The holidays seems to come around faster and faster each year! I’ve noticed this myself and heard the same thing from my clients. With Thanksgiving just around the corner, there is still a small window of time to send out holiday cards and gifts to business clients.
Calendar Magnets
This year, I sent out Thanksgiving calendar magnets from www.MagnetsUSA.com. In order to get something out before Thanksgiving, I had to plan in advance. As it gets closer to the holidays, they do run out of some styles of calendar magnets and also charge rush fees to process orders. However, if you wanted to target a Happy New Year’s mailing, there should still be time! They can even assemble and mail the pieces for you!
Custom Holiday Cards
Over the years, I’ve also ordered customized holiday cards from www.VistaPrint.com. I’ve been pleased with the ability to customize designs and their support team is good at answering questions. They have some pretty amazing “Black Friday” specials on custom holiday cards, so after a big Thanksgiving feast, there is still time to order custom cards at a discounted price and get them out by mid December!
Client Gifts
As a small business owner, I try to come up with gifts to thank my clients in a small way while also doing something good to help a charitable cause. For example, I might send a gift basket to a client’s office along with a note about making a donation to a charity I know they support. As a general rule, I steer away from gifts that are of too much of a personal nature (perfume, clothes, etc.) unless I’m absolutely certain my client would LOVE that item.
Personally delivering a gift basket can be a great “excuse” to visit a client. However, it’s easy to have gifts shipped from all kinds of online retailers such as Amazon, Harry & David or an online florist. Again, just make sure you don’t send wine to a client that doesn’t drink. Don’t sent candy to a client with sensitivity to sugar, etc.
Gift cards can also be a good gift idea for clients when you are not certain what they might like. Restaurant gift cards that are good at a variety of restaurants (Darden Group, for example) may be a good choice. Gift cards for movies and other entertainment could provide for a fun outing.
Non Traditional Holidays
Some of my clients feel things “get lost in the holiday shuffle” in December. Targeting other “non traditional” holidays like New Years or St. Patrick’s Day or the 4th of July often give “more bang for the buck” if you can come up with an interesting promotion to say thank you to your clients.
Email Cards
In closing, I’ll mention email holiday greetings. I’ve seen more and more of these type of emails replacing old fashioned snail mail cards. I understand. I even send some out myself. However, they don’t have the same impact as a traditional card. In my opinion, snail mail really stands out in this day and age (even during the holidays).
Saying Thanks & Staying In Touch
No matter how you say “thanks” to your clients, just make sure you tell them frequently how much you appreciate their business and make sure to do it consistently throughout the year.
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