do pay a bit more (ok….more than a bit) but they last forever and my feet do not hurt at the end of the day.
Target is another store that I depend on heavily to do one stop shopping for everything but groceries.
July 15th, 2010 at 1:30 pm
Nintendo, Snap Fitness, Aldo Shoes.
July 15th, 2010 at 2:09 pm
I admit, I voted I can live w/o any of the above.
I do have the Iphone, which i use daily if not more…
and I absolutley love it. would I be devistated if they didn’t make them anymore? Yes& NO. I’ll find the next newest thing or something close to it out there.
I shope @ walmart for groceries…. thye have really low prices compared to say krogers (which keeps going up and up every time im in there) But Im sure there are others out there. if they wanted to raise their prices super high.
Economy is still down, so everyone makes cuts somewhere…. Loyalty is a BIG issue everywhere, and I find that most people don’t stay loyal they will go to the next best thing/ cheaper thing out there….(if another co. offers a bigger discount) Im a price shopper, but when I do find something/someplace that treats me great, i’ll stay loyal… unless they close on me. LOL or tripple their prices.. sadly
July 15th, 2010 at 2:35 pm
I love KOHLS’s!! I never used to be a fan. But they always have discount signs everywhere, and they have name brands there also, just much cheaper! I have become a much more loyal customer with age, but I could live without a lot.
Top three places for shopping, Kroger, Kohl’s and payless… Food (and many, many more) clothes (they have kitchen wear and bedding) and shoes with options of accessories.
I have to say as much as I like going to the name brand stores, I only really go if they send me a coupon. Otherwise, why shop at a place you can only buy 1 or 2 things for a high price, when you can go to another place and buy 5 or 6 things for the same price…..?
July 20th, 2010 at 8:49 am
I hate Wal-chode also… I shop at MEIJER they are a Michigan based company also, they may be a little inflated in prices but the quality of the groceries are a lot better, the meat isn’t injected with dyes to make it look red. And the produce is A+, but as for clothes it is KOHL’s all the way.
But I don’t think there is anything I cannot live without.