After tens of thousands of conversations with business owners, we’ve concluded that one of the key determinants between thriving and struggling businesses is how appreciated customers feel. While that insight might seem fairly commonplace, what’s rare is discussion on how business owners go about making their customers feel appreciated. So, we reached out to some of the most loved and admired entrepreneurs and small business owners in the community and asked them to open up about how they show appreciation to their customers.

Christa Stephens

At our company, we recognize that when clients come on board with us, they are entrusting us with something incredibly valuable to them—their business, which they have nurtured and grown with passion. We take this responsibility to heart, and we handle their business with the utmost care. Read more>>

Brigitte Rentiers & Jane Ogle n/a

BR: Greeting each and every person by addressing them by their name and remembering something they may have told me in a previous visit. We are a studio and in theory one on one with our clients. Customer could choose anywhere to go to work out. We want a space that feels warm and friendly and safe for them to work out keeping a very positive motivating atmosphere is what we charge for daily. Read more>>

Bethany Bryan

I want my customers to feel like family. There have been times we have shot a small backyard wedding for under three hundred dollars just so the couple could have beautiful portraits to look back on. Each year we do a series called Woman Bold & Beautiful, where we take ten women to Jax Beach at sunset and they get an entire session totally on us just so they can see themselves in a glamourous, magazine-worthy way! Read more>>

Emily Popielarz

Exceeding expectations is one core focus of our staff at Wood’s Ace Hardware & Mercantile. Building a customer-centric team requires continuous feedback and improvement. At our store, our General Manager regularly conducts post-sale engagement calls to connect with our customers who have recently made purchases with us. Read more>>

Savannah Romero

As a psychic medium, I perform readings on both physical locations and people to connect to them to spirit energy. Often during my readings, my clients are overwhelmed with emotion and tears start to flow. To be able to evoke that sincere emotion from people, I am eternally grateful for their openness and willingness to share that with me. It lets me know that I’m truly speaking with love, and that they feel safe with me. Nothing fulfills me more professionally than to see tears of gratitude and compassion from my clients. Read more>>

Joshua Christian

It was our very first market, November 20, 2021. We were up in Jackson Point, at a Lakeview House Golf Course. Its often that I have customers wanting to purchase the décor I use for my booths; and as flattering as it is, I have to decline. However, we had an adorable elderly lady who was shopping our new cement candle collection. Read more>>

Kristi Wischnack

As a prom and pageant dress shop, my job everyday is to make women and girls feel special, scene and beautiful. Taking that extra time one on one to help them see how beautiful they are is what I do. Sometimes ladies come in with an idea of what they want or like, getting them to open up, try new styles or colors and then seeing their full potential is exciting. Watching them light up when they see what I see, is worth the steps it takes to get there. It is not always easy, but in the end it is worth pushing them outside of their normal comfort zone to create a new and more exciting look for them. Usually the excitement and smile says it all before the words ever come! Read more>>