Survey Shows 66 Percent of Consumers Feel Business Thank You Cards Positively Influence Future Purchase Decisions and Customer Loyalty

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Business Wire EON) April 3, 2008 -- April is International Customer Loyalty Month and a recent national consumer survey by Hallmark Business Expressions underscores how demonstrating appreciation for customers, such as sending business thank you cards, increases their loyalty. In fact, a total of 66 percent of consumers surveyed indicated that business greeting cards sent to show appreciation for a purchase or referral makes them more likely to do future business with a company.

Even though business thank you cards offer a tangible way for companies to demonstrate customer appreciation, only 44 percent of the consumers we surveyed received a thank you greeting card from companies with which they do business

“Even though business thank you cards offer a tangible way for companies to demonstrate customer appreciation, only 44 percent of the consumers we surveyed received a thank you greeting card from companies with which they do business,” said Marc Wagenheim, product marketing director for Hallmark Business Expressions.

Although many factors help predict customer loyalty, including overall satisfaction, customer care, trust and length of engagement, a company’s willingness to thank customers for their business seems to be a bridge between satisfaction and loyalty.

“Sending business thank you cards is a simple, inexpensive and effective way to show customers how much you appreciate them. And most customers who receive business thank you cards continue to be patrons,” Wagenheim said.

With April being International Customer Loyalty Month, Hallmark Business Expressions encourages businesses of all sizes to plan a strategy for improving business relationships with customers.

According to Wagenheim, there is never a bad time to communicate with customers. Sending business thank you cards with a personalized note saying how much you appreciate their business goes a long way toward strengthening customer relationships and can become the foundation for an ongoing strategy to build loyalty.

Wagenheim adds that customer loyalty isn’t just about the traditional loyalty program, like offering customers a rewards card. It’s also about using authentic communication like business greeting cards to make a lasting, favorable impression.

Hallmark Business Expressions’ survey confirms that consumers are receptive to this kind of communication. When asked how they feel about greeting cards sent by businesses in general, 73 percent of consumers surveyed indicated positive responses, including:

• appreciating the gesture,
• feeling like the company genuinely cares about them, and
• being more likely to do business with the company.

“In today’s competitive business environment, it’s important to use every opportunity to let customers know you are thinking of them and are thankful for their business and their loyalty,” said Wagenheim. “Making a personal connection through business thank you cards shows you care and is good for business.”

About Hallmark Business Expressions

Hallmark Business Expressions helps businesses cultivate relationships using greeting cards to communicate with key customers, prospects, employees and donors. Serving a wide variety of companies, from the Fortune 100 to small businesses, Hallmark Business Expressions provides distinctive ways to stay in touch and make a lasting impression. The company offers a full line of Everyday and Holiday greeting cards for businesses and a variety of personalization and mailing services at www.BusinessGreetings.com. The company also offers custom design services for customers who require a unique card to meet a specific business objective.

Created by the company that has helped people express themselves for nearly a century, Hallmark Business Expressions offers businesses that same knowledge and expertise in business greeting cards. Hallmark Business Expressions is a subsidiary of Hallmark Cards, Inc., headquartered in Kansas City, Mo.

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greeting cards customer loyalty customer appreciation consumer survey business thank you cards business relationships

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