BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – CUSTOMERS of RAM’S Supermarkets have been introduced to a new and innovative medium through which they can communicate with staff there and keep abreast with the latest developments in their grocery store of choice.
The company officially launched its Facebook page www.facebook.com/RamsSupermarket on Friday, June 15 in collaboration with iRepSKN and Leap (the Learning and Empowerment through the Arts Programme).
The initiation was held simultaneously at RAM’S Supermarket Stoney Grove, Bird Rock and Bay Road branches during the hours of 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
The event also signaled the launch of RAM’S brand new website www.ramstrading.com and its other social media pages www.twitter.com/ramssupermarket and www.youtube.com/ramssupermarket
As part of the launch, customers who patronised any of the outlets during those hours on that day, and who would have spent a specified minimum amount of money, were welcomed to receive an iRepRAMS T-shirt and a similarly-branded hand band. The T-shirts and hand bands are part of a line created as a result of partnership between iRepSKN and RAM’S.
Customers were invited to sample a number of items for which RAM’S is the agent.
From Cocoa Di Vine, a chocolate-flavoured liquor, to Busta, a soda beverage, to Seven Seas’ Haliborange Effervescent Vitamin C to Peacock Milk and Food Town Cereal, customers were welcomed to and eager to sample these quality items.
The launch also featured sporadic interviews by iRepTV’s host Dagah and performance by LEAP.
RAM’S Manager Neeta Surlak – in an exclusive interview with SKNVibes - explained that the company’s decision to create and launch a Facebook page stemmed from them realising the wide reach of social media.
“Social media is growing so rapidly that it is a big benefit to communicate via that means, especially in these fast-pace times. It will help us in getting feedback from our customers. Customers stop and talk to us all the time but not every customer wants to come up to someone and make a comment. If the comment is negative, maybe they don’t want to say it to our face. This provides customers with another avenue to communicate with us.”
RAM’S Retail Manager Kumar Kirpalani added to Surlak’s sentiment, explaining that with the advent of RAM’S Facebook page comes a more effective means through which customers could be informed of the company’s deals and specials.
“People normally have to come into the supermarkets to know our specials…now all they have to do is log on to our Facebook page and know what items we have on special. The idea is to get to everybody. You could be sitting down in your room and planning your next day and once you see our specials on Facebook, you could come in a purchase what you need.”
According to Surlak, the launch of the Facebook page is just the beginning of RAM’S plans, and she explained that in time it would be expanded to include a number of exciting features.
“Every day we are going to keep it new and fresh. We have a rotation of things which we are going to do. We are going to put up recipes, we are going to have specials on Facebook where you can check every day and see what’s going on. We are going to introduce you to our staff through the Facebook page and you will receive an opportunity to find out what their favourite products are…
“And as we go along, we are going evolve and add more people to our FB page. But as we roll out in the beginning, we just want to get people’s feedback. We want our customers to know that RAM’S is a community-minded company, and we just want people to know that we are here and we are willing to help. If you need something we can order it for you.”
Already, RAM’S Facebook page has attracted more than 150 “likes”.
Additional information on the iRepRAMS line can be had at www.ireprams.com and, as indicated by RAM’S management, the iRepRAMS paraphernalia would be available to customers for the next few weeks only, under the previously-outlined conditions.
RAM’S has been operating in the Federation since 1935.
