What is a customer?

I ran across this old, faded sheet of paper today and recognized it as something that my dad used to have hanging by his desk.  He was always stressing the value of relationships, and he lived what he talked.

In fact, I ran into someone the other day who asked if I was related to him … an old customer of his from well over 10 years ago … and they fondly related how much they always appreciated him and his friendly service.

Here are the words on this old, faded sheet of paper:

What is a customer?

A customer is the most important person in any business.

A customer is not dependent on us. We are dependent of him.

A customer is not an interruption of our work.  He is the purpose of it.

A customer does us a favor when he comes in.  We aren’t doing him a favor by waiting on him.

A customer is part of our business – not an outsider.  A customer is not just money in the cash register. He is a human being with feelings and deservers to be treated with respect.

A customer is a person who comes to us with his needs and his wants. It is our job to fill them.

A customer deserves the most courteous attention we can give him.  He is the lifeblood of this and every business.  He pays your salary.  Without him we would have to close our doors.  Don’t ever forget it.

Thanks dad, for the reminder today.