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.

Rebecca Eller | Photographer

Every year I host a client appreciation event where I photograph previous clients for free. I love being able to show clients that I am thankful for them and without them I wouldn’t be able to do the job that I love. To show my appreciation, I have a one day event where clients come at a scheduled time and I photograph them for free, and I include a free digital image they can download from an online gallery with the option to purchase the entire gallery for a very low price. It’s a great way for them to update their family photo! And I absolutely love getting to see all of the babies as they are older and grow into their own unique personality. Read more>>

Shana Hill | Property Management and Real Estate Broker

Our customers make our business and we are in a service industry. Every year we make it a point to send a hand written Christmas card in the mail to our clients and vendors with a photograph of our family with the inscription “from our real estate family to yours.” We want our clients to know the other members of our family and who they are supporting when they choose us to represent them in a transaction. In our digital world, it a treat to receive a handwritten card in the mail – especially from your asset manager! Read more>>

Sasha Flynn | Jewelry Designer + Brand Founder

I have a customer that I will just call Mrs. James. She bought her first item during the pandemic in 2020. She started emailing me shortly after to show me photos of herself wearing her jewelry. I would always respond and compliment the way she styled her jewels. We began forming a relationship via email, as she expressed that most brand owners don’t typically respond to her emails, and she was excited that we could chat. Eventually, I began learning Mrs. James’s story about her children, husband, and granddaughter. This is the best part. She said she bought all of her jewelry from Adore Adorn to eventually gift to her 4-year old granddaughter. Read more>>

Isha Hutchinson | Soul Line Dancing Instructor

Our class format is 1st hour, beginner dances, 2nd hour is intermediate/advanced line dancing. Some of the advanced line dances are the most challenging dances in the industry and very challenging to master. When we first started, we had students that would see the dances and refuse to even attempt to do them. We created a “Challenge of the Month” program where we would teach the dance for a month and if they were able to accomplish doing the dance we would give them a button that said “I met the 410 Line Dancers Challenge of the Month” (C.O.M.). We would get different colors and designs and quickly found that students of all skill levels and ages (our crowd is primarily 40 and up) would work very hard to get the C.O.M. dances and the recognition/awards. Read more>>

Keisha Gaines | Custom Cake Artist

I’ve realized how important my customers are to my business and I never want to take them for granted. They allow me to keep doing what I love while making a living at the same time. It’s so greatly appreciated that people would trust me to create for their special milestone occasions and that is something I don’t take lightly. Out of all these amazing local cake artists, the fact that they want me to make their cakes still amazes me. To show them that I appreciate them I usually add something extra to their order, like extra decorations, extra cupcakes, a larger size, or even free delivery. I try to make each customer special by going above and beyond their expectations. Read more>>

Avis Woods | Brand and Creative Strategist

For the past couple of years, I have sent my clients holiday gifts from Harry and David. I love selecting a customized Christmas basket that signifies the personality of the team that I work with. Seeing this done throughout my career, I knew as soon as I started my own business, I wanted to show my loyalty to my clients with this same gesture. Read more>>

Liz Tomko | Owner of Artplay

When I started Artplay, I would do therapy with a child while the parent waited on the couch. These parents/customers were so exhausted from stress that they would very often fall asleep on the couch – sometimes drooling! They would express their appreciation for an hour of rest. This prompted an investigation in to how many parents were seeking their own therapeutic time, which as a high percentage. So, one room at Artplay has been designated the “Parent Hideout.” This luxury room includes a massage chair, as well as a comfy leather lounger, plus a hot tea bar, healthy snacks (minus the bowl of yummy chocolates), soft noise machine, light-hearted reading materials, lots of live plants and an air purifier. Read more>>

Tara Cetinkaya | Entrepreneur

The biggest thing we have done recently to show customer we appreciate it them was including them in our 10th anniversary celebrations. We recently celebrated our 10 years in business. It was officially in November 2021, and there was a lot going on for us at that time and I honestly didn’t feel like doing anything; I knew any type of event was going to be a lot of work. But I had a new administrative assistance who really encouraged it, that such a milestone shouldn’t go uncelebrated. I wanted to make sure that our customers, and especially local customers, got to celebrate this with us. Read more>>

