Holiday gifts for clients

[Jason Jenkins]

I’d like to send them all an invoice…

Jason Jenkins
Flowmotion Media
Video production… with style!

[Mark Suszko]

We don’t do this ourselves, but vendors wanting our business would often gift us with branded mouse pads, post-it not pads, and pens, to keep their names around as reminders. Since purchases are actually handled by procurement people, the goodies soon dwindled because we obviously were not the right people to impress with such things, having little influence past the initial spec writing.

One single-time client nevertheless sent us boxes of chocolates for a couple of Christmas seasons. Which was kind of creepy, if the chocolates weren’t just some kind of automatic thing they did for everyone on some list, and they just forgot to purge their list for a year or two. So gifts that smack of incincere intentions, might be counter-productive.

I think there’s a fine line between no-obligation trinkets and come-on-too-strong potential bribes. If you send gifts that are too ostentatious, like huge bottles of fine wine or whatnot, I think you risk alienating the clients. Perhaps the safest bet is something of relatively low cash value but that still reflects some aspect of them you know on a personal level, learned from working with them. Say, one of their passions or interests. if they are huge golf freaks, an imprinted ball or maybe chocolate candy golf balls might be good, especially if you throw in some note about “being on the ball” regarding their projects. Or if they are huge pet lovers, send them a chew toy or whatnot for their dog and name the dog to show you remembered. I dunno, is that too much? Greeting cards from my insurance agent or the oil change place do not impress me. It only tells me they have a database and automatic calendar. But some simple message that shows a person knows me and what I care about… that’s more impressive to me. Or something that’s pure entertainment. Perhaps a holiday demo reel DVD or youtube link, with suitable themed bits, that entertains but also subtly reminds the clients about what kind of work you’re capable of. Maybe if you know a charity thye like, you can send thema note that you’re donating to it in their name or something like that.

[Mike Cohen]

We show appreciation for our customers throughout the year by giving them great service. You can’t wrap that in a bow!

Some of our vendors send us cookies, candy, popcorn etc which generally disappear within 15 minutes of arrival.

A few vendors who I work with directly (narrators, designers) have sent me modest restaurant gift cards, or simply a card.

I think a card is the best way to go – preferably something with the company name on it.

Mike Cohen

[Todd Terry]

We usually send out a fair number of cards.

Unfortuantely, about ten years ago we came up with a really good card, and people who get them keep expecting something good the next year, so the pressure is always on to come up with something clever. Since there are five of us on staff, for a few years we always had a staff photo, something where we could use all five of us. One year we were the Rat Pack, standing in front of the Sands in Vegas (thanks Photoshop) with our names on the marquee. One year we were the Reservoir Dogs. That streak all started with this card, which was the first in our “movie poster” line (that’s me in the Gabriel Byrne center position)…

The last couple of years we’ve gone a different route with something else. Oh… and we always personally sign all cards, maybe writing a personalized extra line when appropriate.

About a dozen or so clients get actual gifts in addition to a card… usually something homemade of the edible variety. Several years we’ve packaged up this great party mix (which we label “Fantastic Snacktics”). One year was homemade lemon cookies in the shape of ducks (“Fantastic Quacktics”). One year was this hot chocolate mix we packaged up with these old-style Thermoses we found (“Fantastic Smacktics). This year our art director Kim (who is also my better half) was in the baking mood so she made scads of homemade cookies. We found these brightly colored small plastic buckets (in our “company colors”) which we packaged them up nicely in.

In the past we have also given bigger gifts to a few of our larger clients… mostly advertising agencies. One year they were portable DVD players, because we knew of a couple that would benefit from having those (and we found some cheap).

We try not to go overboard, but yet recognize those that have been good to us.

T2

__________________________________
Todd Terry
Creative Director
Fantastic Plastic Entertainment, Inc.
fantasticplastic.com

[Walter Biscardi]

We do a couple of things.

First all of our current clients, colleagues, vendors, etc… all get Christmas cards. They’re all a part of our “family” and we want to say thank you to everyone who both works for us, gets us gear and of course, those who pay us for what we love to do.

I make sure every envelope is hand addressed rather than computer generated. Just a small touch but it does make the cards stand out when they arrive. We also all sign the card personally. Well, all of us except Molly. Her paws are too messy….

We started sending some clients hot chocolate a few years ago and that has gone over well. Just a small container that’s good for about 10 or so cups, so it doesn’t go to waste over the winter.

And a few clients get more creative gifts, especially those who have done a LOT of business with us. This is usually some sort of toy or game because, well I’m a sucker for fun toys and games! Anyone who visits our shop and sees my office knows this right away.

