key customers

USAGE SUMMARY

"key customers" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to refer to the most important or valuable customers in a business. Example: Our marketing campaign is targeted towards our key customers, who make up the majority of our sales and provide continuous support to our company.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"We identified them and said: 'These are our key customers.

The New York Times - Magazine

But it highlights how dependent those companies still are on their key customers.

The New York Times

They are one of the big key customers at national, regional, and local levels.

The Guardian

This made Alcatel-Lucent unusually dependent on a few key customers, such as Sprint, an ailing American operator.

The Economist

"Airbus has pushed a simple A320 re-engining, but several key customers desire a more ambitious upgrade.

The New York Times

In particular, it was knocked by the lack of first-time home-buyers, who had been key customers for Comet.

Independent

Over the last few years, the company has had various manufacturing inefficiencies and difficulty serving some of its key customers.

The New York Times

However, in an age where information is key, customers are becoming increasingly demanding and need to be kept informed.

The Guardian

During the second half of 1999, the company was better able to fill the orders of some key customers.

The New York Times

For Jochen Zeitz, chairman of Puma, sustainable strategies are not just about enhancing the brand, but are essential steps to meeting the longer-term needs of key customers.

The New York Times

Akio Morita, co-founder of Sony (1921 99)"The word 'overseas' has no place in Honda's vocabulary, because it sees itself as equidistant from all its key customers".

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prioritize feedback from "key customers" when making strategic decisions. Their insights are invaluable for refining products and services.

Common error

Avoid focusing solely on "key customers" to the detriment of emerging segments. Neglecting new customer groups can lead to missed opportunities for growth and diversification.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "key customers" functions as a noun phrase, where "key" modifies "customers" to specify their importance. According to Ludwig, this phrase is commonly used in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "key customers" is a well-established and commonly used term, particularly in business, news, and science, to refer to the most important clients or consumers for an organization. As Ludwig AI confirms, its grammatical correctness and widespread usage across authoritative sources make it a reliable choice for professional communication. When using this phrase, remember to prioritize these customers' feedback and personalize your interactions with them to foster stronger relationships. Be careful not to focus solely on "key customers" to the detriment of emerging customer segments.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

major clients

Emphasizes the size or importance of the clients to the business.

core clientele

Highlights the central group of customers essential to the business's success.

primary consumers

Focuses on the role of customers as consumers and their primary importance.

leading accounts

Used in a business context to refer to the most profitable or significant accounts.

strategic clients

Highlights clients who are important for the company's strategic goals.

valuable customers

Emphasizes the monetary or intrinsic value these customers bring to the company.

essential consumers

Focuses on the necessity of these consumers for the business's survival or success.

significant accounts

Indicates accounts that are notable or important due to their size or impact.

premier clients

Suggests a high level of service and importance afforded to these clients.

principal buyers

Highlights the role of these customers as the main purchasers of products or services.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "key customers" in a sentence?

Use "key customers" to emphasize the importance of specific clients or consumers to your business's success. For example, "Our marketing strategies are specifically designed to cater to our "key customers" needs".

What are some alternatives to the phrase "key customers"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "major clients", "core clientele", or "primary consumers".

How do "key customers" differ from regular customers?

"Key customers" are those who contribute significantly to your business's revenue and growth, often due to higher purchasing volume, loyalty, or strategic importance, while regular customers may have less impact individually.

Why is it important to identify and focus on "key customers"?

Focusing on "key customers" allows businesses to allocate resources efficiently, tailor services to their specific needs, and build long-term relationships that drive sustained growth and profitability.