Vincent Alberico | Business Owner

The best way to show your customers that you appreciate them is to make their life better. We help people live better through better sleep. We’ve built a shopping experience that is convenient, personalized, and stress-free. Our showrooms feature spa like environments that provide the perfect blend of privacy and education. Instead of allowing one large brand to be the dominant centerpiece of the showroom, the mattresses in a Natural Sleep showroom are selected because they have passed an extensive quality assessment that not only appreciates comfort, but also long term durability. Read more>>

Donna Werking | Marketing Strategist

Northern AZ Social will often receive perks (tickets, gift cards, discounts, etc.) from our client base and then we recycle these perks within our client base. We leverage these assets so all of our clients feel special, but most importantly, they are connected and in turn, supporting each other. A great example, we have worked with the World’s Oldest Rodeo as a part of their marketing team for more than five years. Not only will my agency encourage some of clients to become sponsors of rodeo, but in turn, our clients will receive some advantages because of their connection to my agency. Read more>>

Tom Nguyen | Web Designer, SEO and Janitor

I still send physical Christmas cards with personalized messages to my clients. I have over 60 clients and handwriting Christmas a personalized message on every card takes me a couple of days. In today’s age, companies usually send an e-card. I feel sending a physical card with a personalized message shows the client that you really care about their business. Read more>>

Axel Geittmann | Sales and Marketing

One of the unique aspects of working in sales and marketing is the freedom to pursue multiple different paths to growth at once. We often look at how other industries and markets see success and find ways to implement best practices into our interactions.. More recently, we have been focusing on the trade sector to gain intelligence and inspiration through their customer interactions. The question we had was “How do you convert a customer into a promoter.” The trade sector is incredibly competitive. Customer interaction is key to maintaining and growing a client base. Read more>>

Leia Nicole | Personal Trainer and Massage Therapist

I love to give gifts. So for my first time massage clients, I send them home with a sample salt scrub. They love taking a little piece of the spa experience home with them. For my new personal training clients, I send them a cute little gift box with a succulent plant, a candle and a little card that says “You Grow Girl!” It’s inspiring and motivating to have someone cheering you on, and they are always so surprised to receive it. I usually get a text expressing so much gratitude. Knowing that their trainer is celebrating every little win right along with them and is truly invested in their success is a big motivator. Read more>>

Jessica Bond | Owner/Operator Of High Volume Country Nightclub

The register rings, the door opens, our customers walk in for spectacular night at Guitars and Cadillacs, in Fort Worth, Texas, a hidden gem, just off the beaten path, waiting for you to experience a fun filled night, to meet new friends and dance the night away. From the first smile at the door, to the balloons and personalized party banners, perfectly arranged to celebrate your milestone events, birthdays where the guest and friends participate in a scavenger hunt with our customers and staff, such as a “Guitar yard”, for a drink on the house and a commemorative birthday t-shirt when you complete the hunt to celebrate the “party”. Read more>>

Marilyn | Certified Personal Trainer & Business Owner

The most rewarding thing about being in the fitness business is watching clients become a better version of themselves. They are more confident and smile more. They are stronger physically and mentally. They become more self discipline which in return we see amazing results. With weight and body fat loss and even getting off medications!! YOU CAN’T BEAT THAT!! Life is sweeter when your quality is better. Read more>>

Jesus Torres | Hairstylist & Image Consultant|

One of the most amazing things about what I do for living, isn’t just delivering a service. For me, it is more about constructing my clients’ confidence, inside and out. Helping them feel more powerful, beautiful & secure about themselves is what I thrive the most. Constantly, I come across scenarios where I met new clients; and at times they’re in search of a new hairdresser that helps them love their hair again. This at times requires to recover their hair’s integrity or simply modify their haircolor, so it meets their expectations. Read more>>

Shannon Matthews | Director

Child Support Specialists first met Shonterrias Oliver in 2005. At the time, I did not realize Ms. Oliver was homeless. She called our office and completed an application for child support. We often spoke with her on the phone developed a friendship over the years. Shortly after coming to CSS, we started collecting child support for her. Ms. Oliver would reach out to me once in a while to share good news and bad news, like her growing daughter graduating a school. Being a single parent is complex and a struggle sometimes, even with support. We would send extra help if needed. If the children needed shoes, we would send shoes. Read more>>