I love one of our local quilt shops. Everytime I enter the door, I am greeted with a happy smile and a welcome. The clerk always tells me what sale is going on and then asks if I need any help. It's not just the owner who greets customers this way, it is every single one of the staff.
To emphasis how important this is to me, I had been in my 'old' favorite quilt shop last Saturday. The staff looked at me like I was imposing, after several minutes in the store, I was nodded at. There was nothing I 'needed' so I left. I then went to the above mentioned store and was greeted warmly. Again, there was nothing I 'needed', just was browsing. I left with $336.00 in fabric that I didn't need but am very happy to have. Pretty sure I paid a good portion of the clerks' wages that day. I can't spend that kind of money all the time, but there are enough of us in town that will keep that shop humming for a lonnnnnnnnnnnnnng time.