AUDIO: Small business finds new way to reach customers during recession

SAN FRANCISCO
June 12, 2009 12:01am

How to you reach out to customers in the most efficient way during a recession?

For Myron Glaser of Glaser Designs in San Francisco, it’s learning how to be a “television” anchor using the audio and video of Skype, the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communications network owned by eBay Inc. (NASDAQ: EBAY) of San Jose.

Hooking a camera and microphone to a computer in his showroom allows him to have two-way conversations with customers, show his products and create custom designs for his handcrafted high-end custom business bags.

“We think it’s quite miraculous, this Skype video call stuff so that if customers have the time to call us we can show them the product as if they were here,” says Mr. Glaser in an audio interview with CVBT using Skype. “It’s as real as anything else, they just can’t touch it.”

(Listen to the CVBT interview with Mr. Glaser by left-clicking on the link below to listen now or right-clicking to download the audio for later listening.)

Using Skype video conferencing, Mr. Glaser says he is able to transform how customers order from the artisans. Instead of phone calls and catalog pictures that failed to showcase the company’s designs as well as an in-person meeting could, Mr. Glaser and his wife and designer, Kari, now operate a virtual showroom.

“I think very quickly it will be the equivalent of visiting a store,” says Mr. Glaser. “It’s a miraculous technology. And it’s free.”

EBay has announced plans to spin off Skype through an IPO in 2010.