Give mints
In a 2006 study, researchers asked waiters to give those little mints to patrons when they delivered the bill. The tips increased across the board with the little gift, but the way the waiters gave the mints actually affected the size of the tip.
Placing one mint on the bill generated an average tip increase of 3%.
Two mints generated a 14% increase.
But when the waiter left one mint with the bill, then started to walk away, only to turn around and place a second mint on the bill, the tips went up 23%.
This is reciprocity. It’s why Ben Franklin lent books to his political enemies.
Studies have shown that people feel more obligated to give back when:
Someone gives them a gift
When the gift is personalized to them
When the gift is unexpected
Weave these three elements into the gifts you give, to customers before a purchase, with bosses before a big ask, or with your team before a big project.
