What makes the right customer gift? What"s in it for you?
First and foremost, think this strategy through very carefully. If you miss the mark you will not only waste your money but will also run the risk of reducing your goodwill, instead of enhancing it. Very treacherous ground, filled with landmines.
Here are some guidelines if you choose to embark on this journey.
1. The gift should in some way be commensurate with the value of the customer to you. Do not cheap out on your very valuable clients, overspend, it will come back to you many fold.
2. Better off sending a card, or making a donation on behalf of the client than giving them cheap gifts with little thought.
3. Customized gifts with the clients name or your own logo or brand can be perceived as tacky....depends on many aspects specifically and most importantly how nice the gift is and how nice the imprint is, if it's embroidered maybe ok, if it's silk screened getting marginal, be creative and tasteful and it will be a winner. The nicer the gift the easier it is to customize, you must execute perfectly. If you do, it can be a winner for you.
4. Specific gifts to a restaurant with enough paid to cover the entire meal, wine and the tip...do it right or do not do it. Obviously you can only do this a limited number of times, your best clients. A special restaurant with real show off potential..... Flash works, big dividends.
5. If possible enclose a personal thank you note, signed and written by you. You can manage, it's not that difficult. If on a low budget, this will demonstrate you do care even with a low value item.
6. Special food items can be a good choice, steaks from Omaha, honey from somewhere special, nicely packaged, lobsters from Maine, jams, coffee from Jamaica, cigars, get very good ones, Cuban's, are a knock out if you have the connections.
7. Low budget but great potential, a custom art seasonal card, with a personal note....nice.
8. If possible, a gift that somehow reflects what you do is a great way to go, make something special along the lines of what your company produces, sells, represents, in some way is a great statement.
Either do it well, or do not do it at all. Be creative and spend a few extra dollars. It must be something the recipient will want to save, wear, use and enjoy, and think of you every time, or you are wasting your money. If you do it well, it is the best goodwill enhancer imaginable and you will have a friend and loyal customer for years. Take it out of your advertising budget. If you have none, make it your advertising budget, it may be the best program possible.
Beware of sizes, get it right. Call a secretary, or wife, or guess correctly and upgrade. Instead of a t-shirt do collared golf jerseys, if it is a baseball cap make it one that is sized and made of quality material, like the pros. If it is a t-shirt have it printed front, back, maybe arm, maybe custom art work...make it special, on a high quality made in America 100% cotton.
I do not recommend calendars as everyone has their own style and needs, and will not switch easily. Money wasted.
Be creative, what I discussed above was for the purpose of showing you the context for deciding what to do.... Purpose: Getting you a return on your investment and thus very worthwhile, worthy of the investment. It should return far more than you spend if you do it correctly.
Quality and flash at any price level that works for you.
Figure it out. What makes the right customer gifts?
Here are some guidelines if you choose to embark on this journey.
1. The gift should in some way be commensurate with the value of the customer to you. Do not cheap out on your very valuable clients, overspend, it will come back to you many fold.
2. Better off sending a card, or making a donation on behalf of the client than giving them cheap gifts with little thought.
3. Customized gifts with the clients name or your own logo or brand can be perceived as tacky....depends on many aspects specifically and most importantly how nice the gift is and how nice the imprint is, if it's embroidered maybe ok, if it's silk screened getting marginal, be creative and tasteful and it will be a winner. The nicer the gift the easier it is to customize, you must execute perfectly. If you do, it can be a winner for you.
4. Specific gifts to a restaurant with enough paid to cover the entire meal, wine and the tip...do it right or do not do it. Obviously you can only do this a limited number of times, your best clients. A special restaurant with real show off potential..... Flash works, big dividends.
5. If possible enclose a personal thank you note, signed and written by you. You can manage, it's not that difficult. If on a low budget, this will demonstrate you do care even with a low value item.
6. Special food items can be a good choice, steaks from Omaha, honey from somewhere special, nicely packaged, lobsters from Maine, jams, coffee from Jamaica, cigars, get very good ones, Cuban's, are a knock out if you have the connections.
7. Low budget but great potential, a custom art seasonal card, with a personal note....nice.
8. If possible, a gift that somehow reflects what you do is a great way to go, make something special along the lines of what your company produces, sells, represents, in some way is a great statement.
Either do it well, or do not do it at all. Be creative and spend a few extra dollars. It must be something the recipient will want to save, wear, use and enjoy, and think of you every time, or you are wasting your money. If you do it well, it is the best goodwill enhancer imaginable and you will have a friend and loyal customer for years. Take it out of your advertising budget. If you have none, make it your advertising budget, it may be the best program possible.
Beware of sizes, get it right. Call a secretary, or wife, or guess correctly and upgrade. Instead of a t-shirt do collared golf jerseys, if it is a baseball cap make it one that is sized and made of quality material, like the pros. If it is a t-shirt have it printed front, back, maybe arm, maybe custom art work...make it special, on a high quality made in America 100% cotton.
I do not recommend calendars as everyone has their own style and needs, and will not switch easily. Money wasted.
Be creative, what I discussed above was for the purpose of showing you the context for deciding what to do.... Purpose: Getting you a return on your investment and thus very worthwhile, worthy of the investment. It should return far more than you spend if you do it correctly.
Quality and flash at any price level that works for you.
Figure it out. What makes the right customer gifts?
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