Little Touches, Big Impact! Business Lessons from the Supermarket

I don’t know about you, but I’m a chocolate addict. I love just about everything chocolate. My latest favorite thing is a new chocolate-flavored Greek yogurt. And trust me, if you like chocolate, you’ll love this tasty treat that’s low in calories but big on flavor!

The only place to purchase this in my neighborhood is at the local Whole Foods Market, so you can imagine how disappointed I was when, on a recent trip to the market, there was none on the shelf!

I was resigned to going home without my new favorite thing when the checkout person very pleasantly asked if I had found everything I wanted. When I told her about not finding my favorite chocolate yogurt, she had the manager check in the back. Much to my surprise, he appeared with a package of four delicious chocolate yogurts.

But here was the even bigger surprise: the young woman at the checkout counter told me they were free! This was just a little thank you for being a loyal customer.

The four yogurts sell for under $5.00 so it wasn’t a big deal money-wise for such a large corporation, but the gesture will certainly be remembered. I’ve already spread the word to my husband and friends and I will certainly be coming back for more!

With that in mind, what little surprises can you “wow” your promotional products clients with to encourage repeat business, promote loyalty and keep your company top of the mind?

Here are a few easy suggestions that will stand out and get you noticed:

• Send a handwritten thank-you note with every order.
• Fill a coffee mug with candy or flowers and send it on your loyal customers with a big “THANK YOU!” imprinted on the mug and a handwritten note about how much you appreciate their continued business.
• Send little gifts on unexpected holidays like Halloween, Thanksgiving or Valentine’s Day.
• Give your best clients an unexpected thank you for being loyal, such as a free screen charge on their next order, next quantity pricing or a free spec sample with their company logo on it.

The important thing is to always be thinking about how you can add value and “wow” your clients by going above and beyond what’s expected. It’s the little touches that will make you and your promotional products company memorable.