We recently connected with Celeste Knipping and have shared our conversation below.
Celeste , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Taking care of customers isn’t just good business – it is often one of the main reasons folks went into business in the first place. So, we’d love to get a conversation going around how to best help clients feel appreciated – maybe you can share something you’ve done or seen someone do that’s been really effective at helping a customer feel valued?
Customer Experience is central to everything we do at The Argyle Moose. Long lasting relationships with our customers is the goal. It isn’t any one thing; it’s everything from being greeted when you walk in, complimentary water, premium gift packaging, concierge shopping, custom orders and more. Our boutique feels like a family run business because it is. Visiting the Argyle Moose is an experience as shared in feedback and reviews we’ve received from customers.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
The Argyle Moose is a Minnesota Artisan Gifting Boutique. We primarily feature brands from Minnesota. This includes local authors, artists, clothing, candles, greeting cards, pottery, home decor, spices, cocktail infusion kits, jewelry, accessories and more. We live in the community in which we work. Hugo, Minnesota is a growing community north of St Paul. While the housing keeps growing, commercial is slow to follow. We realized the need for something in our community to support the artisans in it and provide a retail gifting location for residents of Hugo and the surrounding areas. We are very involved in our community and are supporters of local youth programs, sports teams and causes close our hearts; including Juvenile Diabetes and Solid Ground. Many of our vendors are like minded and contribute a portion of sales to causes close to them. The focus on the customers and their experience in our store along with our packaging is one thing that sets us apart from others. Gifts leave our store ready for the recipient; prices covered with tissue paper of your choice in a premium gift bag.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
We opened our doors in August of 2020. This was mostly due to the location we wanted being available and taking a risk. Commercial availability with walking traffic is limited in our area so we knew we had to jump on the location between a grocery store and hair salon. Knowing it was Covid, we offered private shopping, local delivery and curbside pickup. We still offer all of those services. The community rallied around us and supported us through the first few years and we continue to grow, thanks to each and every customer who share their experience with someone else.
How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?
We offer a rewards program at The Argyle Moose. Providing an email keeps your purchase history in our system so it makes returns and exchanges seamless with or without a receipt. I am mindful of not sending too many emails but want to offer specials and events to our subscribers first a courtesy for their loyalty. Over 75% of customers who visit our store are part of our rewards list. We are authentic in every interaction with our customers. We share stories, laughs and sometimes even hugs for those we know well. Sometimes customers just come in to read our cards, coasters and magnets when they need a laugh. We try to consistently post on Facebook and Instagram with help from a small firm called Sorite Marketing who are local to the area and a customer of the store. They understand our mission of engagement and building lasting relationships with our customers.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.theargylemoose.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theargylemoose/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theargylemoose
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/celeste-knipping-2660377/
- Yelp: https://biz.yelp.com/biz_info/xknB6VW1WFqwujoPX_l4DA
Image Credits
Go Daddy for two photos