An old establishment never wants for customers. (Unknown) Charge nothing and you’ll get a lot of customers. (Yiddish) Clientele are not inherited. (German) Customers are jade; merchandise is grass. (Chinese) The customer is always right....

A customer refers to individuals or households that purchase goods and services generated within the economy. The word historically derives from "custom," meaning "habit"; a customer was someone who frequented a particular shop, who made it a habit to...