Have you ever been to a Whole Foods Market? If you have shopped at more than one of their stores, you know that each store is uniquely different; appealing to the neighborhood.

You also know, that Whole Foods' customers are very loyal. If you are a WF customer, you know exactly why you keep going back. The closest market to me is about 15 minutes from my house. Often, I'll drive 10 minutes out of my way to stop at Whole Foods for lunch or to pick up snacks and prepared foods on a weekend. Why am I such a loyal customer? Read on.

Just today, I heard an interview with John Mackey, the founder of Whole Foods. He started the company 25 years ago. Here's what he had to say about keeping his employees happy:  "We've got 43,0-00 team members but in general they're very positive, upbeat, service-oriented people because we understand that the customer is THE most important stakeholder in the business and we've got to make the customers happy and so we select team members who share that vision of service and then we empower them to do whatever it takes to help make the customers happy."

 How does your company feel about customers?  Better yet, how do YOU reward YOUR customers for doing business with you? Here are a few ideas to increase loyalty. See if you are using some of these techniques. If not, try a few over the next 60 days and see what results you get.

1. Thank your customers for doing business with you. Most customers don't feel appreciated enough. Try it in every interaction; phone, in person, via email, on orders, in ALL of your written and verbal correspondence.

2. Gift 'em. For example, at Whole Foods, just before school started, the cashiers gave away insulated lunch bags with a $100 order. Do you think I was excited to have a back-up lunch bag for our daughter for those occasions when she leaves hers at school? You bet! (When was the last time you gave a gift to your customers?)

 3.  Give away free samples. I can't think of a time when the staff at Whole Foods wasn't providing free cookies, samples of coffee, dips, cereal, you name it. What are you giving away? In my business, I give away ideas to prospects and when they see that the advice is good, I get business! Are you providing samples to your customers, too?

4. Provide your customers with a clean, friendly environment. When you walk into Whole Foods, you are struck with a bright, open friendly atmosphere. The flowers are right in the front, so you first smell the store with a pleasant aroma waifting through the air. When you are on the phone with customers, provide them with a welcome experience. It may start with a receptionist...NOT a telephone menu! And if you are working in a business where customers come and see you, what is the experience when walking in? Old magazines, stained sofa cushions, loud elevator music, or fresh flowers on the table, a smiling receptionist, and a friendly greeting.

So now you have a few ideas of how to continue to generate customer loyalty. It all begins with the experience that you are providing your customers; in each and every interaction with them. Practice these ideas and share them within your company. See if you can get everyone in your organization moving forward on increasing customer loyalty. It will boost your bottom line--I promise!