7-Eleven is one of the most recognized businesses out there. All it takes is one simple flash of the famous red and green sign and you’re instantly thinking about all the delicious snacks, hot dogs, and Slurpees that you can imagine.
Beyond being around for decades, it’s also managed to remain one of the leaders in its realm. Franchising in more than 18 countries, it’s loved all over the world and popular amongst people of all cultures. Although it varies slightly from country to country, the overall elements remain the same.
Here are the basic elements of a 7-Eleven business structure, and how your business can benefit from emulating them.
Consistency
It doesn’t matter where you go in the world, the famous Slurpees all taste the same. 7-Eleven has mastered the art of a fine-tuned recipe and machinery which makes it possible for a customer walking into a store in Minneapolis to have the same flavor and texture as someone in Tokyo would have in their Slurpee.
Customers love consistency no matter what your business is in. They like to know that no matter where they are in the world, or no matter what time of day, they can go into your business and know that it will be exactly the same every time.
If you have a product that varies in quality or experience your customers will start to lose trust in you. Relationships with a business are no different than a personal relationship between 2 people. You have to know that whoever you are dealing with is going to give you exactly what you expect every time, otherwise, you won’t give them any more of your time and energy.
Offering Free Perks
7-Eleven is famous for its free Slurpees given out on July 11, honoring their name. Customers are able to get a free Slurpee in any 7-Eleven location. This free service has increased their business by millions simply because when their customers go in for a Slurpee they likely end up purchasing something else.
All customers like to be treated as if they’re special so when you offer them something that shows you are giving back to them as a thank you for their patronage, their loyalty will only increase.
Offering Something Original
The first 7-Eleven store was unique because of it’s unconventional schedule. It was open outside of the hours of any other stores in the area and therefore it was something original to offer to customers that had never been done before.
You should feel the same bravery about your business and be willing to try something new that’s never been done before. By constantly innovating, you remove the risk of being replaced by someone else with the next best idea.