Related: Customer Service Skills: Definitions and 17 Examples Sales strategies Once the customer receives their refund, the customer service representative can move on. A customer who buys a bag of dog food from a local pet store might call to request a refund, but that request relates to a specific purchase number or receipt. For example, a client of a dog training facility might contact the facility's office staff frequently to ask questions about their pet's diet, activities and behavior, even between sessions or appointments. While both clients and customers might require help with their purchases, clients may expect more long-term support from representatives than customers do. Some companies, like coffee shops or restaurants, might have loyalty programs to encourage repeat customers, which can increase a store's ability to predict revenue. For example, a client of a dentist's office might use that facility for all their dental needs, but a grocery store's customer might shop at two other stores, depending on the weekly sales, the customer's schedule and the products each store offers. ExclusivityĬlients typically use one business to meet a need, while customers might shop at several similar businesses for the same products or services. While customers can sometimes personalize their products, particularly in online retail, their options are usually limited to what the company has in stock. For example, an investment banker might offer different legal advice to their clients, based on the clients' assets and financial goals. Client-focused businesses might offer consultation services, where they design programs or products to meet the client's specific needs. Here are some differences between clients and customers: CustomizationĬlients often engage businesses to find solutions, while customers visit retailers to make a purchase, so clients often have more opportunities to customize their services. For example, a person who buys a drink at a coffee shop or purchases a sweater from a boutique is a customer. When customers make purchases, their interaction with the company's representatives often ends when they receive their products. Related: 17 Types of Clients and How To Work With Each What is a customer?Ī customer is a person who exchanges money for goods or services, usually without entering into a formal business relationship with the company. Businesses that rely on clients might include: Depending on the business's model, clients might pay an upfront fee for services or develop a payment plan with client services or sales representatives. For example, a family might be a client of a veterinary clinic, which means they bring all of their pets to the same facility for treatment. What is a client?Ī client is a person who engages a company to meet a specific need or solve a problem, often over a period of time. In this article, we define clients and customers and explain the difference between these two sources of revenue. If you sell goods or services to people or companies, learning the differences between clients and customers can help you develop an effective sales strategy and build relationships that encourage growth. Typically, the people who make purchases from a business are either clients or customers, two sources of revenue with different goals and expectations. Businesses rely on financial transactions between sales representatives and people who are interested in the products or services the company offers.
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