{"id":86582,"date":"2025-08-06T09:28:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-06T14:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.success.com\/?p=86582"},"modified":"2025-05-11T21:30:28","modified_gmt":"2025-05-12T02:30:28","slug":"customer-service-strategies-loyalty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.success.com\/customer-service-strategies-loyalty\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Strategies Customer Service Teams Use to Build Lifelong Loyalty"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Last month, Jasmine Charbonier, a pet owner in Tampa, Florida, lost her elderly cat. She tried to return an unopened bag of prescription food. But the food company, Chewy, said no\u2014instead, they told her to donate it to a shelter and gave her the refund anyway, but didn\u2019t stop there. \u201cThey sent me a beautiful hand-painted portrait of my cat based on a photo from my account, along with a heartfelt sympathy card. I literally burst into tears,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>New Jersey pet owner Michele C. Hollow got a call from the company when she ordered half of her usual cat food order. One of her cats had passed away. After finding this out, the rep sent flowers the next day with multiple signatures from Chewy staff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/speakers.success.com\/speakers\/\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.success.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/SUCCESS_speakers_bureau_CTA_r1@2x.png\" alt=\"SUCCESS Speakers Bureau offer\"><\/a>\n\n\n\n<p>Chewy\u2019s gestures above aren\u2019t random or isolated incidents. Instead, they\u2019re part of a cohesive and intentional strategy. \u201cIf you&#8217;re building for the long term, investing in customer experience isn&#8217;t optional\u2014it&#8217;s essential,\u201d says Diane Pelkey, head of communications at Chewy. \u201cCustomers remember how you made them feel. That <a href=\"https:\/\/www.success.com\/customer-love-how-to-take-your-business-from-good-to-great\/\">emotional connection<\/a> drives their loyalty and defines your brand.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Her company\u2019s philosophy is backed by research. A <a href=\"https:\/\/khoros.com\/blog\/must-know-customer-service-statistics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2024 survey<\/a> from customer engagement experts Khoros found that 83% of consumers said that good customer service had the most important impact on their decision to buy. The survey also found that 86% of consumers became long-term buyers after a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.success.com\/what-makes-good-customer-service\/\">good customer service<\/a> experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s what top-notch customer service teams know about building loyalty that also improves the bottom line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-a-complaint-is-an-opportunity-nbsp\">1. A complaint is an opportunity&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.coveo.com\/en\/pdf?file=\/-\/media\/library\/files\/reports\/customer-service-relevance-report-2023\/csr_2023.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2023 report<\/a> from Coveo, an AI search platform, found that only 56% of 4,000 consumers surveyed actually complained when they experienced poor service. The rest of respondents reported \u201cghosting\u201d the company and using a competitor instead. Respondents shared it only took two negative customer service experiences to have them abandon a company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When they do give negative feedback, that\u2019s an opportunity, according to Lacy Eyre, director of client success at Aventus in Charleston, South Carolina. \u201cA well-handled setback can turn a one-time buyer into a long-term brand advocate,\u201d she explains. \u201cImagine this: A customer contacts your service team upset about a delayed order. The rep listens, empathizes, offers a quick solution and maybe even throws in a personal touch. Suddenly, that customer feels valued, seen and understood. This isn\u2019t just a resolution; it\u2019s an opportunity to wow them and turn a negative experience into a comeback.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-pay-attention-to-your-customer-service-team-nbsp\">2. Pay attention to your customer service team&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIf you want to know what&#8217;s working and what&#8217;s not, look no further than your customer service team. They are the first line of defense when things go right or wrong, the frontline warriors who can take your brand\u2019s reputation to soaring heights or drive it into the ground,\u201d Eyre says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cEvery complaint, every suggestion is an opportunity to evolve. If you ignore this invaluable feedback, you&#8217;re essentially putting your business on autopilot. But when you embrace it, you&#8217;re setting yourself up for sustained growth and innovation,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-fun-social-media-can-make-people-loyal\">3. Fun social media can make people loyal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Customer service isn\u2019t all doom, gloom and aggravated customers. Meg St-Esprit, a Pittsburgh-based mom of four, found out McDonald\u2019s is on its social media game, and was impressed by the brand\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.success.com\/how-to-improve-customer-service-7-ways-to-take-your-mission-beyond-words\/\">customer engagement practices<\/a>. After a representative from the fast food chain saw a tweet of hers, the brand reached out to send her kids McDonald\u2019s swag.