Being Grateful; What Customer Service is All About

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) January 21, 2012 --

One of the most important and powerful words in the world is "thank-you". Only second to words of love, thank-you boosts morale, self-confidence, and purpose in not only the recipient but also the giver. Thank-you in genuine form comes from a humble heart who feels cared about and appreciated. It comes from receiving a caring word, a service, good news, a smile, a gift. It means someone noticed something you did. It means you matter, and so do they. It means a person knows their place in the world and is grateful for it. It emotes gratitude, a feeling that warms the soul and can bring tears to the eyes of the biggest tough guy. It is empowering. On a personal level,it's a big old piece of what makes up mankind.

This word is so impressive, it's included in the highest hierarchy of famous words- MANNERS! Right along and second only to "please". It's a part of proper etiquette. As a child, not saying "thank-you" at the proper time could be a major embarrassment to my parents and land me in my room for an afternoon. It could mean not being invited back to a friends house for a second play date. It could mean a REALLY dirty look from my Grandma. To use the word meant big waves of approval and being considered a good kid or a fine young adult. Good manners and the words that represent them were one of the most urgent parts of a "proper"upbringing. I feel safe in saying that jobs, home sales, and college scholarships were decided on
whether or not "the" word was expressed. It carries such relevance it's been a cornerstone of what can make or break a relationship, a deal, a business.

In this time when the almighty dollar has become so scarce, consumers are using a type of "point" system not only to decide where to spend their money but whether or not they'll be a repeat customer. Customer service, which for centuries was given, has now become a priceless commodity. Often, excellent client appreciation can only be found at smaller shops and businesses where the prices may be greater. With value acting as their big barometer consumers are experiencing a conflict: Go to where merchandise is the cheapest price at a store where the faces change almost weekly, and you're treated like they are doing you a favor, or spend a little more at a small locally owned business and be treated like gold?

In many instances, being appreciated and acknowledged seems to be winning out! More and more, shoppers are looking into the little nook and cranny storefronts, family owned businesses, and direct sellers for not only specialty purchases but their every day fare. Making a purchase from someone who knows your name on sight, who knows your product preference, who offers higher quality products, and who is openly grateful for your patronage is becoming more of a deal-breaker every day in the war of who gets our business.

Here's an example from my own life. I have been getting my nails done for over 20 years. It's my treat to myself. I love having long, beautiful nails. As far as I'm concerned, I can look like straight-up poop but if my nails are pretty, I'm good to go. I jumped on the nail salon bandwagon and for the the first 10 years I moved around from large salon to large salon. I had good and bad experiences at several places, but never really felt appreciated. I am a people person. I have never met a stranger. I love familiarity. I love when I walk into a business and they greet me by name.

In 2003 we moved from the county to the city, and I set about finding my "nesting places" in the businesses I would be dealing with. A nail salon was top on my list. I live in the middle of everything. All around me were big salons with thrones for pedicure chairs, offers of a glass of wine, and "cheap" services.In the middle of all these, tucked away in the corner of a little strip shopping center in a good neighborhood, was a privately owned salon, K and Y Nails. I decided to try it. Inside I found a husband and wife team that owned the business, and a handful of employees who were kind, caring, and who new my name as a whole within 2 visits. They are always happy to see me, recognize my voice on the phone, and have even come to know my daughters and their children, whom they often ask about. They are grateful down to their bones for my business. I have now been going there for nine years. I send everyone I know their way. I do the recording for their voice mail. They treat me like a queen. When I was taking care of my newborn grandson and went months with no sleep, they would let my nails dry while I took a nap on their couch. They are now my family.Every time I walk out of their store, they all yell "thank-you Jo-Ann". I will never go any where else.

In the 2 years I have owned my own business, I have learned many lessons in gratitude. Thank-you is my catch phrase. It keeps my ego in check, makes me look outside myself when gauging my success, and helps me make every decision about my business to the inth degree. It lets my customers know they are appreciated more than words can say, and allows me the humility to accept the thank-yous I get back from them. I LIVE for thank-yous. They say I've made a positive impact, chosen what's right for my customers, and am providing a valuable service. They are a testimony to what my customers feel about myself and my services. They are GOLD.

For every person in every business who ever took the time to know my name, ask me what I needed, and let me know I mattered as THEIR customer, I salute you.


THANK-YOU!

customer service     gift baskets     gratitude     small business