Gratitude and the feel good factor..... #16
- Adrian Dionisio - business737 owner
- Feb 11, 2021
- 3 min read
Updated: Nov 10, 2024
The story of the garlic seller begins in a local market in central Brazil. On the outer periphery of the plaza stood a rickety old wooden table filled with garlic and nothing else.
The garlic was slightly above premium price and no other goods were available, not even bags for purchased items. This rickety old table was always a hive of activity, bustling and hustling with people and the sound of greeting, laughter and jovial chatter.
The garlic seller always sold his daily cart load of garlic. However much he took to the market was sold. The market was full of numerous other competitors all with a similar products, many at better prices. Yet our garlic seller was never left with even a single clove at the close of trading.
His product was not significantly different from the numerous other vendors within the tight confines of the market place.
So why was all his product always sold out at the close of play?
It was the garlic seller who made the difference not the product. He was always courteous, joyful and had genuine gratitude for people’s custom, and this made people happy to give him their hard earned money.
As business owners we can never underestimate the impact of genuine warmth and appreciation for our customers. Yes some can be difficult and dealing with others can be stressful but it is our customers who either make or break our business. With this in mind we must always be thankful and grateful for their custom (read more).
Being warm and engaging with your clients can go a long way and this is why we have the well know saying that “ the customer is always right”. Amazon for example has achieved much of it’s global dominance by abiding by the principle that the “customer is king” (click here to read more).
As an owner of a business it is you who best represents the product or service. Your interactions with the customer can enhance notions of trust, reliability, professionalism and bring peace of mind and security to any purchase (read more).
A positive mindset with gratitude and courtesy can add real value to any business. Do not underestimate the importance of genuine person to person interaction and how rapport and authenticity can be a win win situation for all concerned. In an age where it is significantly harder to create an advantage over your competitors these factors are of particular importance (read more).
Clients are more likely to return when they feel they have got great value (read more) and have been appreciated and treated well. Great customer service can prove to be a great stepping stone for growth and profitability because happy customers turn into repeat customers (read more).
Customer appreciation and gratitude will help improve customer retention. This has been proved over and over again, not just by the garlic seller but also by some of the biggest brands and companies in the world.
In today’s world people are more connected by social media yet ironically have never been as physically isolated. Warmth and gratitude can be expressed and sensed even via call, text and email.
Simple genuine actions can truly help a business’s growth and profitability. The discussed principles are just as relevant in today’s online world, if not more so.
We have all experienced the ever increasing lack of empathy and concern of call centers and various customer service departments. The cold, uncaring, mechanical tones and responses often leave us feeling fed up and somewhat cheated. This leaves a real opportunity for any business who treat others as we ourselves would like to be treated; with warmth, compassion, empathy and concern. Above all to be shown some appreciation and gratitude for our custom.
I often wonder what became of the garlic seller during the covid pandemic when many of the local markets were closed for a significant period of time. I am sure that if he decided to expand into home delivery his personality would shine through and provide the foundation of his business success. In theory this could also hold true if he started with online sales, although technological limitations could prove to be a potential stumbling block. Regardless of the sales medium the same principles apply can cannot be held in enough esteem and significance.
In business, as in life, we must be grateful to the theoretical hand that feeds us. Showing respect, courtesy and reverence is a necessity that will only ever hold us in good stead.
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