Spectacular Touches that Make Clients Love Us

Around here, we’ve made it a habit—more of a conviction, really—to end jobs with a gesture. Nothing huge. Not a sales tactic or some cookie-cutter thank you. Just something that speaks to the heart of the person we were there to serve.
It’s not about branding. It’s about honor.
We ask our team to keep their eyes open while they work. To listen—not just to the customer’s words, but to their world. To notice what makes a space feel like theirs. Then, if it feels right, we leave behind a small gift. A thoughtful touch. Something that says, we didn’t just finish the job—we saw you.
One job in particular brought that into focus in a way I’ll never forget.
We were doing some work in a home—routine stuff. But when we stepped into the bathroom, we all stopped for a second. That space had a theme. Not just décor—a heartbeat.
Snoopy.
From top to bottom, the room was covered in that black-and-white beagle. Not in a loud, over-the-top way—but with intention. With joy. It was clear this wasn’t just someone who liked a cartoon. This was someone who loved what Snoopy represented. Playfulness. Nostalgia. A certain kind of gentle strength.
And that stuck with us.
After we wrapped up the job, the crew got together and quietly made a decision. They hunted down just the right item, and a few days later, left behind a small, thoughtful piece that fit seamlessly into that space.
A Snoopy soap dispenser.
That was it. No ribbon. No announcement. Just something that matched the heart of the room.
When the homeowner saw it, she cried. Not out of sadness—but out of feeling seen. That little gift spoke volumes we never could have planned with a clipboard or checklist.
It reminded me why we do this.
We’re not just in the business of fixing, building, or remodeling. We’re in the business of honoring. And that starts with leadership—yes, from the top—but it’s also something you pass down, crew by crew, job by job.
Anyone can build something solid. But if you want to build something sacred, you’ve got to care about the invisible things. About the stories. About the little signs people leave behind about who they are and what they love.
You have to slow down long enough to ask: what can we leave behind that reminds someone they matter?
For those of you running a business—especially in the trades—let me just say this: building a culture of care isn’t extra. It’s essential. It doesn’t make you soft. It makes you real. Your work can be flawless and still forgettable if there’s no soul behind it. But if you lead with honor—if you train your team to pay attention, to act with kindness, to care without being told—you’ll build something that can weather the storm. Something that outlives you.
For us, it just happened to be a cartoon dog with a lot of miles on him.
You know, Charles Schulz—the man who created Snoopy—wasn’t just a cartoonist. He was a man of quiet faith, deep humility, and consistent moral clarity. He used humor to explore heartache. He gave kids permission to feel things grown-ups often ignore. And he did it all without preaching—just steady, subtle truth wrapped in joy and simplicity.
The man who gave life to Snoopy and Charlie Brown and even the furious Lucy left us with an indelible mark—one that many will never forget. How can we do the same?
And maybe that’s what we were tapping into that day—without even knowing it. A little piece of beauty. A little nod to someone’s story. A little faith in the power of kindness.
That’s the culture we’re building. One house at a time. One person at a time. One small act at a time. Let’s be good to each other and those we serve.
— Matt