Consider the last time you received a gift and how it made you feel. Most likely, you felt appreciated by the giver and grateful to them for expending the effort. Your business clients and customers feel the same way when you send client gifts.
Although most people react positively to receiving a business gift at any time, you can make the most of your giving endeavors by choosing the best times to send them.
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Why Is It Important to Send Clients Gifts?
In today’s digital world, connecting to clients on a personal level proves challenging. With so many business transactions occurring online, how do you remind your customers that you’re human, too, you value them, and you want to make a meaningful impact in their lives?
Why not send out some great gifts to your clients? A carefully-selected gift:
- Sets you apart from your competitors
- Reminds your clients of your company’s values
- Encourages client loyalty
- Encourages reciprocity
Choose the best time to send your gift to make the most impact.
When Is the Right Time to Send Client Gifts?
A strategically-timed gift offers the most advantages to you and your business. Consider these excellent times to give client gifts:
When the Client Is New
Give a gift while onboarding a new client to make a memorable impact. Welcome gifts get new clients excited about working with your company. It shows them you value your customers as people rather than profit numbers.
If you own a retail business, send thank you gifts for new customer purchases to keep these new clients coming back.
When It’s Time To Renew Service
If your business runs on service contracts, send out some gifts a month before renewals. These gifts remind clients that you appreciate their loyalty. You can also express a desire to continue to bring them quality services or products.
When There Is Something to Celebrate
Sending client gifts to celebrate birthdays is common practice, but why not find other ways to celebrate with your clients? Send out gifts to commend clients on personal awards and achievements, congratulate them on the new baby, or celebrate a professional win. When you show excitement for your clients’ successes, they will show excitement for yours.
When the Client Doesn’t Expect It
Have you ever received a gift for no good reason? These often come accompanied by a phrase like, “I saw this and immediately thought of you.” Surprise gifts are often the most delightful because they tell us we’re appreciated, that we matter when the giver has no obligation to say so.
Choosing the Perfect Gift for Your Client
Choosing the right gift provides a topic for a whole page of advice, but there are a few tips you can keep in mind. For example, unique gift ideas have more impact, and every client will appreciate a personalized message with your corporate gift. Check out this insightful survey to learn more about giving business gifts.
Dazzle your clients with thoughtful gifts “just because.” They will remember you did.
Corporate Gift Ideas
If you are leaning on the side of sending an appreciative or celebratory gift to a client there are some really creative and thoughtful ideas that blow the traditional box of donuts out of the water.
- Send a mini garden. This can either be artificial or real. If it’s real, make sure it’s not too high maintenance. A gift like this is a symbol of how you and your client can grow together.
- Gourmet Coffee or Tea. Everyone loves a coffee and tea break, so why not treat them to something extra flavourful and unique?
- Restaurant gift cards. This is always a crowd pleaser. Your client gets to choose the meal of their choice so there’s no mistake in their taste preferences
- Catered lunch. Find the local deli in your clients neighbourhood and send over a lovely presentation of mini sandwiches and wraps, a charcuterie board and mini pastries for lunch’s dessert.
- A good old fashioned handwritten note. In the digital age, we forget how nice it used to be to receive a letter. Send a thank you card, with a note inside. This little gesture can make a huge impact.
Be creative with your gift giving also. For example, if you’re sending a gift to a company that produces wine, why not send a beer making kit? It’s in the same wheelhouse of craft, but it’s a nice change to their everyday process. Or, if you’re sending a gift to a travel company, why not send along a good quality leather travel toiletry bag? The options are really endless.
Now that we’ve explored when, why and what kinds of gifts to send, let’s explore the other side of the picture. While client gift giving is a great way to retain and capture business relationships, there’s also ways that it can have a negative impact.
When Is the Wrong Time to Send Client Gifts
In truth, wrong times to send gifts don’t exist. However, if you avoid the gift-giving motivators below, your contributions will be more memorable and meaningful for your clients.
During Major Holidays
Many businesses centralize gift-giving around the holidays, but these hectic periods often result in corporate gifts going unnoticed. Instead of competing with everything else going on during the holidays, send a simple card instead and follow up with a gift later.
For example, instead of sending client gifts right before Christmas, wait until early February, after your clients have adjusted to the new year. They will be in a better place to notice your generosity and reciprocate. Another important point to make here is that everyone gives gifts during the holidays, so the uniqueness of yours may get lost in the shuffle. Sending a gift during the off season makes it stand out, and is unexpected.
When There Are Strings Attached
Giving gifts with no strings attached has more to do with how you send them than when. Ensure you’re not leveraging your client gifts to get something in return. Of course, you secretly hope your gifts will encourage clients to stick around or make new purchases, but the gifts shouldn’t say that.
For example, don’t supply training resources as gifts or give very extravagant gifts as your clients may interpret these acts as attempts to get something back from them. After all, getting a gift is less enjoyable when it’s obvious the giver expects something in return.
The First Time You Sold Them Something
This point is an extension of the previous one. Sending a gift after they’ve made their first purchase relays the wrong message. You’re basically making them feel obligated to buy again and possibly setting an incorrect precedent that you give gifts after every purchase. Either way this is a no-no. Instead, follow up with a call and ask for feedback, an online review, or ask if there’s any way to help on onboard or provide any other assistance. (if applicable)
How Does Networking Help Your Business: Best Practices
Don’t miss this great article on the benefits of networking for your business.
Client Gift Giving, Employee Benefits and Group Enroll
While you’re in the gift-giving mood, client gifts aren’t the only ones to consider. Give your employees the gift of group health insurance to help them afford dental insurance, prescription drugs, and other essential coverage. Group insurance plans show your employees that you care about their health and wellbeing.
Let Group Enroll help you find the best group benefits plan for your business. Fill out our request form to compare plans from top insurance providers, or email [email protected] with any questions about our services. You can also visit us at 10 Great Gulf Drive, Unit 5 in Vaughan, ON, L4K 0K7.
