By Michele Feldner for our 99 Ways to Make a Positive Difference in Your Pharmacy blog series

Thanking every customer for their business seems obvious, doesn’t it? But how many times are you at a store and the cashier doesn’t thank you at the end of making your purchase? It seems to be happening more and more.

Thanking every customer for their business leaves an important, positive lasting impression. It makes a difference! That shopper chose to come to your store to make their purchase from you. If you take the time to say “thank you,” you can make a strong connection with your customer.

It’s amazing what a smile and a “thank you” can do. I’ve worked as a cashier at a charity auction for several years. The lines can get long, and people get anxious to complete their transaction and be on their way. Making a conscious effort to smile and thank them for their contribution can immediately nullify their frustration for having to wait. This can apply to your store, too, especially during the busy holiday season.

Recently a grocery store I frequent started asking, “Did you find everything you were looking for today?” I think the better question to ask is “Have you had a pleasant shopping experience today?” That’s what you really want to know and it’s what you ideally want to provide. Thanking everyone that decided to buy something from your store is a great way to ensure that.

Thank you for reading this and have a nice day!

Michele is responsible for a portion of the Hamacher merchandising program, TEMPS, for which she evaluates and presents new items as a part of the new item review team. Michele is responsible for planogram development for one of our national wholesale accounts, and also develops customized merchandising solutions for manufacturers, retailers, and wholesalers.