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Promotional Gifting: Products and the Holidays

hile it is always a good idea to show your customer appreciation, the holidays are an important time to do so. Traditionally, the holiday season includes an abundance of gift giving and showing the important people just how valued they are to you. Smart companies plan ahead for this time of year and strategize their holiday gift program. To do so means to concentrate on your relationship with your clients and to separate yourself from the competition by putting thought into your offerings. This way, your presents have a lasting impression, even long after the festive season is over.

There are decisions to make, however. Do you want to give relationship gifts to your best clients or offer those of a holiday nature as a marketing promotion? Or, would you like to do both?

Relationship gifts have a specific purpose and are different from other gifts. They demonstrate to your top clients that you acknowledge and esteem their hand in making your business successful. And, this type of present requires selecting the right item. Pricing is secondary. Most companies who implement relationship gifts into their holiday protocol generally budget for 1-2% of the net profit that they earned from the customer.

And, again, these gifts aren't offered to just every client. A list must be compiled of recipients that fit the description of being a top customer. Then, the financial and creative planning can begin. These simple guidelines can facilitate your experience.
• Consider personalized gifts that are engraved, imprinted, customized, or screen-printed- you have a personal relationship with such clients and the gift should be reflective of this.
• Use the holiday season to promote your brand. You can use the time of year to integrate your brand into the home of your special clients. In this situation you can focus on creating those feelings of customer goodwill and warm associations with your business. Relate to these individuals on a personal level by donating gifts they will enjoy outside of the work environment. Here, items like wine accessories, serving pieces, or sports-related gifts, like golf bags, balls, or club covers are popular.
• You can also go the distance and really show gratitude by including a gift that is of a brand-name. The client will be even more impressed by receiving an item from a well-known and trusted name. Getting something of high value always means more.
• There are ways around breaking the bank. Your budget may not allow for too much around the holidays, but there are ways to make your money count. You can concentrate on gifts that are unusual or creative and that relate to your company and its work.
And, many successful businesses use gifts as a part of their overall holiday marketing practice. You can take this opportunity to use smaller seasonal gifts to thank both your current customers and prospective ones as well. Sure, these certain gifts will not be as expensive as the ones that you offer your most beneficial clients; nevertheless, it is important to strive for a highly esteemed value and maximize the reality of your budget. Above all, when picking out gifts for these purposes, remember both key ideas. Show your appreciation for the customer and work to advertise your brand. Furthermore, the following ideas expand on these principles.
• Office and desktop items are effective in that they permeate the working atmosphere and influence purchasing decisions.
• Plan your method of delivery. Are you hand delivering these tokens? Are you mailing your gifts through the post office? Costs for packing and manpower for courier services play into this decision.
• Humorous or entertaining gifts can be a winner in circumstances where funds are extremely tight.
• When you have an entire organization or office to think about, food packages can be the best option.

Don't forget about the finishing touches. They can make all of the difference. The wrapping, packaging, and cards are essential in the pre-planning process. Having a nice initial visual presentation increases the perceived value. Customized gift bags are usually less expensive and also able to be imprinted. Having a personally signed card means more as well. Also know that less is more when it comes to cards. Keep it simple. And, it is also best to avoid religious messages.

It's never too early to start thinking about holiday gift giving. Planning ahead gives your strategy even more of a boost. The next holiday season can be your time to shine by bestowing upon your important clients meaningful seasonal gifts.

Author: Rick Sheldon has 18 years experience in the Promotional Products Industry and is currently CEO of Save on Promotional Products Inc. a Discount Online Promotional Products Outlet. Visit the website at http://www.saveonpromotionalproducts.com.