Holiday Business Gifts?

[StarQuest]

Well........it's that time of the year again. I find myself undecided on gifts for my preferred accounts. Anybody willing to share a few inexpensive business gift ideas?

Last year, I tried something different. Instead of going out and spending $250-$300 on gift fruit baskets, I baked cookies for these accounts with my 3 1/2 year old daughter the entire day. Needless to say, neither of us can bake very well and the first three batches ended up in the trash! Guess I should stick to repair! The end results were favorable though. They all love it. Gift included, 5 different cookies in a holiday tin, simple business X-mas card along with photo of us in Santa hats and company logo shirts baking them. Total cost for account gift packages ended up around $90 for everything (of course that didn't include labor)

Spending the extra time with my daughter was "Priceless"

Love to hear some other ideas!

[screenman]

I have never never given anything other than good wishes to my customers for christmas, I just would not know which customers to give gifts to and when to stop, although I think it is a nice thing that you did.

Do not feel that you have to give out, there are people out there who will start reminding you that christmas is coming and all tell you all their other suppliers give them something. You will quite often find these people are not the ones that give you the work or authorise it.

Many companies in the UK give a donation to charity instead of giving booze out to people who can afford to buy thier own. I think a small card telling them that instead of gifts you are making a donation to a charity on thier behalf works well.

Anyway maybe they should give us something for all the good service we give them.

No I am not Scrooge.

[Chips_Away_Windshield_Repair]

StarQuest, on
Thanksgiving day my daughter told friends at her home how my wife would bake cookies, put them on a nice platter with a ribbon and bow, daughter and I would take to a few select customers. It always turned out well as my chemical buying customers would take it in the spirit intended. Just a "Thank you".
Thinking back though, most went to the support people (with the important peoples blessings), girls at the desk, mechanics in the bay,
guards at security, accounts payable clerks, custodian mopping the floors etc.
These were some of those quality times together the daughter has fond memories of.

[cure4glass]

I agree with an earlier post, It gets to be a problem with where to draw the line on individual gifts, as well as avoiding a conflict of interest issue.
I have always sent christmas cards to my customers I've had through the year.This year I'm sending postcards to the retail customers( A little cheaper) and regular Christmas cards to the insurance companies,fleet accounts etc..
imho, this does two things: Expresses my appreciation and also puts my name in front of them again, especially if it's been a while since I've heard from them.

[johnnyone]

A FREE GIFT Thank-you I love em.. Try this one Pay for one chip repair and get one FREE!!! That way it works for both... Happy Hollidays!!!

[jonnyques]

This year Im looking at stainless coffee cups. Our area has the highest coffee shop to population in the world. My cost will be around $7 each. I'm getting a full colour (English spelling!) logo on one side and my catch phrase on the other, phone number of course. This is a item that may have a long desk life, and keeps your name in front of the customer. I will give them out to most people in the dealerships. One thing Ive learned is that a sales guy to day could be running the place tomarrow. Sometimes a small gesture to these people goes along way. Don't forget the clean up guy! He sees everycar that comes on the lot and can give you a heads up. Best thing? Its all a tax write off