In recent posts about intentional gifting, I’ve talked about the importance of standing out in the middle of the Holiday noise. While it’s important to show your customers how much you appreciate them throughout the year, the Holidays are a traditional gifting time. If you’ve going to give a gift, take the time to make it personal and meaningful to the recipient. To stand out of the crowd and give a gift that will be truly impactful, here are some gifting mistakes to avoid.
- Don’t Give Generic Gifts
A generic gift will not be memorable. For example, when a respected client receives a gift card, it may go into their wallet, but when it comes back out to be used, you can be certain they won’t remember who gave it to them. Gifts that could be given to anyone, like gift cards, a bottle of wine or a fruit basket send the unfortunate message: “you didn’t spend any time thinking about me.”
- Don’t Give The Same Gift Every Year
Some professionals and businesses make a point to give the same gift every year. Even if the gift is somewhat unique, it does nothing to further your connection with the client on the receiving end. A yearly, repeated gift takes no thought, and even if you think people will like or expect it, it has no personal meaning for the recipient.
- Don’t Give VIP Clients The Same Thing You Give Everyone Else
Your best clients, the anchors who drive your business, deserve appreciation for the important role they play. If you are giving the same gift to all of your clients, then nothing pulls the VIPs out of the crowd to highlight how much they are appreciated. An out of the ordinary client deserves a gift that is also out of the ordinary.
- Don’t Give Food
This is a tough recommendation, but food and beverages are not a good idea. Around the Holidays, everyone is eating and sharing meals, snacks and treats. A gift of a fruit basket or an assortment of edible goodies will be shared with the entire office along with all the other “food” gifts received. No one will remember who gave the gift while it is being eaten, and once finished, it will be forgotten. In other words, this kind of gift has no impact on your customer. Another problem with food and drink is the limitations you may not know about your client. Do they have food allergies, do they drink, are they on a diet? You don’t want your gift to be memorable solely for running up against these issues.
- Don’t Ignore Presentation
A gift in brown paper and twine won’t cut it when you are trying to have a positive impact. A great gift can be diminished by being poorly wrapped. If you are not a skilled gift wrapper, have someone else do it, including the ribbon. Add to the effect of the presentation with a hand-written, personal card. If your handwriting isn’t the best, then ask someone else to do it, or, at the very least, make sure to print out your note and sign with a different color pen, so it is clear that you personally attended to the gift.
- Don’t Wait Until The Last Minute
Lastly, and certainly not least, get your gifting done early. Shopping at the last minute, without a plan, is always stressful particularly during the Holidays. Rushed purchases will show as less thoughtful and more “whatever was left on the shelf.” A well planned gift will be well received, and the opposite is true too. Also, mistakes can happen in the last minute gifting, like wrapping the wrong gift or leaving on the price tag. These mistakes may be forgivable, but they are the wrong kind of unforgettable.
If your customer appreciation program includes Holiday gifting, make sure to do it right. The reason you are giving a gift is to show the customer how much you appreciate them, and the best way to do that is to be thoughtful and intentional in your gifting process.
Want to know more about a successful Holiday gift giving program? Click here to set up a consultation about how you can strengthen your client relationships.
