Build Loyalty During the Holiday Season

By Mike Floyd | Nov 19, 2009

The holiday season marks the perfect time to tell your customers you care. Show them you value their business by sending them a personal card or gift, or by outfitting your laundry with holiday treats. A small gesture of gratitude goes a long way toward building customer loyalty.

While showing customer appreciation all year long is important, it is especially essential during the holidays. Here are seven low-cost ideas for showing your gratitude to loyal patrons.

The Holiday Card

It couldn’t be more simple, inexpensive… or effective. By sending a greeting card, with a personal note and signature, you let customers know they really matter, and all the while, reinforce your laundry’s customer-focused image. Personalize your holiday cards further with your company logo and a coupon for in-store services.

In-Store Holiday Treats

When customers enter your laundry, offer them hot chocolate or cider, along with gingerbread cookies or other treats. This small gesture will go a long way in showing your appreciation. Everyone loves a treat to nibble on – and it makes your laundry feel like home.

Laundry Bag Promotion

Get laundry bags printed with your store’s logo on them. Instead of simply giving the bags to your customers, charge a nominal fee and donate the proceeds to charity. Your customers will be happy to have a useful gift. In return, you gain brand recognition whenever the bag is used, as well as a year-end tax deduction.

Wash-Dry-Fold Gift Cards

Remind customers that a wash-dry-fold gift card is a great gift for people who are hard to buy for. Busy parents, professionals and college students will love the amount of time that your services will save them.

Calendars

A new calendar is something every customer needs as the year comes to an end. By developing a customized calendar, you can add your store’s logo, important dates, coupons and specials each month. To make the calendar even more powerful, use custom photos of the athletic teams you sponsor and the charities you support. This will help to portray your laundry is an active member of the community, not just another business.

Create an Enjoyable Atmosphere

Consider decorating your store for the holidays. Run the holiday “classics” on your store’s televisions, or play some holiday music. The little extra efforts can go a long way toward showing customers you care.

Referral Rewards

Reward those who refer new customers to your laundry with a gift or promotion. Perhaps place their names into a holiday referral drawing and give away a flat-screen TV, an iPod or a month’s worth of free washes.

These are just a few of the ideas you can implement. Surely, you can come up with other unique ideas that relate to the holidays – and show your sincere appreciation to your customers.