Hi, I’m Lisa and I’m Costco-holic. (Hello lisa). Although I’m not a fan of most big box stores, a trip to Costco is an adventure that I love. From the delicious food samples to the wide range of interesting products that, once discovered, we can no longer live without, I enjoy the whole experience. But that’s not what makes me appreciate Costco. It is his people.

From what I understand, Costco treats its employees extremely well. They have more flexibility and earn higher wages than competitive stores offer. And that shows us. The employees have fun and ensure a pleasant trip. When Scott and I became members of Costco, I was making fun of the Kirtland brand that reigns throughout the store. (Really, is there anything Kirtland DOES NOT put a label on?) With complete and utter sincerity, the Costco employee I was talking to said, “There is NOTHING Kirtland does that is not top-notch.” Wow, that’s compromise. I felt his passion and discovered that he is absolutely right.

Now for the post office. I’ll take a chance and dare to say that most people don’t enjoy a trip to the post office. Face it, it’s generally not a place where employees are charming, helpful, and fun, except in North Royalton, Ohio. I had a package to deliver and drove out of my way, right next to a neighboring post office, to go to MY post office. Not that I’ve had horrible experiences at this other location, it’s just not a place where employees go out of their way to make customers feel special or important.

Not so in North Royalton. The package I was sending was in an “if it fits, it ships” box. Due to the size of what I was shipping, there was a small lump on one side of the box. A visiting postal worker was taking care of me and I wasn’t sure if she was “authorized” to take the package. Her colleague, a postal worker who knows me by name, told her, “Of course we will accept Ms. Ryan’s package, we love her!” In a long line of people, the employees treated each customer with the same respect, patience, and kindness they showed me, and no one complained about the wait.

Another customer gave Gary a notice to pick up a letter. He had received the notice for quite some time and the post office had already returned the letter to him. Gary actually apologized to her for not receiving the letter. Your answer? “Of course that’s what I thought. It’s not your fault. Thank you.” Courtesy, sincere affection for the client, and recognition of their problems go a long way in creating enthusiastic admirers.

And finally, my dentist. I found Dr. Craig Vinkovich in the usual way: online and reading testimonials. The funny thing is that Dr. Vinkovich was one of the few dentists who actually had positive recommendations. A trip to his office and I understood why.

I don’t like filling out forms. Although it is a necessary evil, I find them tedious and repetitive, so I choose to have a little fun with them. For example, in the blank where they ask about children, my general answer is: “Do cats count?” When the forms ask if I am pregnant, the answer is always “God NO!” and so. Frankly, I didn’t expect the form to be read at all, and certainly not in front of me. As luck would have it, Dr. Vinkovich read my form in its entirety as I sat in the chair and laughed. And then he laughed some more. I knew I had found the perfect dentist, one who was not only good at what he does, but also had a great sense of humor.

The other reason I love going to his office is the people he hires. It breaks my heart that your receptionist / office manager, Sandy, is moving to Florida, but I know from my experience that you will hire the perfect person for this position. Sandy is magnificent. He greets patients with a smile and warmth that makes them feel like the most important person on the planet. Due to his incessant awesome attitude, a few years ago I sent him a thank you. To this day, she thanks ME for sending it. Little things make a BIG difference.

So what do Costco, the North Royalton Post Office, and Dr. Craig Vinkovich’s office have in common? Employees who make it an absolute pleasure to sponsor these businesses. After all, when employees are treated well, they take better care of their customers. Those employees who feel valued and appreciated, who know they are contributing to the mission of the organization and enjoy their work, go out of their way to provide customer service that is above the competition.

I’ve been through other warehouse-style stores, numerous post offices, and laid off multiple dentists in my life (for reasons I definitely won’t share here), and I choose to give my hard-earned money to people who make me feel valued, appreciated and special for selecting them. And you?

Take a moment today to recognize the people who make your business great – both your customers and your employees.

Also, feel free to share how your positive experiences with company employees have made you a loyal and enthusiastic fan. Thanks!