Every customer counts. Sales organizations spend enormous resources to attract new clients.
But retaining and delighting existing customers is just as essential.
Every interaction with a customer is a chance to build a lasting relationship.
That’s the spirit behind “Get to Know Your Customers Day,” a quarterly reminder that small, thoughtful gestures and well-placed rewards can leave a big impression and turn everyday customers into loyal advocates.
Every customer-facing employee is important to making customers feel appreciated – and making sure that customers are more likely to remain loyal customers.
When you combine customer-focused incentives with employee engagement programs and incentives, you create an environment that makes employees feel empowered to take greater ownership of the customer experience. Customers feel valued, and the business reaps the benefits of loyalty, positive reviews and growth.
How do you ensure that your team members focus efforts on customer engagement and satisfaction?
That’s where Get to Know Your Customers Day comes in. Observed on the third Thursday of each quarter (January, April, July, and October), this recurring holiday is a perfect opportunity to slow down and build stronger connections with the people who keep your business thriving.
It’s also the perfect time to create incentives for your team to foster a culture of customer satisfaction.
But what does it really mean to “get to know” your customers? It’s more than collecting data. It’s about building trust, showing appreciation, and making sure every customer interaction feels meaningful. Incentives and rewards are one of the most powerful ways to reinforce satisfaction for both your customers and your employees.
Businesses can celebrate this day with meaningful gestures, using incentives to drive customer satisfaction and empower employees to deliver standout service.
“Get to Know Your Customers Day” is a reminder that every transaction is an opportunity to strengthen a relationship. Showing customers that they’re valued doesn’t always require grand gestures; thoughtful, targeted rewards and personalized experiences can go a long way.
Here are a few creative and effective ways organizations can use incentives to thank their customers:
Exclusive Offers for Longtime Customers
Identify loyal customers and reward them with something unexpected. This could be a personalized discount, early access to a product launch, or a limited-time upgrade.
Example: A software company might surprise customers who’ve been subscribed for over two years with an extended trial of a premium feature or a custom support session. It’s a simple way of saying, “We noticed your loyalty, and we appreciate it.”
Personalized Thank You Gifts
Generic rewards are easy to ignore. But personalized incentives—based on purchase history, interests, or milestones—feel meaningful. Use customer data to tailor the gift or message.
Example: An online retailer could offer a curated set of gift cards to customers who hit a spending milestone, allowing them to choose their favorite brands. This gives them agency, while still feeling like a thoughtful thank-you.
Customer Spotlights and Social Shoutouts
Not all rewards have to be monetary. Recognition itself can be a powerful incentive. Highlighting customers in a newsletter or on social media lets them know they’re seen.
Example: Pair this with a tangible reward, like branded merchandise, a gift card or a discount, and you’ve got a win-win.
Interactive Engagement Campaigns
Use this day to learn more about your customers—through surveys, quizzes, or feedback prompts—and offer incentives for participating. This not only helps you understand their needs but also shows you value their input.
Example: “Tell us what feature you want to see next—and get a $25 reward for your time.”
Great customer experiences don’t just happen. They’re driven by engaged, motivated employees who care. And while company culture, training, and values all play a role, incentives and rewards can provide a powerful extra push.
Recognition Programs for Customer-Centric Behavior
When employees go the extra mile to delight a customer—resolving an issue, offering a creative solution, or creating a memorable moment—recognize it. Public recognition paired with a reward reinforces the behavior and motivates others.
IDEA: Create a monthly “Customer Hero” award, with a reward like merchandise, a gift card, extra time off, or a team lunch.
Real-Time Incentives for Positive Feedback
Create a direct line between customer satisfaction and employee recognition.
IDEA: Use customer satisfaction surveys (like NPS or CSAT) to trigger small rewards when employees are mentioned by name or receive a high score: “You received a 10 out of 10 today—here’s a $25 reward to say thanks for making our customer successful and satisfied.”
Team Challenges for Customer Engagement
Have a fun competition with department or location-wide challenges. Who can collect the most five-star reviews? Who gets mentioned in the most positive support tickets?
IDEA: Provide rewards that can be for individuals and for teams for reaching specific thresholds and goals. This not only improves service but also builds camaraderie.
Training Incentives That Boost Customer Savvy
Want employees to better understand your customers? The more your team empathizes with the customer, the better the experience they’ll deliver.
IDEA: Offer rewards for completing training modules, reading customer success stories, or participating in customer interviews.
Combining Customer and Employee Incentives: A Virtuous Cycle
When you combine customer-focused incentives with employee engagement programs, you create a feedback loop of value:
This approach turns Get to Know Your Customers Day from a symbolic event into a strategic initiative with real impact.
Not sure where to begin? Start small. You don’t need to overhaul your customer experience program overnight to take advantage of Get to Know Your Customers Day. Here are a few practical steps you can implement this quarter:
Segment Your Customer Base
Identify different customer groups—new customers, long-term clients, at-risk accounts—and tailor your thank-you messages and rewards accordingly.
Empower Frontline Staff
Give customer-facing employees the tools and autonomy to offer small rewards on the spot, whether it’s a discount, a token gift, or even just an extra thank you.
Make It a Cross-Functional Celebration
Encourage teams beyond customer support such as marketing, and operations, to find ways to get to know customers better. That could be through data deep-dives, open Q&As, or co-creation workshops.
Measure What Matters
Use key metrics like repeat purchase rate, customer lifetime value, or employee engagement scores to track the effectiveness of your initiatives over time.
Incentives and rewards, when used thoughtfully, are more than just perks. Rewards are a way of expressing gratitude and building relationships. On “Get to Know Your Customers Day,” businesses are reminded to show both their customers and their employees that they’re not just numbers, they are the lifeblood of the organization.
Well-designed reward programs, can build a culture where appreciation is ongoing and part of the company, and not just a one-time event.
Let your customers know you’re listening. Let your team members know that their work matters. And let everyone involved feel the genuine impact of a thoughtful reward.
When employees are trusted with responsibility, they are more invested, more creative in solving problems, and better able to build relationships with customers. These factors directly improve customer experience.
When employees feel empowered via autonomy, trust, and authority they “go above and beyond,” directly enhancing customer experience, satisfaction, and loyalty.
[Forbes “Why Organizations Should Prioritize Employee Empowerment,” Forbes, 2024]
Companies that empower frontline employees (through training, autonomy, and incentives) see a significant boost in customer satisfaction and loyalty.
[“Putting the Service-Profit Chain to Work” Heskett, James L., et al., Harvard Business Review, 1994]
Gallup’s studies on employee engagement consistently show that employees who feel empowered—who have a sense of ownership over their work—perform better and contribute to better customer outcomes.
[“State of the American Workplace,” Gallup, 2017]
Zappos, known for well-respected customer service, gives employees autonomy to solve customer problems without needing managerial approval. This approach has led to incredibly high customer satisfaction scores and brand loyalty.
[“Delivering Happiness,” Tony Hsieh, 2010]
MIT Sloan Management Review found that when frontline employees were given decision-making authority, service recovery (fixing customer issues) was faster, more effective, and more satisfying to customers.
[“The Empowerment of Service Workers: What, Why, How, and When,” Bowen & Lawler, 1992, MIT Sloan Management Review]
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