Here's something that I regularly do every 12-15 weeks, and strongly encourage you to try at least once.  I block out an afternoon and head off to a large bookstore like Borders or Barnes and Noble.

Chances are that at some point during your interactions with your customers you will have the chance to learn their name.  Whenever that is, make a note of it and use it in your conversation with them, when thanking them for their purchase, and when greeting them upon their return.  But remember to use the name as it is given.

Yesterday we considered the power of your outgoing voice mail, now let's consider the other key issue about voice mail: The power of the messages you leave for people when you call them and are directed into their voice mail.