How do I hand my tree lot’s loyal annual customers to a new owner?
Introduce the new owner in person at the lot and in your message to customers. Tell them what stays the same, such as the location or the staff, if the buyer agrees. Pass on any customer notes you keep, once your lawyer confirms you may. A warm, visible handover keeps the yearly habit going.
People return to a tree lot because they know it. The easiest way to keep them is to let them see the new owner beside you before you leave. Plan a season when you both work the lot, and introduce regulars by name.
Prepare your message. Tell customers that the lot is changing hands, why it will feel familiar and how to reach the new owner. If you have an email list, a sign-up sheet or a social media page, announce the change there and keep the same name and look if the buyer agrees. Pass on what you know. Many owners remember which families want a tall tree, who prefers delivery or who always comes on the first weekend. Write it down for the buyer. Ask your lawyer what customer information you can share and what consent you need. Then keep the first season steady. Do not change prices, location or hours unless necessary. Customers notice change more than ownership. Offer to stay in contact so the buyer can ask for help with returning faces and the odd tricky request. Thank the regulars in your message, because a sincere thank-you from the person they trust makes it easier for them to extend that trust to someone new.
Key takeaways
- Introduce the new owner to regulars in person.
- Keep the first season familiar: same place, same quality.
- Ask your lawyer before passing on any customer records.
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Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentAdvice for succession planning - Articles and tools
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentWhat is succession planning?
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