diff --git a/tailbone/static/js/tailbone.buefy.autocomplete.js b/tailbone/static/js/tailbone.buefy.autocomplete.js
index 0d61ca79..2b442416 100644
--- a/tailbone/static/js/tailbone.buefy.autocomplete.js
+++ b/tailbone/static/js/tailbone.buefy.autocomplete.js
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ const TailboneAutocomplete = {
         initialLabel: String,
         assignedValue: String,
         assignedLabel: String,
+        placeholder: String,
     },
 
     data() {
diff --git a/tailbone/templates/autocomplete.mako b/tailbone/templates/autocomplete.mako
index 0ab9f49c..05339e12 100644
--- a/tailbone/templates/autocomplete.mako
+++ b/tailbone/templates/autocomplete.mako
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@
                       :name="name"
                       v-show="!assignedValue && !selected"
                       v-model="value"
+                      :placeholder="placeholder"
                       :data="data"
                       @typing="getAsyncData"
                       @select="selectionMade"
diff --git a/tailbone/templates/custorders/create.mako b/tailbone/templates/custorders/create.mako
index f0e5d5b3..55797ed6 100644
--- a/tailbone/templates/custorders/create.mako
+++ b/tailbone/templates/custorders/create.mako
@@ -108,16 +108,17 @@
             </div>
 
             <div v-show="customerIsKnown">
-              <b-field label="Customer Name" horizontal>
-                <tailbone-autocomplete
-                   ref="customerAutocomplete"
-                   v-model="customerUUID"
-                   :initial-label="customerDisplay"
-                   serviceUrl="${url('customers.autocomplete')}"
-                   @input="customerChanged">
+              <b-field label="Customer" horizontal>
+                <tailbone-autocomplete ref="customerAutocomplete"
+                                       v-model="customerUUID"
+                                       placeholder="Enter name or phone number"
+                                       :initial-label="customerDisplay"
+                                       serviceUrl="${url('customers.autocomplete')}"
+                                       @input="customerChanged">
                 </tailbone-autocomplete>
               </b-field>
-              <b-field label="Phone Number" horizontal>
+              <b-field label="Phone Number" horizontal
+                       v-show="customerUUID">
                 <b-input v-model="phoneNumberEntry"
                          @input="phoneNumberChanged"
                          @keydown.native="phoneNumberKeyDown">