With the holiday season fast approaching, it’s easy to overlook a vital aspect of the drycleaning business — your customers. This is a great time to thank your customers for being loyal. Sending a small token of your appreciation will go a long way in building customer loyalty. No matter the budget, here are five solutions to extend an ideal “thank you” to your patrons during the holiday season.Holiday Cards — Perhaps the easiest and most cost-effective way to show your appreciation is with a holiday card. No matter what your budget is, there are countless solutions both in stores and online that can get out your season’s greetings. Signing the cards or adding a note to each card is a nice touch. If you want to reinforce your brand image, you can also create a card with a wintry image of your store, or include your logo on the front or inside of the card. Coupons can also be inserted in the card.Reusable Bags — It seems that everyone is ditching paper and plastic bags to jump on the green wagon. This trend offers a number of unique benefits during the holiday season. The first is giving a gift that gives back; instead of simply giving the bags to your customers, you can charge a nominal fee and donate the proceeds to charity. Even if you decide to give the bags away, you will gain brand recognition whenever your bag is used, whether it’s in your store or just around town.Calendars — With the holiday season falling at the end of the year, there is one gift that your customers can use — a calendar. Creating a custom calendar for your business is not only timely, but it also allows you to insert coupons. To add a personal touch, you can also customize pictures to correspond with certain months of the year, like a Little League team that you sponsor, etc. These images give a glimpse into what your business is all about, and show that you are a friend in addition to being a business.Wearables — People love free shirts and other wearables, plus, these things are a moving billboard. You can also mix and match items likes hats and T-shirts.Mugs — A coffee mug often gets a good workout. Giving a branded mug to your customers will keep your store on the tip of their lips. To add a little spice and holiday cheer, you can fill them with candy or other goodies before handing them out.
No matter what you choose, make sure to thank those who support you all year long. Any gesture, no matter how small, will go a long way in customer retention, especially in this economy.
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Dave Davis at [email protected].