Retailers Expressing Gratitude

Today's slow economy has sparked more retailers to thank shoppers with bouquets and personal notes, Portfolio reports. Common for big spenders, such thank-yous are now mailed to regular shoppers too—like one reporter who bought two shirts and a jacket at Nordstrom. "Our salespeople build relationships with their customers by calling them and sending out thank-you notes," a Nordstrom rep said.

Retailers want to "embed themselves in the lives of their consumers, particularly in slow economic times," one luxury-goods researcher says. One trend watcher explains that "relationship management" is latest way to edge ahead in a struggling market—but too many notes could cheapen the practice, he warns. (More retail sales stories.)