JUST BUSINESS?

 

JUST BUSINESS?

Come to the marketplace. Exchange (give and receive) goods or services at a price. Go home. 

That's business, right?

But what happens when...

The business owners create or stimulate the illness in the customer so they can sell, up-sell or cross-sell their wellness cure to them, but never fully solve their problem or create other problems for them while solving the problem they came with, so as to keep them by hook or crook as a perpetual customer who is being manipulated, confused and hoodwinked into a false sense of happiness, wellbeing, prestige, comfort, convenience, relief, being well taken care of or getting value for money but unaware of the hidden opportunistic motives of the marketer, merchandiser or seller of the goods or services being patronized by the customer.  

This is a trade secret of many deceitful deals and such manipulations in merchandising.

This they selfishly and foolishly do at the ignored risk of losing a customer and any line of business that could be generated through that customer, with the greater risks of loss of business reputation, social capital and even licence to operate by regulatory authorities, as well as escalations such as possible litigation. 

It is cold and callous. 

It does to others what it wouldn't like done to it.

Thus, violating the great command of God.

That's what business means to some people... 

When we thought genuine business was really about meeting needs of people and providing solutions to problems at a market price. 

In other words, offering products and services which the market rewards with money given in exchange or as payment for the value received.

This is done to the mutual benefit of buyer and seller. 

Customer retention should then be a natural result of customer satisfaction produced by rendering excellent services and products. 

But when greed and corruption trump diligence and competence, manipulation and deception become the strategy and mode of operation. 

Different wholesome marketing strategies or promotional techniques however abound to boost sales and drive revenue in an upward trajectory, which typically work on showcasing and magnifying benefit(s) of the merchandise to the customer, debottlenecking the purchase process, improving access to the goods and services, as well as closing identified gaps, thus encouraging and sustaining customer patronage. 

Is that not what genuine business should be?

So where do we draw the conscientious line between what is ethical and what is not? 

How can the unassuming customer be protected from the unethical practices of corrupt or callous businesses?

How are customer complaints treated? 

Is there an effective 360-degrees feedback mechanism in place?

What is the nature and efficacy of business or industry regulation and monitoring?

What policies guide or govern the operation of all stakeholders and players in the market?

What reward or consequence management system is being practiced?

What best practices are being highlighted and celebrated across specific industries?

What knowledge-sharing and training process is being implemented within and between individual business organizations?

These and many more considerations can help improve the way business is being done.

These, if truly applied, are good for business.

Christians in business should seek to do their best to carry out business in an ethical way, always being guided by Scriptural principles. 

This will be a witness to the world and will ultimately bring glory to God.

#selahsayings 

#KingdomFirst 

#LightOfLife