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhen this box showed up, they were just bowled over. The box had all sorts of fun red and yellow paper confetti in it, a hoodie for each of them and some gift cards for us to get dinner that night,\u201d she says. \u201cI think they felt like YouTube stars with some type of brand partnership or something\u2014for weeks they chose to wear their hoodies in unison like a little roving marketing team.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cEven given my previously positive opinion of the company, it certainly elevated my opinion of their team,\u201d St-Esprit says. \u201cThey&#8217;re also clearly out there, on social media, connecting with customers. That tells me they are tuned in to what&#8217;s going on.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Similarly, interactive calendar company Skylight shared that one <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@onedaemoore\/video\/7389744034647903531\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TikToker<\/a> went viral after she accidentally received three extra Skylight calendars in her shipment. According to Skylight\u2019s PR team, the client returned them, \u201crestoring everyone\u2019s faith in humanity.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Skylight President Aviv Gilboa responded immediately and offered to send calendars to three of the client\u2019s loved ones, hand-delivered her a new unopened calendar she was on the waitlist for and gifted her a free Skylight Plus lifetime subscription to thank her for her integrity.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-show-customers-your-sense-of-humor-nbsp\">4. Show customers your sense of humor&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you find yourself on hold at ItsEasy Passport &amp; Visa Services, you\u2019re in for a whole experience. Narrated by founder David Alwadish, the hold message features customer stories and educational content about passports and visas, interwoven with songs from classic artists such as Earth, Wind &amp; Fire, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Tina Turner and Gloria Gaynor.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOne of our executive customers was so inspired by the on-hold message that he wanted his entire staff to hear it\u2014not only to better manage their personal and business travel, but also as a model for how to truly serve customers,\u201d Alwadish says. \u201cWith this recording, we are excited to bring back the passion behind great customer service\u2014something that\u2019s been missing since the days Sam Walton was holding the door open for customers at Walmart.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can expect to hear lyrics to Gaynor\u2019s \u201cI Will Survive\u201d as they detail passport woes, for example. The entire recording is 52 minutes, but luckily the company shares that customers are only ever on hold for a few of those minutes. \u201cI got carried away with the effort because I had so much to share,\u201d Alwadish adds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-wow-them-with-a-personalized-experience\">5. Wow them with a personalized experience<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In the digital age where you can bulk email millions of people at once, a tailored, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.success.com\/5-ways-to-thrill-your-customers\/\">personalized customer experience<\/a> stands out. Recent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.deloittedigital.com\/us\/en\/insights\/research\/personalizing-growth.html?id=us:2el:3dp:wsjspon:awa:WSJCMO:2022:WSJFY23\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">research<\/a> from Deloitte has found that companies that personalized the customer experience were 71% more likely to have customer loyalty and 48% more likely to have exceeded revenue goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIf your customers feel like they&#8217;re just a number, just another ticket to close, that\u2019s when you lose. Poor customer service leads directly to churn, lost revenue and negative word of mouth,\u201d Eyre says. \u201cIn a world where consumers have countless options at their fingertips, if your team doesn\u2019t go above and beyond, they\u2019ll simply move on to a competitor who does. With the evolution of e-commerce and the shift toward personalized experiences, people now expect genuine connections with brands. They want to feel like more than a transaction.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>GiAnna Orangio, vice president of The Dana Agency in Miami, shares a story of a couple who loved their trip experience so much, they named their child after the hotel they stayed at\u2014Arlo. So, when the couple returned, they were met with balloons for the child\u2019s first birthday and an upgraded room, demonstrating the \u201cimportance of thoughtful, personalized gestures in the world of hospitality,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Similarly, Erik Wright, founder and CEO of New Horizon Home Buyers in Chattanooga, Tennessee, remembers an \u201celderly widow\u201d selling her 43-year-old home after her husband\u2019s recent death. After his team noticed military decorations they learned her husband was a Vietnam War veteran. \u201cAt closing, we presented her with a customized shadow box containing her husband&#8217;s service medals, professionally restored photographs that we had printed from albums that she had pulled out to share with us and a donation certificate to a veterans&#8217; organization in her husband&#8217;s name. She was moved to tears, subsequently referring three of her friends to our company, and she is still in contact years later.