50 Great Reasons to Give a Gift (#11-20)

#11 – It’s your client’s birthday.  No matter how old we get, everyone feels special on their big day.  If you remember your client’s birthday every year, there is no way they will forget you.  Even if you send a card, they will appreciate that you remembered.

#12 – If  your client is retiring.  They’ve given you so much business over the years and now they are off to a life of leisure.  What’s their favorite thing to do in their downtime?  If it’s camping, send them camping gear.  If they will be traveling, luggage and other travel-related items would be perfect.  Don’t forget that they will advise whoever fills their position that they should do business with you.

#13 – Your client has reached a company milestone, 10 years, 25 years, etc. with the company.  Their company will recognize their loyalty, but you will shine if you remember them too.  Think about: vases, watches, specially etched champagne bottles, or a celebration-themed basket of assorted goodies.

#14 – Your client is injured or ill and needs some cheering up.  An inspirational book would lift their spirits.  How about a necklace that says, ‘Courage’, ‘Hope’, or ‘Survivor’?  A tea cup, sent along with some specialty teas could be sent with your “warm wishes”. 

#15 – Your client got a new pet.  Leashes, pet snacks, dishes and the like come to mind.  But you can also be a little different by sending a doggy t-shirt imprinted with the new puppy’s name and date he/she arrived.

#16 – It’s the anniversary of your client’s product or invention.  Send a book or calendar featuring famous inventors and predict your client’s own fame in the future.

#17 – Your client is taking the trip of a lifetime.  They’re excited.  Be excited for them and show it by sending them a book about their destination.  Other ideas: logoed flip flops or towels.

#18 – Your client earns a vacation for excellent sales performance.  Take him/her out to dinner and present them with your own award.  Or give them a CD with music from their destination.

#19 – Your team hits a company goal or complets an important project.  Salespeople usually don’t earn their successes on their own.  Reward everyone who helps out, from the company receptionist to the sales assistant, to the customer service reps.

#20 – Your client raises money for a charity, or creates an alliance with a charitable organization.  Why not send them a gift of appreciation for their helping your community.  A bobble head of them as a superhero comes to mind.  Also make a donation yourself to their cause.

50 Great Reasons to Give a Gift (#21-30)

#21 – Your product is bought or your offer is accepted by the first 10, 15, or 25 people.  Whatever number you choose, be sure to let everyone know beforehand that the first to respond will get a special gift.  Think Gift Cards, food baskets, spa gifts.

#22 – Your client or his company is honored with an award. 

#23 – Give a gift to your client for a lesser known holiday (like Thanksgiving, New Year’s or Flag Day).

#24 – For green-minded clients, plant a tree on Earth Day or Arbor Day and send them a card with the details.

#25 – Dignitaries or other important people are visiting the company.  You want them to have the best impression of your company and to spread the word.

#26 – Your client celebrates a milestone wedding anniversary.  A set of crystal flutes, engraved with their names and the wedding date would be lovely and appreciated.

#27 – Your client introduces a new product or service.  Some ideas include a dollar sign key chain; or something that will highlight the “launch” of their new product. 

#28 – If your client enjoys a sport or hobby during a particular time of year, such as the start of winter for an avid skier or the beginning of growing season for a gardener.

#29 – Your client’s child graduates from high school or college.  Send a gift the whole family can enjoy.  Food baskets or candy usually works for everyone.

#30 – Your client gets married, remarried or has a commitment ceremony.  If it’s appropriate, how about a gift for a breakup or divorce?  This should be a humorous gift, after all laughter is the best stress reliever.  It all depends on how well you know the person.

50 Great Reasons to Give a Gift (#31-40)

#31 – If you know your client is obsessed with a particular sport, send them a gift related to that sport.  A stadium cushion or tailgating mug with their favorite team’s logo on it would be ideal.

#32 – Bring a thank you gift (or send a thank you card) to your doctor or dentist’s receptionist or office staff.  They are some of the most underappreciated but important people in your life.

#33 – Send a “just because” gift or card to someone you do business with, just to let them know you appreciate them.

#34 – Send a “What’s Up?” gift or card to a client you haven’t heard from in a while.  Let’s face it: everyone’s living in the fast lane these days.  A present or card from you will force them to slow down for a moment and remember you’re there to help.