So whatever you do, try to make it somewhat personal and reflective of who you are and what your company is all about. In my case we’re all about excellent service in a very friendly, relaxed, low-key atmosphere. We love to have fun, our clients have fun when they’re here so I like our cards and gifts to be fun.

Now Todd has certainly given me an idea for next year’s card…….

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Editor, Colorist, Director, Writer, Consultant, Author, Chef.
HD Post and Production
Biscardi Creative Media

“Foul Water, Fiery Serpent” Winner, Best Documentary, LA Reel Film Festival.

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[Rich Rubasch]

We do holiday cards to about 100 of our contacts, both client and vendor. Then we have done all kinds of holiday treats to our top 12 or so clients. We sometimes make it a local vendor, like Candinas Chocolate, but this year we went with Chery’s Cookies.

Rich Rubasch
Tilt Media Inc.
Video Production and Post
Owner/President/Editor/Designer/Animator
https://www.tiltmedia.com

[Nick Griffin]

When you’re in the business of advertising and promotion you’d better be prepared to prove that advertising and promotion works. That’s why for the holidays most years we pull out the big guns: high individual cost, 3D mailers. Instead of sending a card to everyone or a gift only to selected large clients, we do a promotional item in a themed box for about 150 to 180 of our clients, closest suppliers, friends — and here’s a key — prospective clients.

Themed means that the box has a tease which is paid off once the box is opened. For example, the box says:”This year it seems like our idea of a holiday message will just go over most people’s head.” Inside the box is a neatly folded custom-printed Griffin Communications sweatshirt wrapped in gift tissue. Another year the box copy was: “After years of Nick Griffin’s blatant attempts to promote his services under the guise of a holiday gift, FINALLY a seasonal message that’s in good taste.” Inside the box was a set of high end bottled spices, re-labeled with our logo and copy.

This year we sent a fleece vest with our logo embroidered onto the breast pocket. By the time we add up the cost of the vests, the customization, buying the right boxes, having the boxes printed, paying for professional assembly/wrapping and postage costs, not to mention all of the costs shipping items and boxes to us we’re typically around $25 – $30 per recipient. These are sent as deep as needed into client companies. At some of our larger clients multiple people in multiple departments can originate projects so we want each of the key people, along with their gatekeepers, to receive our mailing.

Here’s the good part, once we are doing these for a 100 clients there’s very little incremental cost to adding key suppliers, business friends and even selected past employees to the mailing. It keeps our name out front with everyone, reminds people that they pay us to originate clever ideas, and is completely different from anything they’re getting from anyone else. Well worth the $5k when all is said and done. That’s our secret recipe for holiday cheer.

[Chris Tompkins]

We send out a nice box of chocolate truffles to our top 10 clients.
We print a nice label with our logo and a holiday cheer and affix that onto the box.
Clients love it.

Chris Tompkins
Video Atlanta LLC

[Richard Cooper]

Thanks everyone for some great ideas. I love the wide variety of suggestions, it helps a lot.

Have a great Holiday!

Richard Cooper
FrostLine Productions, LLC
Anchorage, Alaska
http://www.frostlineproductions.com

[Bill Davis]

Getting in late – but maybe with an important warning.

Many large corporations have VERY strict rules about vendor gifts. Our largest two clients have specific sections in their Corporate operations manual which place a STRICT limit of $15 on ANY gift to an individual for ANY purpose whatsoever and if that policy is violated, the vendor can be dumped even tho they have a contract.

So be wary.

That’s why we ONLY do department gifts of sharable premium food. With a 10 person department we get a reasonable budget of $150 to work within.

Back years ago we did the “give our rep a nice gift.” thing. And it got back to me that all the OTHER reps were pissed that THEY didn’t get one.

Final gift story.

Once MANY, MANY years ago, we got a MAGNUM of champagne from the graphics company that did our PMTs (a photo process, long gone from print ads I believe) We had a LOT of rush work, so I thought it was a nice reflection of how hard we’d busted our asses to accommodate last minute revisions in client work – UNTIL it triggered a suspicion in me. I looked at the books and SURE ENOUGH, with all the client insisted RUSH charges and revisions – I had actually PAID that one individual small vendor MORE than I took home for the entire year!!!

One of the biggest and most important lessons I ever learned in business! Triggered by a vendor gift! –

We revised our approval processes and clamped down on our clients by showing them how much we BOTH could save by changing out production schedules and to my delight I NEVER earned another MAGNUM of champagne end of year gift from that vendor again.

Live and learn.