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wright calls the cost of the shadow box \u201cinconsequential\u201d compared to the newly formed relationships and the additional business it brought. \u201cWe&#8217;ve since implemented a company-wide \u2018meaningful memories\u2019 program where sellers assign personal touches to commemorate each seller&#8217;s unique situation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, whether it\u2019s a shadow box, bouquet of flowers or a simple validating phone call with a human representative and not an AI bot, customer service might be your next key area of focus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><em>Photo by PeopleImages.com &#8211; Yuri A\/Shutterstock<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>These customer service strategies use empathy, humor and personal touches to turn everyday interactions into long-term 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To connect or read more of her work please visit www.alexandra-frost.com.","url":"https:\/\/www.success.com\/author\/alex-frost\/"}]}},"meta_data":{"_edit_lock":["1747017479:32516"],"_edit_last":["32516"],"_advads_ad_settings":["a:2:{s:11:\"disable_ads\";i:0;s:19:\"disable_the_content\";i:0;}"],"_molongui_author":["user-32434"],"_molongui_main_author":["user-32434"],"enable-for-home-page-all-post-section-set-as-first-image":["false"],"enable-for-home-page-all-post-section":["true"],"enable-for-category-section-in-home-page-set-as-first-image":["false"],"enable-for-category-section-in-home-page":["true"],"feature-video":[""],"select-video":[""],"exclude_from_trending":["false"],"type_access":["article_standard"],"disc":["d_dominance"],"resource_library":["article"],"store_type":[""],"custom_listing_image":[""],"sync":["true"],"_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":["14058"],"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":["customer service"],"_yoast_wpseo_title":["Customer Service Strategies That Build Loyalty %%page%% %%sep%% %%sitename%%"],"_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":["These customer service strategies use empathy, humor and personal touches to turn everyday interactions into long-term customer loyalty."],"_yoast_wpseo_linkdex":["79"],"_yoast_wpseo_content_score":["30"],"_yoast_wpseo_focuskeywords":[""],"_yoast_wpseo_keywordsynonyms":[""],"_yoast_wpseo_estimated-reading-time-minutes":["7"],"_thumbnail_id":["86586"],"_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image":["https:\/\/www.success.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/customer-service-strategies-loyalty-social-1024x540.jpg"],"_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image-id":["86587"],"jet_engine_store_count_recently-viewed":["107"],"_yoast_indexnow_last_ping":["1754490495"],"_elementor_page_assets":["a:0:{}"]},"guest_author_field_data":{"main_author_is":"user","guest_authors":[],"user_authors":[{"user_email":"afrost@mailinator.com","user_login":"Alex-Frost","first_name":"Alex","last_name":"Frost","display_name":"Alex Frost","nickname":"Alex-Frost","user_meta":{"nickname":["Alex-Frost"],"first_name":["Alex"],"last_name":["Frost"],"description":["Alexandra Frost is a Cincinnati-based freelance journalist and content strategist, focusing on health and wellness, parenting, education, business, environment, and lifestyle. She has been published in the New York Times, Atlantic, Washington Post, Glamour, Today\u2019s Parent, Reader\u2019s Digest, Consumer Reports, Women\u2019s Health, and National Geographic. She spends her \u201cfree\u201d time with her five kids under age 10, and coaching others on the ins and outs of media and content marketing. 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Her work has appeared in The New York Times, the Atlantic, the Washington Post, and many other publications. She spends her \u201cfree\u201d time with her five kids under age 10, and coaching others on the ins and outs of media and content marketing."],"molongui_author_image_id":[""],"molongui_author_image_url":[""],"molongui_author_image_edit":[""],"advanced-ads-role":[""]}}]},"custom_post_content":"<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Last month, Jasmine Charbonier, a pet owner in Tampa, Florida, lost her elderly cat. She tried to return an unopened bag of prescription food. But the food company, Chewy, said no\u2014instead, they told her to donate it to a shelter and gave her the refund anyway, but didn\u2019t stop there. \u201cThey sent me a beautiful hand-painted portrait of my cat based on a photo from my account, along with a heartfelt sympathy card. I literally burst into tears,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>New Jersey pet owner Michele C. Hollow got a call from the company when she ordered half of her usual cat food order. One of her cats had passed away. After finding this out, the rep sent flowers the next day with multiple signatures from Chewy staff.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n\n<!-- \/wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Chewy\u2019s gestures above aren\u2019t random or isolated incidents. Instead, they\u2019re part of a cohesive and intentional strategy. \u201cIf you're building for the long term, investing in customer experience isn't optional\u2014it's essential,\u201d says Diane Pelkey, head of communications at Chewy. \u201cCustomers remember how you made them feel. That <a href=\"https:\/\/www.success.com\/customer-love-how-to-take-your-business-from-good-to-great\/\">emotional connection<\/a> drives their loyalty and defines your brand.