Great Ways to Show Customers You Appreciate Them

We're in tough times. Competition for new business is high and the economy is slow. Despite the way things are, here's one thing I know... loyal customers will stay with you regardless of the cost of doing business. But here's the catch. How do you create a loyal customer?

The first and foremost way of developing a loyal customer base is by providing superior customer service. Not the kind of customer service that gets by doing a little bit more than the competition but the kind that far exceeds their expectations. The kind of customer service that lets them know they can depend on you no matter what. The kind of service that is performed consistently each and every time you come in contact with a customer.

Beyond this level, I believe there are ways you can show your customer you appreciate them. These ways are all about "developing a relationship" and not about manipulating anyone or making them feel guilty if they don't do business with you.

1. Send a handwritten "thank you" when they give you a referral. This is a simple gesture so many business owners overlook. If you are in retail, don't think you are limited in this area. I'm talking about loyal customers here, so you should have their name and address. If not, you should create a system that seeks to find out that information and begin to develop stronger relationships with your customers.


2. Send out a card on the day of your customer's anniversary of doing business with you. This not only lets them know you appreciate them, but it reminds them of how long they have been loyal to you. If you have more personal information on your customer, like their birth date, send out a card for that occasion.


3. You can always use some simple giveaways to hand out to customers when they make a purchase. My favorite promotional product company is All-Ways Advertising . If you contact Michael Schleifer , he'll help you come up with a promotional campaign that will make an impression on your customers.


4. Listen to your customers and what they tell you about their personal lives. When the holidays come or if they refer someone to you that becomes an "A-rated" customer, send them a gift that has some meaning. It has to be something that shows you put some thought into it, just like you were purchasing a gift for a close friend or family member. Here are just a few ideas:
   

   - If you know your client loves exotic plants, you can go on-line to a florist (like Flowers Fast - they are a top 100 FTD company and can ship most things with same day delivery) or a company that sells specialty plants. Bonsai trees are always a unique type of gift. Bonsai Boy of NY has a great selection of bonsai trees at very reasonable prices.

   - One of my favorite gifts to give a customer is a steak and seafood dinner. Last year I had a prime rib and crab leg dinner for 4 sent to one of my clients just before Christmas. They received not only a great meal, but they had one evening where they didn't have to worry about what to have for supper and they could enjoy each other's company.

   - For the busy executive, you can always go to Executive Essentials for fine pens or Franklin Covey , a well-known company that offers the world's best training and planning tools to help people their effectiveness and achieve their highest priorities.

   - Does your customer like to play golf? Go to www.golfcard.com and give them a golf card that allows a discount at 3600 courses around the country.

   - Finally, there's always the gift basket filled with holiday treats like candies, muffins, cookies, wines or cheeses. You can go with a local company, like The Giving Basket in New Jersey (they can ship anywhere and have been named as one of the top gift basket companies in the country). I also like Mallory's Marvelous Muffins ( www.muffinlady.com ). I know the owners of these two companies and highly recommend them to anyone who wants to make a good impression. Some on-line companies to look into include Wisconsin Cheeseman or Winebasket.com.

Hopefully I've given you some different ways to show your customers you appreciate them. If you don't have the budget to implement any of these ideas and you can't do anything else, make sure you at least give them a call just to tell them "thank you."