Yes, ok… You are selling a product or service. That is what you are ringing up and taking money for but I’d argue that this process is just the beginning!
Let me tell you a little story.
This summer, my family and I spent nearly 6 weeks cruising around the country in our van – riding bikes, hiking, sipping coffee and just enjoying everything we were seeing (more on that trip later).
At one point, we found ourselves in Truckee, CA spending some time at Northstar Resort. As we traveled up the gondola to the top for a little hike, my kids were in AWE at all of the downhillers crushing the Northstar Resort trails and all of them wanted full face helmets and gear and to get out on their own bikes to try hard things.
From that moment on, all they could talk about was finding a new helmet. The mission was on. We trekked around Truckee to several bike shops and found a helmet but this brand I had never heard: Leatt.
Leatt started in 2001 when the founder’s, Dr. Chris Leatt, son was just beginning in motocross. During one of the events, another rider crashed and was killed. From that moment on, Dr. Leatt was on a mission to create safety equipment to reduce neck injuries and more.
WE GET WHY YOU DO WHAT YOU DO
With an ever evolving range of helmets, body armor, braces, guards, hydration systems, apparel – whatever it takes to keep the committed Thrill seeker safer. Yours is a confidence game. And we’re in the business of making sure that you have the confidence and the equipment to push yourself faster, harder and further than you thought you could go.
Leatt.com
What makes this one so cool was that it was a cross country helmet with a removable chin strap for those times it gets a bit too rowdy out there for a helmet without full face protection (and for my 5 year old, that is EVERY time he is on his bike – ha)
We could only find one of these rad helmets (and, of course, we needed 3!) so we drove all over Truckee trying to find a spot to get two more. We called around and even looked online and back in Oklahoma City and were just trying to prep the other kids that theirs would be sent in a few days… that wasn’t going well.
That evening, we were up at Northstar walking around after dinner and… BAAM! A full on Leatt company store! Kids were STOKED and could not wait until morning to get in there.
The next day, we got up, went to what is now one of our favorite coffee spots – Drink Coffee, Do Stuff – and killed some time as we waiting for the shop to open. We got in there and the staff made us feel like we owned the place. He got our two other kids (and even Jenni!) fitted up with new helmets and chatted it up with our kids as they told them all about the Truckee Bike Park that we were about to go check out. (He, of course, already knew all about it but played along like a champ).
The Truckee Bike Park is a partnership between Biking for a Better World, Truckee-Donner Recreation & Park District, Truckee Tahoe Airport District, and Truckee Sanitary District. None of it would be possible without the support and efforts of volunteers. Each phase of transformation has been directly derived from fundraisers, your donations, and sponsorships. The first phase of building included the pump track and with each phase finished The Park gains a full variety of beginner to advanced terrain. The Park has been giving kids and adults a convenient, safe and well maintained place to ride since 2012. Stay tuned for upcoming fundraising opportunities for future projects.
https://www.truckeebikepark.org/about
We left with our faces fully covered and ready to go ride. Once we got to the park, we were getting bikes ready, making lunch and prepping for a few hours of fun when Jenni realized that she could not find her water. We decided she must have left her bottle at the Leatt.. huge bummer.
But – almost like clockwork – a car pulled up. It was our pal from the shop. He had brought her water bottle and 5 Leatt hats all the way to the bike park.
DUDE KNOCKED IT OUT OF THE PARK – LITERALLY!
My kids still wear those hats nearly everyday. It was the single biggest influence on them on the trip maybe and they love to tell the story. And, you know what? That little act from Leatt has turned my family into LIFELONG fans.
That day, the kids had a blast on their bikes and in their new helmets. They were confident and cool. They were there creating memories on the bike they will take with them forever.
That is what you are selling. The chance to make someone’s day and allow them to do crazy things and get better at what they love to do….
It really is all about them despite what you are ringing up at the end of the day.