Since I’ve started my own company, I’ve been wondering what I can do to help my clients during this crazy season. Here are a few of my suggestions.
What did you give last year?
The first step to determine the list of items you’ll be shopping for is making reference to your notes from last year on which clients were given what gifts. If you do not have any messages from the previous year, I suggest you begin making notes in the near future. It could also be helpful to record what presents your customers received from other suppliers, even if it’s just to help you think of suggestions for the coming year.
A Case Study Of The Value of Keeping Notes
The year before, I received an impressive presentation from a printing company that was worth around $300. For the next twelve months, I didn’t do enough work to do with the printer and, possibly due to this, and I received a less impressive present that cost approximately $10. Although I am aware that the situation was different, however, I was not pleased with the less than the cheap present. I would have preferred to be given any gift at all. If the company had recorded notes on the things they’d given me, maybe the result might be different.
Who are my customers?
It is the next stage to do an audit of your current client database. If you don’t have a database, get started today. With your database, create an inventory of the people you believe could be eligible for an award this year. To narrow my personal choice, I use the following factors:
Support and sales levels during 2013
The degree to which I’d like to collaborate with them throughout 2014 and
If they are gifted by other sources.
What is the reason I added the third requirement? If you have customers who will likely receive gifts from different suppliers and they have significant importance to your business, make sure you put them on your list of shopping. It is not a good idea to be perceived as the “no gift this year’ provider.
The Gift That Goes to the Dog
Have you ever received a pen made of plastic that ran out of ink and fell apart within a couple of days after receiving it? Did you feel impressed? The purchase of quality and long-lasting gifts can be a great reflection of your brand and also serves as a permanent memory of your business. If, in my opinion, you’re not able to afford premium promotional products, spend your money on something more expensive next year.
Receiving red Wine When you only drink White Wine
In the past, I’ve received a variety of items that I’d think of as generic gifts’. Examples include an alcoholic bottle or a chocolate box, and a coffee set. The issue with skills that are generic is that you could actually be highlighting to the recipient that you do not know them well. I do not drink red wine or tea or coffee, to be honest, but I’ve often received bottles of wine and coffee items in the past. If you decide to go with the general gift option, contact the receptionist of your client or his assistant to conduct a little investigation on the person.
Five Gift Ideas That Aren’t Expensive To Buy This Holiday Season
Tee (or coffee) drinkers should pick a present from a shop like T2, the tea specialist company. The company has impressive packs and quirky ideas that are sure to delight even the most discerning in tea-drinkers.
Wine drinkers should purchase the pocketbook that features award-winning wines of 2014. The client will be presented with the book and also any of the wines mentioned within the publication.
Holidaymakers – If your client plans to go to the beach during the holidays, select the right magazine to their interests and age range which would make it perfect for reading during the summer months.
Drivers – if you know that your client travels a lot in the summer, Create a bag of snacks or muesli bars from an established manufacturer such as Carmen if they have kids make the present for all the family members with Freddo or other Kinder-themed treats.
Donate to charity If you’re really looking for a unique gift idea, inform your client on the Christmas cards that you’re giving money to an organization on their behalf. Send an email that is co-branded in January from the charity and your business informing them of what the money given was put to use to fund. It also gives you a chance to communicate with your customers throughout the year to remain top of your mind—a win-win for everyone.
If you decide to choose the fifth option, be sure that you actually donate to charities. I’ve seen instances when companies claimed that they contributed to charities, but they never actually gave it. As a customer, I was distraught and not because I had not received an opportunity to share but because I was fooled.
First Impressions Matter
I genuinely appreciate admiration and praise for the quality of the packaging. It creates the mood for the present and makes an impression on the person who receives it. Do your best with the packaging.
Packaging counts
If you’re sending gifts via Australia Post or by courier, ensure that the package is packed correctly and secured to ensure that it will arrive at the client’s workplace all intact. In my time working in an outlying industrial area in Melbourne, There were numerous instances when couriers dropped off items that looked less attractive as they arrived at their destination.
If You Do It Yourself, Remove The Price Label!
There have been a lot of occasions when I’ve received gifts that had the cost tag still on. It’s an easy and common mistake. I recently bought an ointment to present as a birthday present, and even though I had removed the price tag from the packaging, the store put the price of the candle inside the box. I was almost wrapping the present without checking the box’s inside, and when I spotted another price label, I was happy I made an effort.
Begin Planning early
December can be a busy month. My experience has shown that you will not get excellent gifts until the very end of the month. For the security of your customers as well as your brand’s reputation, you must begin making plans as soon as you can to ensure you receive top-quality gifts that are ideally suited to your customer at a cost that doesn’t cause financial hardship!
A Budget Not This Year?
If you don’t have enough money for presents this year, purchase the most beautiful Christmas cards you can afford. Then, write an individual message to your chosen clients. Make sure to send them out during the beginning of December so that you’re the first one to arrive in this festive season. This way, you’re likely to will be the first and won’t have to compete with other gift cards or cards that arrive on precisely the same date.
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