#35 – Give a gift or send a card to commemorate a deal between two companies. A client appreciates when you pay continuing attention to what’s happening on their end, not only when you’re looking for an order from them.

#36 – Give a gift (or send a card) on the anniversary of your client’s first order with you.  There are all kinds of anniversaries you can celebrate with your client — choose one and celebrate it.

#37 – Give an “I’m sorry” gift or card to your client if you mess up an order.  Another reason to give a gift or send a card is when a client has been gracious after an order or a deal goes wrong.

#38 – Send a gift or card to your client when they open up new sales contracts for you at their company.  This should be something they would personally enjoy.  After all, they made the effort to get you more business and likely will again.

#39 – Leave a gift when you visit your client’s business.  You’d bring a gift to a friend’s house if you were visiting their home, wouldn’t you?  Why should your client, who is hosting you also, be any different?  A logoed desk accessory would make a perfect gift.

 #40 – Give a gift or send a card to clients when your own company crosses a milestone. 

50 Great Reasons to Give a Gift (#41-50)

#41 – Give gifts to your employee’s children on their birthdays.

#42 – Give gifts on administrative assistant’s day to your client’s support staff.  They are the key people in maintaining a healthy relationship with your client.

#43 – Give a good luck gift when your client starts a new job.

#44 – Give a gift or send a card on your client’s corporate anniversary.  (if you don’t know when that is, ask!)

#45 – Leave a gift when you visit a business prospect.  The gift should include information such as a promotional product so that the prospect has the contact information they need to get in touch with you.  It could be something as simple as a coffee mug.  A small token, but one that will probably sit around on their desk or cabinet for a long time. 

#46 – Give a gift or send a thank you card to a client when they order from you for the first time.

#47 – Give a gift to employees when they demonstrate incredible teamwork. 

#48 – Encourage gift-giving as a form of appreciation between employees to foster a team environment.

#49 – Give a gift at your company’s yearly picnic or other special event.

#50 – Give a “welcome to the team” gift.  A beautiful pen with their name engraved on it would be a small gesture, but one that would make them feel welcome. 

 Stay tuned for the next 10 reasons…..

How to Build a Stash of Emergency Gifts

With the holidays rapidly approaching, I’ve always had a difficult time finding small gifts for co-workers, employees, or friends that wish to do a gift exchange.  With a well-stocked treasure chest, you’ll never panic for a last-minute hostess gift or a welcome token for a new neighbor. If you make careful choices and add to the stash throughout the year, it could be your source for hassle-free Christmas shopping.

1. Designate a closet or cupboard to hold your gift stash, or buy an attractive trunk or cabinet.

2.  Buy a small notebook and jot down the names of people to whom you routinely give gifts, whether on birthdays, Christmas or other holidays. Include details such as sizes, favorite colors, hobbies and special interests. (Even if you forget to carry the book with you, having committed the information to writing should spark your memory.)

3.  Keep your eyes open in your travels, on routine shopping trips or when you’re surfing the Net. When you see a book on steam locomotives that would be just the ticket for Uncle John’s birthday, or a handwoven coverlet your mother would love, buy it and add it to your treasure chest.

4.  Add a range of high-quality generic gifts. Homemade preserves and mustards, bottles of wine, hand-dipped candles, reference books and attractive picture frames are all good choices.

5.  Don’t return unneeded gifts to the store when someone gives you a book or CD you love but already own, or a beautiful scarf that clashes with your eyes. Instead, add it to your gift stash; if you like it, chances are it will please someone else you know.

6.  Keep a few toys and children’s books on hand, even if you don’t have children.

7.  Include an assortment of gift bags, wrapping paper, tape, ribbon, gift tags and greeting cards.

8.  Prewrap a few items to serve as truly last-minute gifts, and tuck a note into the ribbon identifying the contents.

• WARNING:  If your stash includes presents you’ve received, attach a note to each one saying who gave it to you; you’ll avoid the embarrassment of giving it back to the giver.

Become a Whiz at Giving Gifts

“Darling, I LOVE IT! It”s just what I wanted!”

