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.

Jina Morgese

One of the most profound moments of showing appreciation to a customer occurred during a photo session with a client who had lost her 11 year old son. She was understandably struggling with grief, and the thought of smiling for pictures felt impossible for her. I knew that this session was not just about photography but about offering support and understanding during a deeply challenging time. With her consent, I captured moments of her raw emotions and the love she had for her son, allowing her to express her grief in front of the camera. Read more>>

Terri Baskin

As a wedding photographer, the days leading up to the wedding day can feel stressful for a couple. Even with the best team hired and ready to take on their day, there are so many small final decisions that have to be made in order for the actual day to flow smoothly. Also, within the final month of planning before the wedding, the final balances for most of the vendors are usually due. Recognizing this, I started sending a “Date Night” gift box to my clients as a way to decompress and hopefully not think about the wedding and its stressors but rather to go out on a date and have some fun as a couple without the added expense. My couples love it! Read more>>

Maria Riboli

It’s always been important to connect with my clients, and I’ve been very fortunate because many of them have turned into friends! To me, it’s essential that all my clients feel heard, seen, and safe…and I do go out of my way to ensure all these needs are met! I also do like spoiling them a bit as well ;) Read more>>

Stephanie Moye

One of the best things I did was gifted several of my fashion customers with Bling T-shirts, Bling beanie caps, keychains, and earrings to show my appreciation of their continuous support of S. Moye’ Fashion. My customers were very suprised I gifted them and appreciative. I gifted one customer a dress after being a long time customer and she was estatic. When I had a launch of my bling T-shirts I did lots of gift give-aways and movie theater tickets, with food hor-derves and beverage. Read more>>

Alicia Garey

At the conclusion of every project, I bring an orchid for my happy clients to enjoy, and a note of congrats for getting to the finish line. The orchid will often show up in photos of the finished project. I have also occasionally sent clients flowers to thank them for referrals. I know clients go through a lot during a renovation and I want them to know how much I appreciate them and who doesn’t love receiving flowers! Read more>>

LiL Mike & Funny Bone aka MIKE BONE

One of the things we like to do to show fans we appreciate them is we provide them with an autographed flyer sized business card. This way nobody goes home empty handed. Also, if we’re not obligated to be anywhere else, we’ll stick around to take pictures. Our fans are usually overwhelmed & shocked that we’re so friendly & down-to-earth. Read more>>

Leanna Villanueva

At Halo Salon, Med Spa and Boutique, we meticulously crafted our design with our customer target market in mind. Our design is curated to create an unforgettable experience for our clients, leaving them craving for more. We don’t just offer salon services; we go beyond the traditional salon environment to provide unique experiences to our diverse clientele, which includes suburban moms, college and high school students, working professionals, retirees, children, and individuals of all genders. Read more>>

Rachel Sheffield

One of the most impactful ways we express our appreciation at Rachel Designs is by actively demonstrating our commitment to our clients beyond the completion of a project. We firmly believe in building strong, enduring business relationships and fostering a sense of community among our clients and customers. Here’s a scenario that illustrates our approach: Once we’ve designed a logo, custom graphics, or any other graphic design services, and crafted a brand identity for a client, our commitment doesn’t stop there. We go the extra mile by immersing ourselves in their world, delving into their website and social media channels. This deep dive helps us gain a personal understanding of their products and services. Read more>>

Danniell Gillette

As a photographer we understand that everything we feel shows in our work. This is just as much true as for our clients. I would say this happens more so with children then adults but all in all we are only as good as our clients are. Any time I have a photoshoot that involves children I let the family know that we are there for them. If you want them to participate you have to include them. When I first see the children and they are younger, I usually let them look at the camera, take a few shots of their family and then try to move them in the shots. But sometimes it just isn’t their day. In cases like this I am more then happy to reschedule. Yes this can be a pain for the parents but I never want my clients to have photos with the kids screaming or have upset faces. We all have those days and as children grow they seem to have more of those days then we do as adults. Read more>>

Yolanda Whitfield

Gesture creates a lasting impression on the customer. They feel a deepened sense of loyalty towards the business, knowing that their patronage is genuinely valued. They are likely to continue supporting the business and share their positive experience with others, further strengthening the business’s reputation and customer base. Read more>>