• Educate your customers about your products and services. If you own a hobby shop, you can keep customers coming back by helping them develop knowledge of their own hobbies.

• Make sure items are delivered in good condition. Call the customer after delivery and if a piece is not right, offer to fix it or replace it.

• Offer your customers personal attention, even if they don’t buy anything. Engage them in pleasant conversation and find out why they’re not buying. Make use of what you learn.

• Go out of your way to meet customer needs. One interior designer got draperies made for a client in a hurry so they would be ready for an at-home wedding.

• Show appreciation. Make sure employees always thank customers for their business. Consider sending occasional handwritten thank-you notes.

Brought to you by SCORE, America's small business mentors, at www.score.org.