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.

Courtney Sowry

Client appreciation has been instilled into my business practice since I began with McDowell Real Estate. Recently, I have been able to impliment this in a much more broad aspect. It is very common to wrap up a home sale with a gift for your client to show you how much you’re appreciative of them for putting their trust in you. I try to coincide the gift with my brand focus “so she sells Ohio”. For my clients closing gift I have a local artist that makes the shape of Ohio out of pallets and beautifully stains it with a bracket to hang it as home decor. Read more>>

Sarah Chambers

Our greatest gift as a salon is making the clients leave feeling the most spectacular. Goddess In You Salon is an inviting space that brings together cultures, diversity, and inclusion. Every day we get to make our clients feel like the God or Goddess that lives inside them come into the light. When a client comes in to get their hair done before the school year starts, when a bride comes in to get their wedding day look, when a regular comes in and gets a haircut, we give the opportunity to make them feel their very best. We do this every day, with every customer. We had a group of summer youth working with us over the summer and they all had a color service done to their hair, one youth wanted hot pink, one youth received mermaid blues and the change in their attitude after was like night and day. Read more>>

Lanette Miles

One of the most memorable instances where we showcased our appreciation to a customer was during a special collaboration event with a local winery. This event was not only a showcase of our charcuterie offerings but also a celebration of local artisans and flavors. We meticulously curated a customized charcuterie board that incorporated the winery’s signature wines and the flavors of the region. Each element of the board, from the selection of premium cured meats and cheeses to the arrangement of fresh fruits, nuts, and artisanal crackers, was carefully chosen to complement the wines being presented. Read more>>

Fatima Toure

I write my customers personalized notes with each order. For new customers it’s a welcome letter to the brand. For returners it’s showing appreciation and sometimes offering unique discount codes. Sometimes I’ll upgrade a customer’s order. Read more>>

Angela Webber

As a Customer Service Specialist, I intentionally “serve” my customers. I want them to always feel valued and appreciated which encourages them to be loyal and dedicated. More often than not customers go to certain business because of the way they have been treated, not for the better deal. I take the time to listen and guide them by helping them problem solve their situation so that the decision is theirs and not mine. Most are too quick to get off the phone or end the call, instead we should be building the relationship to ensure future sales. Read more>>

Olivia Guerrero

Great question! Normally I’ll volunteer my services at Williamson County animal shelter. I know lately they have been extremely busy and understaffed for the amount of animals they are intaking on a daily basis. They are at capacity. Although they are known as a no kill shelter, with a high amount of animals are receiving on a daily basis, it’s almost inevitable to remain a no kill shelter. This is causing the staff to be very stressed and not to mention heartbroken. The service they offer, Reiki, has healing energies and offers to alleviate stress, anxiety, depression and many other ailments. To show my appreciation towards the community, I reached out to the shelter to let the staff know I was going to have a complimentary Reiki session day for all the stuff there, to help alleviate any of the stresses. Read more>>

Genghe Carmichael

As the CEO of my-self named business GENGHE LLC, where I offer luxurious bonnets and scented candles; I found that my customers took a liking to receiving personalized notes and customized orders. So in 2020 at the height of the pandemic when I started my business I focused on catering my products to my customers wants and needs. This made my customers feel valued, acknowledged and empowered! I gave people the option to order my bonnets with an elastic band closure or a drawstring closure which, reassured my customers that they were purchasing a quality bonnet that would fit them well unlike beauty supply bought bonnets. Read more>>

Fernando Quispe

The pandemic really slowed things down for a lot of businesses, so adapting to new times and making yourself stand out from the crowd is something that is highly necessary. Ways that I’ve showed my customer(s) I appreciate them is by providing flash sale discount codes, free giveaways – where all they need to do is tag someone on a post and be entered to win at random, and incentives where if you buy a specific item you can get an item for free. In a time where big corporations run the market and small businesses pop up left and right, it’s important to show your customer that you are appreciative of them and without them the brand would be nothing. Read more>>

Doug Pellum

One day I went to do a table visit of one of our regular customers and I asked him how everything was. He said it was great but he wanted something different tomorrow. I asked him what and he replied that he want a southern plate lunch, fresh peas, cornbread, fried okra butterbeans and a homegrown tomato. Those are not things on our menu and I knew he was just joking but I got one of my managers to go to the local farmers market and gather all the items. The next day when he came in I had the server take his order just like normal but when we delivered the food , he had what had requested. The smile on his face was priceless and he never missed another day eating at our restaurant until he passed away. Read more>>

Lenina Olivas

We’ve been in business for over three years. I wanted to show my clients how much I appreciated them so I decided to implement a few ways to say thank you. 1. Anniversary (of being a client) gifts 2. Birthday Cards with a small gift 3. Recognize client on social media (done weekly for different clients) Read more>>

China Givens

One of the best things I’ve done for my clients is show my appreciation for hard working mothers by having a free Hair Style Giveaway. I wanted to give some love to some special ladies to let them know that their hard work doesn’t go unnoticed and I want to do these giveaways every year. What I do for all my clients though to show I appreciate them is simply listen to any of their concerns and/or wants and strive to achieve what they want while keeping their hair healthy and always doing it with love. Read more>>