Client Christmas Gifts: Hot or Not?

[vstacy]

Originally Posted by B.B.

I send Christmas cards - handwritten by me, and with a personal note to each and every one. I've already started and they'll be sent by the first week in December.

.....

I get many calls after the cards have been sent out - to book appointments for the new year. It seems that lots of people want to start their new year on the right foot and a financial health check is part of that plan.

If you value your clients - it's worth taking some time to reflect that without them you'd have no business at all. A kind thought will always be appreciated!

cheers,

B.B.

Originally Posted by Platy

I don't bother at Christmas as my business is very busy during this time, usually a phone call is enough or a quick email.

Here's the thing. I'm with Platy ... My most busiest time of year is Christmas / December. Both the month before (November) and month after (January) are slooooow. November is slow as everyone "saves up" for Christmas, January is slow as everyone is still on holidays (thus they don't need me) or are recovering financially from Christmas.


Therefore just being available and being of service is the best present I can give all of them since they have established trust in me ... it's easier for them to go with me than to have to start the whole process all over again with a new pet/house sitter.


Hence the reason giving a gift isn't big on my list of "to do" for clients during Christmas. My main problem/dilemma at the moment is trying to encourage them to spend in November and January.

[mexham]

I haven't sent out client gifts/cards myself, but have sold large orders to big corporates as customer/supplier gifts over Christmas. I like to encourage this!

To me a Christmas card seems like advertising. A cheap gift, seems cheap. Chocolates are good, but very unoriginal.

I think it depends more on how much your customers spend and how repeated the biz is to a certain extent on what and if you get them something.

I remember back when I used to work in a large company, we used to get a box of roses chocolates for Christmas from the manager, and maybe a company cap or bag. This was usually worse than nothing as people would complain - 'I worked all year and all I get a is a box of chocolates'. So even though it's not a client gift, maybe the thought doesn't always count...

[BB]

I suppose, really, it's the thought behind the action that counts.

And if you don't do anything, it probably doesn't really matter - your customers will always accept your business for what it is.

But I wonder - if you were a customer of your business, what would you think? Or - what would you expect?

As the old Christmas saying goes - "peace on earth, goodwill to all men"

B.B.

[Astrid]

I usually don't advertise anything here but I like this idea so much that I want to share it:
One of my contacts has just set up a business 'gifts with meaning' where 50% of the sales will be donated to Australian charities.
He has started with Christmas Cards :-)
So just in case you want to send out cards, have a look:
http://www.giftswithmeaning.com.au


I myself send out personalised handwritten cards to my clients.

Cheers
Astrid

[TSH-SR]

Hi Peter,
I will throw a spanner in the works here and let you know that I only send gifts or a note/cards to my SUPPLIERS, for without them my business does not operate.
I send these little things to the ladies and gents that I as a 1 man operation deal with day to day, NOT the bosses but the staff.
I can tell you this kind of relationship building has done immeasurably more for my business than any gift to a client could ever achieve.

My response to a supplier that sends me gifts is a very polite Thanks, I do appreciate their thought but the time and effort I would prefer to see as a discount therefore a boost to my bottom line, then i can buy gifts for myself.

Just a thought

Regards
Tony

[FS Concierge]

Hi everyone!

Peter has asked me to pass on his thanks for your input into his article, which has just been posted here http://www.flyingsolo.com.au/p311467...ot-or-not.html and has already prompted some passionate comments from readers.

Please feel free to share your own thoughts on the subject - at Christmas (as always), it's the more the merrier!

If you're planning to send gifts and are stuck for ideas, you might also like to check out Peter's previous article on the topic http://www.flyingsolo.com.au/p245208...?&c=a#comments, which drew more than 70 comments, many of them gift suggestions.

Have a great day
Jayne

[King]

In my caricature business, we get plenty of orders for gifts for Christmas - it seems from the hints that are included in the orders, that they are generally for the best and biggest clients.

It seems that people like to be able to say thanks with a piece of art that can be placed on the wall, with the subtle inclusion of the give giver's name in the background.

[Corporate Gifts]

Of course! I'd be terrible to give them something feminine when it turns out to be a boy!

Oh, I guess you mean to get them "a baby gift?" Yes, I'm sure the parents would love it. What woman DOESN'T like getting baby things(especially a pregnant woman)? Plus, I'm sure it will be very useful to them as well.

I'd be interested to know what you were getting them(not that it matters too much I guess).

ETA: clothes, bottles, pacifiers, blankets, booties, rattles, teddy bears, bibs, new born mittens, onesies(sp?), etc. What all I suggested in my other answer. I wasn't sure if you knew what a diaper cake was. I didn't ever see one myself until about a year ago. It's a shame you couldn't bring that.

[Corporate Gifts]

Yeah it should be appropriate. I got a few things when I was pregnant with my son for christmas and I didn;t have him til June.

[FionaFell]

I am still conflicted as to whether to provide a physical gift/token of thanks, or whether a personal (non business) thank you call during Dec/Jan would be more well received.

I guess I'll try the genuine enquiry. As 'tired' as it may sound, I actually care about the people behind the websites that I make. (I think that makes me a real person; much nicer than a giant faceless corp.)