I recently bought a lot of construction material from a store here, and the price was 10% more expensive than in other stores.

I knew I could get the same stuff at a cheaper price almost anywhere else.

But I decided to pay 10% more.

Why?

Relationship & service.

Turns out the owner of the store where I pay more became a good friend over time.

The amount of knowledge, advice and help I got from him and his team, is worth way more than the 10% extra I paid.

Thanks to them, I also saved a lot of time, and money from stupid mistakes I was about to make.

Other stores would generally let me buy the stuff and go, without providing further service.

1 year after I came here for the first time, the store owner, who also happens to own a hotel, asked me to work together with me on his marketing strategy.

And we are partnering together with his hotel to bring guests to Reconnect when we open.

I believe this is what smart business owners do.

Focusing on relationships and service, even when it goes beyond the expertise of the business itself.

And doing this in a developing country, where most of the people don’t “get it” yet, is even more powerful.

Because nobody else is doing it.