Successful Customer Service at a Lemonade Stand Business

Having a lemonade stand can be very successful if you think of it as a business rather than just a lemonade stand. The concept of the lemonade stand can be applied to any business because it is one of the most basic types of businesses to run. There are several managerial accounting principles that can be used to determine the type of business that can be successfully ran. These principles include customer intimacy, operational excellence, and product leadership. There are detailed decisions that could influence how a lemonade stand or any business could prosper.

A lemonade stand with the goal of satisfying the individual needs of a customer should have different options to choose from. A lemonade stand could represent customer intimacy by meeting the needs and preferences for as many different people as possible. The set up of this lemonade stand would be the same as the regular set up but it would just have a few more options. These options would include letting the customer have a choice of different types of sugars and sugar substitutes. There would be regular white sugar available as well as brown sugar and raw sugar. Sugar substitutes such as Nutra Sweet, Sweet N Low and Splenda would be available as well. This would give customers the option of having different types of sweeteners to meet their own personal needs and preferences.

As well as having an array of different sweeteners available, a lemonade stand could also have different lemonade flavor addition options as well. Customers would have the choice of adding the juice of other fresh fruits to the traditional lemonade. An example of the fruits offered would be strawberry, blueberry, mango and raspberry. The fruits could be combined in anyway up to two different combinations for each cup. Prior to selling the lemonade each day, I would have to squeeze or blend the fruits to make enough juice to last throughout the day.

Achieving operational excellence in a lemonade stand would include making sure that the customers can have fast, effective and convenient service without having to break their budgets. It is important to take into account the different types of customers that I would be serving as well as what time of day different customers would come. What makes this stand convenient is the fact during certain rushes, there is an additional line that would be opened for faster service. For example, around the time where school lets out, or around five when full time day employees get off would be when an additional line would be opened.

In addition to another convenience line, different sized cups ranging from small to extra large could be offered. This would be satisfying for customers with specific preferences with cup size. There is the small sized cup for small children or people who just need a couple refreshing sips. Then there are varying sizes up to extra large that would satisfy even the strongest thirst for some cool fresh lemonade. This way, people can order accordingly without the worry of having too much or too little. Sales and discounts could also be offered. For example, cards could be made and a hole punched for each cup bought, two holes for large and extra large sizes. Once ten holes are punched, the customer is eligible to receive a free cup of regular sized lemonade.

Having a lemonade stand that possesses product leadership could be accomplished by making sure that the product contains and is represented by fine quality. This lemonade stand should be known as the finest stand on the entire block, or even city. This can be achieved by making sure that the lemonade is made up of the most quality products such as the best tasting filtered water, good quality lemons and sugar. There would be a list available of ingredients and brands used in the lemonade to advertise the quality of the drink. Whether or not the customer can taste the difference of better water used, if he or she sees that it is made of better water, then the quality is better regardless.

Also, it is important that customer service is superb. Since presentation is also important, having nice cups will also be more appealing to the eye. Overall this will be more expensive, but in the end, it will build a very happy and loyal customer base. Instead of having regular clear plastic cups, or traditional white Styrofoam cups, an assortment of decorated disposable cups could be used for customers to choose from. The cups would vary in theme from sports to floral. There would be an option for everyone with no additional charge.