Last weekend my mom and I ventured out in the warmer Iowa weather to head to Omaha, Nebraska. The main reason for our 2-hour-plus journey? Besides the road trip, which I'm always game for. A store. There, I admitted it. But here's how this particular store earned my respect and became a destination rather than "just a store."

I first happened upon Anthropologie's email marketing program while I lived in South Carolina and was visiting Charlotte, North Carolina. My sister and I stopped at the Anthropologie store for the first time, where I purchased a delightful Vanilla & Fig scented candle. At the register, I signed up for a free anthro membership, which is a loyalty program that offers free online shipping and occasional discounts.

And then it happened. I was not merely handed my membership card, I was handed a membership card in a floral fabric bag, along with an attractive accordion-style card that, when unfolded, offered me a list of the benefits of being an anthro member.

But the customer experience got even better. When I arrived home, I went to anthropologie.com to register my card and when I did, a lovely thing happened. Both my thank-you/confirmation screen and my subsequent email featured the exact, lovely pattern that was on my real-life fabric bag. How sweet is that?

The moral of this story? Offer that extra touch to your customers, and if possible, let that extra touch help integrate both your online and offline marketing efforts. Your customers will not only remember you--they'll love you! Or at least I probably will.

Do you feel a little alone in your Thanksgiving festivities? Do you frequently check your calendar thinking that perhaps Thanksgiving came and went and somehow you missed it? Have you looked in vain for candy corn to enjoy during your Thanksgiving celebration only to find a giant stuffed reindeer sitting on the last bag? Take heart! Nordstrom is on your side. And, I might add, differentiating itself from its competition quite nicely. This year, signs on their doors read:

From our family to yours,
Happy Thanksgiving.
We like celebrating one holiday at a time, so you won't find our halls decked until Friday, November 26.
Join us then, when we open our doors to a festive new season.
We'll be closed Thanksgiving Day.

Marketing tip: Start planning your holiday marketing far in advance. It's a big job! But consider a little Thanksgiving marketing, too. One holiday at a time. You won't look as greedy and you'll stand out from the crowd.