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Her company\u2019s philosophy is backed by research. A <a href=\"https:\/\/khoros.com\/blog\/must-know-customer-service-statistics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2024 survey<\/a> from customer engagement experts Khoros found that 83% of consumers said that good customer service had the most important impact on their decision to buy. The survey also found that 86% of consumers became long-term buyers after a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.success.com\/what-makes-good-customer-service\/\">good customer service<\/a> experience.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Here\u2019s what top-notch customer service teams know about building loyalty that also improves the bottom line.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-a-complaint-is-an-opportunity-nbsp\">1. A complaint is an opportunity&nbsp;<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.coveo.com\/en\/pdf?file=\/-\/media\/library\/files\/reports\/customer-service-relevance-report-2023\/csr_2023.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2023 report<\/a> from Coveo, an AI search platform, found that only 56% of 4,000 consumers surveyed actually complained when they experienced poor service. The rest of respondents reported \u201cghosting\u201d the company and using a competitor instead. Respondents shared it only took two negative customer service experiences to have them abandon a company.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When they do give negative feedback, that\u2019s an opportunity, according to Lacy Eyre, director of client success at Aventus in Charleston, South Carolina. \u201cA well-handled setback can turn a one-time buyer into a long-term brand advocate,\u201d she explains. \u201cImagine this: A customer contacts your service team upset about a delayed order. The rep listens, empathizes, offers a quick solution and maybe even throws in a personal touch. Suddenly, that customer feels valued, seen and understood. This isn\u2019t just a resolution; it\u2019s an opportunity to wow them and turn a negative experience into a comeback.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-pay-attention-to-your-customer-service-team-nbsp\">2. Pay attention to your customer service team&nbsp;<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cIf you want to know what's working and what's not, look no further than your customer service team. They are the first line of defense when things go right or wrong, the frontline warriors who can take your brand\u2019s reputation to soaring heights or drive it into the ground,\u201d Eyre says.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cEvery complaint, every suggestion is an opportunity to evolve. If you ignore this invaluable feedback, you're essentially putting your business on autopilot. But when you embrace it, you're setting yourself up for sustained growth and innovation,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-fun-social-media-can-make-people-loyal\">3. Fun social media can make people loyal<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Customer service isn\u2019t all doom, gloom and aggravated customers. Meg St-Esprit, a Pittsburgh-based mom of four, found out McDonald\u2019s is on its social media game, and was impressed by the brand\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.success.com\/how-to-improve-customer-service-7-ways-to-take-your-mission-beyond-words\/\">customer engagement practices<\/a>. After a representative from the fast food chain saw a tweet of hers, the brand reached out to send her kids McDonald\u2019s swag.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cWhen this box showed up, they were just bowled over. The box had all sorts of fun red and yellow paper confetti in it, a hoodie for each of them and some gift cards for us to get dinner that night,\u201d she says. \u201cI think they felt like YouTube stars with some type of brand partnership or something\u2014for weeks they chose to wear their hoodies in unison like a little roving marketing team.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cEven given my previously positive opinion of the company, it certainly elevated my opinion of their team,\u201d St-Esprit says. \u201cThey're also clearly out there, on social media, connecting with customers. That tells me they are tuned in to what's going on.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Similarly, interactive calendar company Skylight shared that one <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@onedaemoore\/video\/7389744034647903531\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TikToker<\/a> went viral after she accidentally received three extra Skylight calendars in her shipment. According to Skylight\u2019s PR team, the client returned them, \u201crestoring everyone\u2019s faith in humanity.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Skylight President Aviv Gilboa responded immediately and offered to send calendars to three of the client\u2019s loved ones, hand-delivered her a new unopened calendar she was on the waitlist for and gifted her a free Skylight Plus lifetime subscription to thank her for her integrity.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-show-customers-your-sense-of-humor-nbsp\">4. Show customers your sense of humor&nbsp;<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>If you find yourself on hold at ItsEasy Passport &amp; Visa Services, you\u2019re in for a whole experience. Narrated by founder David Alwadish, the hold message features customer stories and educational content about passports and visas, interwoven with songs from classic artists such as Earth, Wind &amp; Fire, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Tina Turner and Gloria Gaynor.