Nothing speaks great customer service more than a smile and a thank you, and now is the perfect time to show off your hospitality.

Halloween is officially over, your candy stash is running low, and the next holiday is ready to take center stage. YUP, Turkey day is just around the corner, and that means planning for hosting your family with an unforgettable meal.

While this traditional holiday is important for millions of families, it is also a prime opportunity for business. Thanksgiving is about giving ‘thanks’ to those around you – even to those loyal customers who keep your business thriving. Jump at this opportunity to express gratitude to your customers with special thanksgiving offerings, but take it a step further.

Plan out the ultimate customer journey and allow your customers experience the best you have to offer. This means opening up your doors to new ideas or maybe even concerns of your consumers. The perfect thanksgiving hostess or host can use these tools to create a customer experience with all the trimmings included.  

Start Prepping Early

Send out your invites and start planning your menu early. If you wait till the last minute, your family and friends will make plans at your second cousin’s sister in law – once removed…Gasp*. Make sure that you contact your guest list early and plan out your menu.  

This means that you need to start advertising your Thanksgiving spirit early. Invite your customers in and make sure they know you’re thankful for them this season. Send out a greeting card or thank your customers or affiliates by giving them a shout out on social media. Don’t give your customers room to eye out the competition.

Forgo the Kids Table

Don’t shun your guests to the kids table. Take the time to reach out and network – pull out a chair at the adult table. Host a time and place this thanksgiving for your customers to offer their ideas, wishes, and comments. Maybe they have ideas for improvements – maybe they want you to hear their pain points.

This doesn’t just offer a safe space to engage with your customers and make them feel involved in the business, it is a great way for your business to collect invaluable feedback and improve the customer service experience.

Maybe you can close the gap between the perceptions of your consumers and what you are planning on offering in the future. This might be the most valuable experience of them all. After all, you not only want your customers to have the best support experience, you want them to come back for seconds.

There’s Always Room for Dessert

Rarely does someone say no to a nice slice of homemade apple pie! Offer something sweet to your customers this Thanksgiving. Send them discount offerings or maybe even a free gift card. Another idea is to host a Thanksgiving holiday charity drive of their choice, a way for you to show loyalty to the customer community.

This is not only shows your customers know you appreciate their business, but it brings them through your doors. Most likely customers will spend over the limit of the gift card, for example, and create a buzz over your brand. Sometimes the simplest forms of flattery go the farthest. And trust me, they will thank you back.

Food for Thought

This 3-step recipe is key in creating a lasting relationship with your partners and consumers that results in engagement, increased sales, heightened brand awareness, and overall greater customer support experience. While giving thanks to your customers should always be a practice year-round, it is especially important on Thanksgiving, when the mood is happy and stomachs are ready to be filled.