The next time you’re in line at a grocery store, clothing store, or anywhere that has people serving you, keep in mind of how you would feel if you were on the other side of the till. Because you never know where they’ll end up in life after that – they could be your lawyer, hairdresser, or even mechanic.

When you think of the words customer service, many thoughts can come to mind.

Patient, helpful, knowledgeable, kind and friendly. On the other end of the spectrum there are people who are angry, rude, inconsiderate, and rushed are just some attitudes that I have experienced, being a customer and serving customers.

Retail is a tough business because you’re always competing with others. When the customer service is better elsewhere, the customer will usually follow that.

I cannot tell you how many times I’ve experienced not so nice words from grumpy customers, or just pure silence, hotheaded customers, and people on their phones either talking or texting and not responding to anything I’ve said, somehow thinking that they were obviously more important than anyone else in the store because they were in a hurry.

The only thing you can do in situations like that is smile sheepishly and nod, but inside your head you’ve taken their phone and smashed it on the ground numerous times.

Now, I’m not saying to do that, unless you would like a permanent vacation followed by a lawsuit on your hands. If you do, then be my guest.

It’s hard to keep in mind that once you leave the store, you can affect someone with your words and you don’t even know it.

A good first impression is everything. If you see someone and you look miserable all the time (think Victoria Beckham, you know, the Spice Girl that never smiled? yes, that’s the one), that snapshot will be embedded in their mind every time they think of you.

If you genuinely make a customer feel like they are special, and listen to them even during your five minute conversation (if that), then most likely they will keep coming back just to see you.

My goal at my job is to treat people the way I would like to be treated.

I’ve had many regular customers who I just adore and it makes me happy to be at work to get to see them as often as I do.

I’ve grown out of my shell a lot since starting my job. It’s helped me build rapports with people that I would never dream of having the courage to talk to if I were to see them on the street.

I think that ties in with this journalism program. And being open and having the communication skills to interview people while building lasting relationships.

The bottom line is: If you put the customer first, guaranteed they will always come back.