How often do we actually hear those words when we give a gift? Not often enough? The same goes when you receive a gift. How often do you say those words? You really want to love the nightgown that you have just unwrapped on your birthday morning, but it’s hardly going to make you gush and swoon with excitement is it? So what is the perfect gift?

Naturally there is no such thing as the perfect gift. Getting it right depends on numerous factors. We all want to be experts at giving gifts. At the very least, we want to hit the mark once in a while!

The easiest place to start is to understand the differences in the way men and women gift shop for each other. Here is a selection of interesting facts that you may not know:

1. Women give Christmas gifts to more people than do men. The average difference is 12.5 versus 8.

2. Women devote more time to selecting the appropriate gift, 2.4 hours per recipient versus 2.1 hours for male gift shoppers.

3. Women are more successful in finding desired gifts. 10 per cent of women’s gifts are returned to the shop, as opposed to 16 per cent for gifts given by men.

4. Speed – men move faster down the aisle and spend less time looking.

5. Lists – in supermarkets men rely on them less and make more impulse purchases.

6. Decisions – when a man has something he wants he buys it. If a man takes an item of clothing into a changing room he is more than twice as likely to purchase it as a woman.

7. Price – most people check price tags, but men are less likely to do so than women.

8. Men also seem to take it as a point of pride that price does not worry them and they are much more likely to be persuaded to take a more expensive item.

9. When a man and a woman shop together the man almost always insists on paying.

10. According to observations in a home wares chain store – when a woman shops with another woman – average time in store eight minutes – when she shops with children – seven minutes – when she shops alone – five minutes- when she shops with a man – 4.5 minutes. Yet women insist on asking men to go out shopping with them.

Well, we really are from different planets aren’t we? Shopping for a gift should not be treated as a chore. It can be an enjoyable experience if you plan in advance. Here are a few points to consider before you hit the stores:

* Has the recipient of the gift mentioned anything in the last few weeks or months about what they want?  It could be anything, not necessarily meant as a hint. You could be walking past a store with a friend when she stops and mentions how gorgeous those pair of shoes are and she wishes she could afford them. Bingo! If she still hasn’t invested in them by the time her birthday comes along, then there is your perfect gift. (Only if you can afford it of course)

* What are the recipients’ interests? If he is a sports fan, then a couple of tickets to the next big game wouldn’t go amiss. If he is a fan of a particular music band, then why not get him a personalized t-shirt with the band on it?

* Women love gifts that show commitment to a relationship. That does not mean go out and buy her a vacuum cleaner. If you are not quite ready to propose, then a nice piece of jewelry will guarantee to make her putty in your hands.

* Men like practical gifts. Women have a habit of buying for a partner what they would like to receive themselves. Little keepsakes, snow globes, teddies etc are for giving to your girlfriend on her birthday. Men will appreciate receiving a teddy bear with ‘I love you’ on its little t-shirt but they really do not know what to do with it after the occasion is over. It’s quite likely that poor little teddy will be relegated to the bunch of stuff gathering dust in his garage. Now if you bought him some power tools, they are certainly less romantic, but they have a use and to a man, that is more important.

* People enjoy receiving gifts that are more expensive than the giver can afford. It’s strange but true. When we receive a gift from a loved one that seems or is really expensive, it makes us feel cherished. An expensive gift is on the same level as a well though out cheaper gift. So if you are unable to invest time in finding a perfect gift, then be prepared to break out the plastic.

Finding a perfect unique gift to fit people’s personalities isn’t always easy but there are a few free services out there dedicated to helping you find them. They do this by having thousands of gift ideas from the best merchants online all in one place. You can search the websites by category, if you already know what you want to buy, by occasion, or by recipient.

When you have made a decision on the gift you are interested in, you simply go to the merchants’ website to make the purchase. The advantage of using these free services is simple. Firstly, with these services not concentrating their efforts on trying to shift their own products the web surfer can have a completely unbiased opinion on the products they view. Secondly, they give access to thousands of products the web has to offer all in one place giving the customer more choice.

Although skeptics would insist that some holidays we celebrate today have been fabricated by the card and giftware companies to sell more products, we all enjoy receiving a valentine’s card, don’t we?