Let me start with this adage that says “Eni ti o dupe ore ana, ori omiran gba” meaning “Someone that give thanks for what he/she received yesterday will surely receive another.” However, showing gratitude to people improves relationships in so many ways.
As a business owner, I benefitted immensely from showing gratitude to people. One thing is certain, if you show a heart of appreciation to someone, you have gained the heart of such person to yourself. Take for instance, each time a customer enters our shop to buy one thing or the other; I must welcome him/her very well with a smile. The customer will also smile back at me. I will then ask, please what do you want to buy? He/she will respond. After selling and receive money, I will say thank you very much, God bless you. Amen. Next time the person will call again and again. Some people accuse me of using charms to sell, not knowing that it’s my attitude and human relationship that keeps bringing them to me.
Already, someone told me that he likes the way I always attend to customers with a smile and that is why he always comes to buy from me. So, I told him that, it’s my making and I can’t stop it. Then the man told me how he went to buy something somewhere and the person was frowning all through, and he promised not to go there again. You see!
What I observe in me is that, no matter what provoked you when come into my shop, you will smile and go home happily.
Any business that is blossoming is attached to good customer’s relationship and a heart of gratitude. For example, in Radio, Television Stations, business owners etc. are always calling their customers and clients to appreciate them especially during festive periods like Christmas, New Year, Easter and Ramadan periods. Some even give memorable gifts to their customers and this really encourage the customers to patronize them the more.
Furthermore, I give gifts to customers and this action has improved my relationships with them, for years now. There are some of my customers that do not work or buy things from other places even when I’m not around except I travel.
The first notable benefit of showing gratitude to people was, when I went to Lagos for interview for job employment. The Boss happened to be my customer when he was doing his Ph.D in the University of Ibadan, I didn’t know he was the one until after the interview, because he didn’t ask me any question. Guess what! I was one of the successful candidates that they employed.
Secondly, one of my customers that I always show gratitude to, helped me balance up N100,000 to somebody that I bought goods from and I didn’t have enough money with me that day.
Thirdly, one of my customers bought Christmas clothes for my children. Through customers’ relationship and gratitude, I was able to secure accommodation easily. Meanwhile, the customer had a parcel of land where he sold to me at a cheaper rate with agreement and receipt, in a very strategic area. That land in that area is sold for N1,500,000 and I bought it N300,000 then.
As a business owner, one has to be patient with customers if you want to have a good rapport with them. Don’t shout or rude to them in the presence of your children. Don’t insult them. Don’t gossip them. Don’t be troublesome. But most importantly, don’t always sell on credits because it will bring quarrel, disagreement and fight. Ungrateful attitude can ruin relationships. I went to market the other day, I priced something, the woman insulted me, calling me thief, saying that "Don't you know that things have cost." Come and pay N2kobo, nonsense.
Nevertheless, I have a lot of benefits but because of space let me just mention these few ones above.
Thanks for reading.
