Christmas isn’t the only opportunity for businesses to indulge in gifting, with plenty of other seasons and occasions that could be relevant to the customers of SMEs and corporations. Gift-giving is a great way for businesses to acknowledge and show appreciation towards customers, to help build loyalty and hopefully secure repeat business.
With environmental consciousness running high in the minds of most people, it is important for businesses to demonstrate eco-friendly products and values, which can be expressed very well through gifting.
Personalisation is Key
Gone are the days of one-size-fits-all gifts- you really need to keep in mind that you can’t just slap together something; people know when gifts are slapped together (and they’re not exactly the most appreciated either). You’re going to want to take some time to get an idea of what the customer wants. For example, if you have a customer who is a regular, pretty much on a first-name basis, and you’re celebrating a milestone like the birthday of your business, you might want to do something personal for them.
You might want to get some personalised water bottles (like of your brand for example) for your best customers, maybe some locally made chocolate and a hand-written thank you note telling them how much their patronage means to you and how if it weren’t for them supporting your business, you wouldn’t be celebrating this milestone. Let them know it’s all thanks to them!
Quality is Everything
People would rather have one good gift than multiple low-quality gifts. So this is something you’ll definitely want to keep in mind! Plus, in the age of mass production, quality stands out. There’s nothing wrong with mass production; it’s just easier to pay less attention to it if a gift is blatantly mass-produced. So, it’s going to be a better idea to just invest in high-quality gifts that reflect your brand’s values and commitment to excellence.
Again, these are your customers; they’re the ones keeping your business alive, so they deserve something of high quality. So, you’ll want to try and choose gifts that exude craftsmanship and attention to detail. Honestly, if you can focus more on local artisans, that’s going to be even better!
Surprise and Delight
The element of surprise can turn a mundane transaction into a memorable experience. Surprise your customers with unexpected gifts or gestures at unexpected moments! This is something that works better for retailers than e-commerce (most of this article is actually more suited for retailers). But you want to do the art of surprise because these small touches can leave a big impact and foster a sense of reciprocity!
Top image by Joanna Kosinska
