Welcoming Customers Show you value your customers to keep them coming back.

Meeting and greeting your customers properly is such a basic concept that it's frequently overlooked. Here are a few ways to do it well:

  • layout to quickly accommodate customers.
  • Greet customers quickly. No one likes the feeling of walking into a business and being ignored. Encourage your employees to greet customers the moment they enter your place of business. Some businesses create a more personal atmosphere, offering customers a glass of sparkling apple cider or other refreshments to enjoy as they browse.
  • Help if you're needed. Back off if you're not. The quickest way to chase customers out the door is to chase them around the store. Customers get annoyed if they feel they're being pressured, followed or watched. Coach employees to remain discreetly on hand if customers have questions, but allow clients to browse freely otherwise. If a customer needs assistance, employees should drop what they're doing and provide it.
  • Treat VIPs like VIPs. Recognize important customers when they come to call. If your business is primarily walk-in, make it a priority to learn the names of customers who return frequently or who make large purchases. For service-oriented businesses or those that receive orders via phone, you may wish to create a paper or computer file on VIP preferences.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business News

Citigroup Mistakenly Credited a Customer with $81 Trillion Instead of $280: 'Inputting Error'

An employee caught the mistake quickly, but the bank has recently made other errors that have drawn scrutiny and fines from regulators.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Leadership

The Collapse of Credit Suisse: A Cautionary Tale of Resistance to Hybrid Work

This cautionary tale serves as a reminder for business leaders to adapt to the changing world of work and prioritize their workforce's needs and preferences.

Science & Technology

The "Lazy" Entrepreneur's Guide to AI: 5 Tools to Run Your Business on Autopilot

Want to run your business on autopilot and escape the 24/7 grind? AI is the "lazy" entrepreneur's secret weapon! In this video, discover five game-changing AI tools to automate work, save time and boost profits.

Business Solutions

Save $90 on the Five Microsoft Programs Your Business Can't Live Without

Forget those expensive software subscriptions and get a great bargain for the top five MS Office programs.