Return on Experience.

Customer experience isn’t just for theme parks, it’s a competitive edge for every small business. In this episode of The How of Business, Henry Lopez welcomes back Vance Morris, a customer experience expert, keynote speaker, and bestselling author, to explore how entrepreneurs can apply Disney-inspired strategies to delight customers and grow profits.

Vance’s journey is as unique as his message: from working security at a birth control factory, to a decade leading operations at Disney, to running a premium carpet cleaning business, and now helping small business owners systematize exceptional service. Along the way, he discovered that systems equal freedom and that creating unforgettable experiences doesn’t require massive budgets—just consistency, creativity, and attention to detail.

One of the key lessons is what Morris calls Return on Experience: while you may not be able to track every dollar of ROI like you would with a marketing campaign, great customer experiences yield loyalty, referrals, and pricing power. “You won’t profit unless you implement,” he reminds us, underscoring the importance of turning insights into action.

From setting up daily team stand-ups (borrowed from Ritz-Carlton) to scripting customer interactions and reinforcing emotional connections, Vance illustrates how even trades-based businesses can elevate service. He highlights examples from Disney’s “line entertainment” practices to simple home service details like wearing booties or protecting corners, proving that small touches build big loyalty.

Henry and Vance also dive into the Loyalty Profit Engine – a retention system designed to keep your business top of mind. With acquisition costs soaring, Vance explains why it’s far cheaper (and more profitable) to nurture existing clients. His approach includes monthly print newsletters, follow-up offers, and creative “wow” moments that ensure customers feel valued long after the transaction.

Vance now leads immersive Disney boot camps, taking business owners behind the scenes to study customer experience in action. Participants leave with a blueprint to “Disneyfy” their business on Monday morning. As Henry points out, translating world-class service lessons into everyday businesses is challenging for many owners, and Morris’ work bridges that gap.

Whether you’re in home services, retail, or professional consulting, this conversation will help you shift from competing on price to commanding loyalty through unforgettable experiences. As Vance puts it: “At the end of any interaction, you want your customers to say, ‘Oh my God, you’ll never guess what happened…’”—for all the right reasons.

Vance Morris is a former Disney leader turned entrepreneur, consultant, and keynote speaker. He built a successful carpet cleaning and restoration business by applying Disney customer experience principles and now helps small businesses implement similar strategies through coaching, workshops, and his Disney boot camps.

Return on Experience – FAQ:

Question: What does “Return on Experience” mean for small businesses?
Answer: Return on Experience is the concept of generating loyalty, referrals, and pricing power by delivering exceptional customer experiences. While it may not always yield a direct dollar-for-dollar ROI like a marketing campaign, consistent experiences create emotional connections, build trust, and ultimately drive long-term profitability.