You want to please and delight your clientele so that they remember you, and talk about you, and tell their friends and coworkers about your shop?

Try a little lagniappe.*

Surprise them with a little something given graciously from out of the blue. It could be a votive candle with a purchase of a centerpiece or a pair of earrings with a dress… but it has to be unexpected, undemanded, and a pleasant surprise. It shouldn’t necessarily be tied to a purchase at all… you can surprise a client with a little something any time, for any reason. This is not a gift-with-purchase… it’s simply a gift, from you/your business to a customer, to make her/him feel good.

My favorite way of doing this is to maintain a “Special Basket” of gifts somewhere handy but out of sight.  In the basket, small colorful fun things in clear cellophane bags, wrapped with curly ribbon and my business card. When you want to gift someone, you can either quickly choose an appropriate lagniappe yourself… or let her choose.

Generally, making the choice yourself, out of sight, is best for just a fun little “thanks for lightening my day” gift. On events warranting a “congratulations” such as a birthday or reaching some milestone, letting the giftee choose is more memorable.

* A lagniappe ( lan-yap) is a small gift given to a customer by a merchant at the time of a purchase (such as a 13th donut when buying a dozen), or more broadly, “something given or obtained gratuitously or by way of good measure.” The custom has become a traditional gracious gesture, with the bonus typically unexpected – a ‘little something extra’ not expected or demanded. –wikipedia