I’m serious here. You open your mailbox, and what’s in it? Advertising circulars from places you haven’t the faintest interest in, bills you owe and bills you forgot you owe, maybe a postcard reminding you to make a dental appointment. Bor-ing.
But wait! What’s THIS? A genuine, hand-addressed letter to you? Could it be? Your hands tremble, your breath comes a little faster, and you try to remember where you put that elegant little letter opener last time you got a letter… but that was Christmas. Oh heck, just rip it open!
Why, it’s a thank-you letter. A pretty little, hand-written, short and sweet thank-you note. How nice.
Why are thank-you notes so rare? Is it because we never DO anything to warrant receiving one? Of course not. Most people are as kind and helpful as most people ever were. So why do you so seldom get a thank-you from anyone? A real, live, hand-written with some thought and care, note?
And come to think of it, when was the last time you wrote a thank-you? Why? Has no one extended a helping hand to you? What about that neighbor who recommended the world’s best manicurist to you? And the owner of the small bistro you love, who personally made his Daily Special for you without anchovies without even being asked, because he knows you hate the little fishies? Your brother-in-law who gave up an hour of The Game to pick you up when your car died at the mall?
Or…when was the last time you thanked, in writing on attractive stationery in your best handwriting, a business peer: the accountant who sent his new shopaholic client in to you as a consignor, your fellow Chamber member who had a word with the landlord who was hesitant about leasing to a used-clothing shop?
And personal, warm thank-you notes to new customers? A touch anyone would be amazed to receive, and so in keeping with your locally-owned, personally-warm business. If I could cross-stitch one piece of business advice that would apply to any resale shopkeeper….heck, any retail shopkeeper of any merchandise!… it would be WRITE A THANK-YOU NOTE TODAY. And to those shopkeepers I really like? I’d tell them to write 5 every day. They don’t even have to be thank-you notes. They can be “thinking of you, how’d the blind date go?” or “here’s a clipping about that new resort we talked about last time you were in”. Just write a real live letter to someone, a few sentences, and light up her day (and your shop’s standing with her at the same time 😉 )
By the way: sure, an email thank-you is possible. But it won’t be as memorable as a real, live, thank-you note. Write one today. Write five and then write me, telling me how great a piece of business-building advice those five little words were to your success.
Photo from sophiesfavors.com
Auntie Kate The Resale Expert 
[…] The Importance of “Thank You” to your wallet. […]
I just opened my children’s consignment store two weeks ago and am in the process of writing thank you cards to my new consignors. Thank you for this blog and the encouragement found within!
Welcome, Caroline! Don’t miss the rest of the TGTbT Family: Too Good to be Threw, The Premier Site for Resale Professionals, and HowToConsign.com, Finding your future customers!
[…] you mail consignor checks, write thank-you notes to suppliers and customers, or even simply pay bills by mail, why not use a stamp which reinforces […]
It was just such a special feeling to go to the mailbox and get handwritten notes from both Kate and, yes, CATHY!!! Thanks so much for the reminder. I want my customers to feel special and the sentiment is truly heartfelt, I just needed a kick in the behind. I’m bringing stationary to work today. I have a lot of people to thank!
I started sending thank you notes after conference last year. I’m about two weeks behind right now, but it’s amazing how much people love getting them, so thanks for kicking me in the behind!
3 so far, thanks for the much needed reminder to do so!
Well guys, I didn’t plan this to be a love-fest because I write T-Y notes and always have. Although I do wonder whether the tendency I have to thank all and sundry who grace my way through life MIGHT have a BIT of bearing on the fact that I was able to retire at age 48.
It’s very kind of you to note that I sent you a note, and even BETTER that you can point out to others just HOW a simple little T-Y note means a lot to you.
My hard-nosed question is: So. How many T-Y notes have YOU written since reading this post? Come on now, it only hurts when you stop.
Still hanging on my fridge, and slightly dusty, is the card Kate sent me after the Sarasota mini conference – proof that hand written cards mean a lot. I still look at it now and then and smile.
Oh, and I thought I was the SPECIAL ONE!!!! Ha! I too, was so blessed to receive a cute card from Auntie Kate and I have kept it and it really makes me smile. I showed it to all my staff and bragged about who Kate is and WHY she would be sending me a note!
Kate you are so right and I love to read all your tid bits. Thanks for sharing, once again. And mostly thank you for remembering the fine art of Thank You notes and Personal Notes and for giving us a kick in the butt to get them going!
One of the things I remember distinctly from conference last year – 2006 was the card I received from Kate after returning home. As time goes on, it will always be remembered. It truly goes to show what that little bit of time spent makes a person feel like.
Glenda, if I recall correctly, sends out birthday cards via a service. I was working on getting that set up prior to leaving the store. I wanted to get the version with our own handwriting.
When I was younger, I recall getting birthday cards from my insurance rep. I thought it was a bit hokey at the time. I was in my mid 20’s or so and knew that it was basically generic but I still recall his name – he retired and when I think of him I think of those darned cards. So, again, kind of another impression that stays with us – certainly positive.
Deb
How timely Kate! I was so thrilled to receive a hand written card today from you…. ‘Kate’!
You’re absolutely right, a hand written card beats an e-mail by 1000%. I kept thinking about that card all day and re-reading it and of course smiling every time.
So, thank you Kate for brightening my day and for your kind words. I respect your opinions a lot so your comments on my workshop meant a great deal to me.
The only real live note I received in my mailbox in a year or so was from KATE!! And guess what it had on the front ! an actual exclamation point! And I laughed and hooted, I don’t know if that was specifically for me, but everyone tells me I’m way too liberal with the ! but I just keep on using it anyway, so I thought “how totally perfect for me!”.
Auntie Kate I loved my personal note sent in the mail, it absolutely made my day, heck it made my week, it’s hanging on the wall in the shop, so I can smile at it daily.
You are so right about handwritten notes, as always, I need to get on the ball!!