According to the Global Brand Simplicity Index, 61 per cent of customers are more likely to recommend a brand because it provides simpler communications and 64 per cent of consumers are willing to pay more for simpler experiences. Ditching an approach that’s complex and crammed with unnecessary waffle will benefit your bottom line and help you connect with customers.
If you’re not entirely sure how to keep it simple, these five brands with straightforward sales pitches will provide inspiration.
1. Ikea
Scandinavian countries regularly rank highly in the UN’s annual World Happiness Report. This is partly because they strive to make life as simple and stress-free as possible. Swedish furniture giant Ikea exemplify branding simplicity with their user-friendly catalogues, and intuitive in-store floor layouts featuring carefully-curated displays and clear signage. Their innovative furniture provides simple yet sophisticated space-saving solutions, so their sales pitch to customers is suitably smooth and simple.
2. McDonald’s
McDonald’s is the biggest fast food chain in the world — and love it or hate it, the corporation has simplicity down to a fine art. The quality of flagship products like the Big Mac is amazingly consistent everywhere in the world and the menu has always been easy to understand. They’ve also adapted with the times over the years with drive-thru facilities and touch-screen ordering in stores.
3. The Mat Factory
British floor mat specialist The Mat Factory doesn’t keep customers guessing what it sells for too long. This straight-shooting approach is backed up by a brilliant range of mat products for home and office use that can be customised so that they’re completely unique. This is a fine example of a brand that keeps things simple, while always delivering quality.
4. KFC
The second fast food restaurant on our list perhaps inspires even more customer loyalty than the first — when a supplies problem recently saw its UK stores run out of chicken, some customers called the police because they were so concerned. Again, clear menus that haven’t changed dramatically over the years provide peace of mind for punters. And quirky advertising campaigns connect in a cheeky but charming way.
5. WeBuyAnyCar
In sales, it’s beneficial to strike while the iron is hot. But you won’t seal a deal when the first five minutes of your pitch is wasted explaining your weird brand name and trying to describe exactly what you do. None of this is necessary with second-hand auto site WeBuyAnyCar — it does exactly what it proclaims. Just enter your registration plate in their online form for a fast valuation and start the ball rolling with no hassle whatsoever.
What’s your favourite straight-shooting brand?
These five brands should inspire you to keep every aspect of your operations simple in order to reap maximum financial reward.
Share your thoughts in the comments section.
