Keen to turn your precious customers in to customers for life? In this solo episode of Small Business Big Marketing, I turn my week of errands into a marketing masterclass. I’ve just had a haircut, visited the shrink, and—clumsy me—snapped two pairs of prescription glasses. While ticking off my to-do list, I couldn’t switch off my marketing brain. So I’m sharing the good, the bad, and the brilliant customer moments I experienced, all to help you build your beautiful business in to the empire it deserves.

The star of the week?

My local Mitre 10, five minutes from home. I accidentally broke a leg off Sarah’s painting easel and walked in hoping only to buy glue. The team greeted me like I’d just stepped into a Japanese restaurant—big smiles, instant help. They checked the break, said glue would work, then spotted only a giant bottle on the shelf. I shrugged, said I’d take it, and asked them to hold the wood while I shopped. When I returned to pay, the leg was fixed—glued, nailed, clamped, perfect. No charge. “All part of the service, mate.” I left with a repaired easel, I gave them a Google review, and a new lifelong habit: this is my hardware store. The formula? High perceived value at low cost to me. A mechanic could wash wheels after a service. An electrician could swap a lightbulb for free. Tiny moves, massive loyalty.

Next, I dive into customer emotions—the heartbeat of every great ad brief. I ask myself: How does my customer feel right now? Accountants meet confused clients drowning in tax forms. Travel agents greet excited holiday planners. Leak detectors calm worried homeowners. Baristas serve stressed, rushed caffeine addicts. I name the feeling, speak to it in headlines and scripts, and watch connection explode. My advice? Ask your customers directly. Let their answers shape your messaging, service, and even who you hire.

Then there’s problem-solving. I shattered two pairs of glasses in one week—hello, panic. My optometrist quoted a flat two weeks, zero empathy. I suggested buying a new frame and popping in the old lenses. Boom—$209 later, I walked out seeing clearly. The lesson? Challenge “that’s how it’s always done.” I give my team permission to think laterally, like a Formula One pit crew. I love “killer questions”: What would [insert your problem-solving hero] do? (Check episode 75 with HP’s Phil McKinney on Killer Questions for more.)

Finally, I need your help. My favourite barber serves great cuts, free beer, and lively chat—but the queue is brutal. I walk in, see 10 blokes waiting, and half the time I walk out. No bookings, no numbers—the owner says people vanish if he tries. I say: look through your customer’s eyes. Acknowledge the wait. Serve the person in front of you, not the line.

Hit the hotline (0480 015 150) or the Facebook Tribe and tell me your fix. That’s my week in marketing lessons. If you love this raw, real-life format, let me know—call, text, or jump into the Tribe. And please subscribe and share; every listen helps us both build something beautiful.

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/marketingpodcast

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

G’day, I’m your host Timbo Reid, and welcome to the 16 year-old award-winning Small Business Big Marketing Podcast.

I’m guessing you’re a motivated business owner keen to grow that beautiful business of yours into the empire it absolutely deserves to be.

Well, you’ve come to the right place.

I’ve been in marketing all my working life (that’s a long time!), cutting my teeth in Australia's largest ad agency, to being a Marketing Manager in big corporates, to speaking at business conferences in 12 countries, to helping not-for-profits, well, make a profit!

And I get how frustrating, and often complicated, marketing can be.

Through it all, I’ve realised that the marketing disciplines used to build big brands apply just as equally to small businesses. So, 16 years and over 700 episodes ago, I set out to teach David how to compete with Goliath.

I love sharing the knowledge and chatting with founders, all in the spirit of motivating you to be your best. And that’s what the Small Business Big Marketing Podcast is all about.

Episodes chock-full of marketing G O L D.

You’ll hear from successful business owners from around the world on how to implement proven and practical marketing tips & tricks to attract more of the right customers, more often to grow your business.

This is the award winning Small Business Big Marketing Podcast with me, Timbo Reid.

Listen for free on your favourite podcast app. Or find out more at SBBM.com

For now, and always, may your marketing be the best marketing … bye for now.

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/marketingpodcast

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.