Customers
are essential to any business. Finding ways to make them feel valued is key to
creating return customers and champions for your business. Below we’ve shared
five easy and inexpensive customer appreciation ideas to show your customers some love today.
Choose a Customer of the Day
Use the
element of surprise to delight your customers. Use your POS system or an
old-school tally
counter to identify your 10th customer and surprise them with one
of your signature products for free or a discount on their purchase. Post a
photo of the lucky winner on social media to drive in-store traffic. Let
customers know they’re just as appreciated during busy holidays as they are on
a random Tuesday.
Think of the kids
Being part
of an industry that relies heavily on gifting holidays, consider ways to cater
to shoppers with kids. By simply creating a space for kids to color and enjoy a
snack, parents will be able to shop more privately for Christmas/Valentine’s
Day/Easter gifts in peace. Share photos of the space on social media with
details on what parents can expect and watch as grateful parents thank you
with their business.
 |
| Bon Bon's Candy House created this space for kids to color and enjoy snacks while grateful parents shopped for their Easter gifts in peace. |
Send a handwritten thank you card
It may be
old school, but a thoughtful handwritten note is one of the easiest and inexpensive
ways to show you care. If you have access to your customers’ mailing addresses
through a loyalty program or corporate accounts, consider making it a habit each
week to mail a few handwritten notes to your customers. Try to make it personal
or include a coupon to use on their next visit. You may be surprised how much
of an impact this simple act of kindness will make.
Train your team to call customers by their first name
Calling customers
by their first name makes their shopping experience personal. Train your staff
to look for customers’ first names on their credit card and, then, call
customers by name when thanking them for their purchase. Over time, staff are
more likely to remember repeat customers and will be able to recall their names
without even looking.
Say “thanks” with a video
A
study by TD Banks revealed, more than 80% of customers like getting thanked
in person. Since this isn’t always possible, a thank-you video from you may be
the next best (and certainly memorable) option. If you request data,
like customer birthdays, consider creating an email template with a video or
GIF (create your own GIFs with the app, Giphy Cam) of you wishing customers
a happy birthday and send it to a group of customers who all share the same birthday
month. Even though it’s a template, the message will feel more personal and
special with a video coming from you.
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| Buffer is a social media management business that used this fun GIF to thank customers for their business. |
You don't have to wait for Customer Appreciation Day on April 18 to celebrate your customers. That's why we've shared ideas easy enough to start incorporating into your business today or any day. How do you show your customers you care? Share in the comments below.
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