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cOne of our executive customers was so inspired by the on-hold message that he wanted his entire staff to hear it\u2014not only to better manage their personal and business travel, but also as a model for how to truly serve customers,\u201d Alwadish says. \u201cWith this recording, we are excited to bring back the passion behind great customer service\u2014something that\u2019s been missing since the days Sam Walton was holding the door open for customers at Walmart.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>You can expect to hear lyrics to Gaynor\u2019s \u201cI Will Survive\u201d as they detail passport woes, for example. The entire recording is 52 minutes, but luckily the company shares that customers are only ever on hold for a few of those minutes. \u201cI got carried away with the effort because I had so much to share,\u201d Alwadish adds.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-wow-them-with-a-personalized-experience\">5. Wow them with a personalized experience<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In the digital age where you can bulk email millions of people at once, a tailored, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.success.com\/5-ways-to-thrill-your-customers\/\">personalized customer experience<\/a> stands out. Recent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.deloittedigital.com\/us\/en\/insights\/research\/personalizing-growth.html?id=us:2el:3dp:wsjspon:awa:WSJCMO:2022:WSJFY23\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">research<\/a> from Deloitte has found that companies that personalized the customer experience were 71% more likely to have customer loyalty and 48% more likely to have exceeded revenue goals.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cIf your customers feel like they're just a number, just another ticket to close, that\u2019s when you lose. Poor customer service leads directly to churn, lost revenue and negative word of mouth,\u201d Eyre says. \u201cIn a world where consumers have countless options at their fingertips, if your team doesn\u2019t go above and beyond, they\u2019ll simply move on to a competitor who does. With the evolution of e-commerce and the shift toward personalized experiences, people now expect genuine connections with brands. They want to feel like more than a transaction.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>GiAnna Orangio, vice president of The Dana Agency in Miami, shares a story of a couple who loved their trip experience so much, they named their child after the hotel they stayed at\u2014Arlo. So, when the couple returned, they were met with balloons for the child\u2019s first birthday and an upgraded room, demonstrating the \u201cimportance of thoughtful, personalized gestures in the world of hospitality,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Similarly, Erik Wright, founder and CEO of New Horizon Home Buyers in Chattanooga, Tennessee, remembers an \u201celderly widow\u201d selling her 43-year-old home after her husband\u2019s recent death. After his team noticed military decorations they learned her husband was a Vietnam War veteran. \u201cAt closing, we presented her with a customized shadow box containing her husband's service medals, professionally restored photographs that we had printed from albums that she had pulled out to share with us and a donation certificate to a veterans' organization in her husband's name. She was moved to tears, subsequently referring three of her friends to our company, and she is still in contact years later.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Wright calls the cost of the shadow box \u201cinconsequential\u201d compared to the newly formed relationships and the additional business it brought. \u201cWe've since implemented a company-wide \u2018meaningful memories\u2019 program where sellers assign personal touches to commemorate each seller's unique situation.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>So, whether it\u2019s a shadow box, bouquet of flowers or a simple validating phone call with a human representative and not an AI bot, customer service might be your next key area of focus.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"fontSize\":\"small\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><em>Photo by PeopleImages.com - Yuri A\/Shutterstock<\/em><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->","tag_names":[],"post_attachment_urls":[],"author_email":"afrost@mailinator.com","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.success.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86582","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.success.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.success.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.success.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/32434"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.success.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=86582"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.success.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86582\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.success.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/86586"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.success.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=86582"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.success.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=86582"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.success.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=86582"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}