It’s the little things that matter!
Wednesday, February 25, 2015 - Joe Kiedinger
I just returned home from an amazing place…Colorado! This is my second year of going out West for a few days. While there, I skied Winter Park with a couple of my buddies. I was expecting a great ski mountain and beauty all around, and I definitely got that! What I wasn’t expecting was the quaint village that was built around the mountain.
This is a shot of where guests are dropped off by the various buses that carry people from their hotel or rental home to the hill. Just to give a little background of the hill, Winter Park has seven unique mountains in one ski resort, which are referred to as ‘territories’. I also believe it is the third largest ski resort in Colorado (so I’ve been told – I didn’t Google it, but I’m sure you will).
Because of the variety of hills, from easy to advanced, families love this place! Winter Park markets themselves to families and adds their own little touches. Touches like an ice rink in the middle of the village complete with skating lessons, a tubing hill for kids right on the property and a complete area for shopping and dining. And in addition, these wagons pictured here.
For those of you who have never skied with children, it can be rough just getting to the hill. Picture two skis and poles and boots per child. Every ski family has a dad (like me) who has to carry all the equipment from the car to the lodge to get the kids ready. That is where these wagons come into play. The wagons welcome people at the top of the village so families can place their gear in a wagon and haul it easily to the chairlifts. Winter Park pays attention to families in many little ways.
The message here is to truly know your customer and uncover the little things that make working with you great. This is crucial to succeeding in today’s business world. I loved Winter Park so much that I am heading back out with my family for spring skiing!
Joe Kiedinger
ACTION PLAN: What’s missing? How else can you surprise your customers with something special?