Holiday Gift Ideas for Small Business Owners

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A recent annual holiday spending survey conducted by American Express found that, despite the economic downturn, roughly half (47%) of small business owners plan to give holiday gifts this year. According to the survey, 82% of small business owners who plan to give gifts feel that they are an appropriate way to say thanks to valued customers, and 25% of the same group feel that holiday gifts make them stand out from the competition. That clever 25% are likely right, too. Gaebler.com just cited a study from Guardian Life Index that stated that excellent customer relations are one of the biggest indicators of a small business’ ability to draw and keep clients and customers.

So we know it’s a good idea to give your clients holiday gifts, but then that brings up the obvious question – what do I give? Holiday gift giving is a marketing opportunity, but it is also an opportunity to show that you are in tune with your client’s needs. Nobody is going to stand a life-sized cardboard cutout of you in their lobby, or get much use out of the cheapie pens that you order from a wholesaler for .002 per piece. Therefore, you must walk a fine line between giving your clients something they will use and/or appreciate and marketing yourself. If there’s ever any doubt, giving your clients something they will appreciate (i.e. the personal touch) should win out over giving them something plastered with your logo every time.

Still, that hasn’t answered the question. What to give? What to give? Your next step is to ask yourself – what gift will uniquely represent you and your business. Are you easy to work with, useful and necessary? Or are you quirky, artistic and on the cutting edge? Is your business utilitarian, something that your clients rely on but rarely think about? Capitalize on those traits to reinforce your customer relationship when it comes to buying holiday gifts.

As a former corporate branch manager, and the frequent recipient of holiday gifts from vendors, I have a little insider information on the types of holiday gifts business clients like to receive. Here are just a few suggestions from my own experience to get your started down the holiday gift buying trail:

Toys – If you’ve worked 9 to 5 at the holidays, you’ve experienced the joy that abounds when a new toy is introduced to the workplace. From stress balls to Slinkys, nothing is guaranteed to delight like something that adds the shine of novelty to an otherwise structured day. If your company is quirky, young and fun, consider toys or stress balls emblazoned with your logo for your clients. These are also cost-effective if you have quite a few clients to buy for.
Fancy Pens – The fancier the pen the better. Everybody needs a pen from time to time, and there is nothing that leads to territoriality quite as much as a really awesome pen. Give everybody in the office a fancy pen, and they’ll spend all year asked each other, “Hey, where’s my Company X pen?” and “Is that my Company X pen?” You’re name will be tossed around a lot, and you’ll be remembered with adoration.
Service Gifts – You want to be remembered as convenient and easy to work with, right? Then make yourself useful and buy your clients a house cleaning session, an hour with a professional organizer, a car detail, or some other service that will make their life a little easier. Pro tip: If you have local clients, this is a chance to expand your local economy by promoting another small business. Find a reputable local service and propose a deal. If you play your cards right, they may give you a wholesale discount or return the favor and hand out gift certificates to your product or service.
Utilitarian Gifts – Your company may not be a glamorous, cutting edge tech startup, but you provide a much needed service. You are rock solid, and unwavering in your commitment to your customer’s needs. Perhaps a utilitarian gift is the gift for you. Think of things that people use every day – water bottles, pad folios, recyclable grocery bags made out of water bottles(!) – and emblazon one with your logo. Give utilitarian, useful gifts and you will associate yourself with dependability.
Personalized Gifts – Perhaps you only work with a select few clients and have built strong relationships with each one. You are in a great position to personalize your holiday gifts. The best idea here is to be thoughtful, but not too personal. For example, if your client collects a certain type of jewelry, giving a necklace or bracelet will most likely be a little too close for comfort, but jewelry cleaning kit or gift certificate to an artsy downtown jewelry store might be just what the marketing consultant ordered.

Still searching for the perfect holiday gift? For a broad look at professional holiday gifts and past corporate promotions from giants such as Google and eBay, visit the ePromos.com blog.

As a small business owner or sole-proprietor, what gifts are you looking forward to giving and receiving?