Show Your Work - The Vacuum Repair Shop

Charles Castro
Apr 7
2 min read

Updated: Apr 16

Can IT Consulting be Creative?

Show Your Work by Austin Kleon (Amazon link: Workman Publishing, New York, 2014) is not a business book. Show Your Work is targeted at the creative community, offering tips to get their creative work discovered.

For Xolotech, the lesson is the same - sometimes you must show people what you do. Xolotech Consulting claims that our solutions are simple and easy to implement - so here is an example:

The Appliance Repair Shop: A Quick Tip

"I'm a regular customer at your vacuum repair shop. I've always been happy with the work your team does. But I think there's a simple way to make your business even better."

What Happened

"When I brought my vacuum in, we talked about the problem (it wasn't sucking well). You quickly checked it out and said it needed a repair. You gave me a claim ticket and told me to come back in two weeks."

A Small Change, Big Impact

"Instead of just giving me the claim ticket, what if you asked me for my name, phone number, and email? This small step could make a big difference for your company."

Why It Matters: Show Your Work

"When you sell your business, its value depends on more than just the stuff you have and the work you do. It also depends on your customers. A list of your customers can help a new owner keep those customers happy and coming back.

By simply writing down your customers' information, you're creating a valuable asset for your business. It's like building a list of friends who like your services.

So, next time a customer comes in, ask for their contact info. It's a small thing, but it can make a big difference."

Two Weeks Later

P.S. I went back two weeks later; my vacuum works great - and the repair cost was much less that the price for a new vacuum. Happy customers can be great business advocates.