Networking.  Building relationships.  Building strategic alliances.  All of these actions are valuable for EVERY industry.  Let me ask you - What is the lifetime value of your current customer? 

Take a dentist.  If you have a patient that comes into your practice - what is the lifetime value of having only ONE patient stay with your practice for a minimum of 20 years.  Well, let’s say they only get 2 professional cleanings per year.  On the average, let’s say that is $100 x 2 per year, which makes it $4000 over the span of 20 years.  That does not include x-rays, restorations, whitening, more frequent cleanings due to age…. the possibilities are endless.  So again I ask you, what is the lifetime value of a current customer?  If you don’t know, figure it out.

Now, is there a need for networking and making connections in the retail market?  You bet.