Giving the Perfect Client Appreciation Gift

I love giving gifts to clients. I want them to know that I appreciate their business, and that their relationship is important to me. Gifts are a perfect way of demonstrating that appreciation. I especially like to give a gift when it is an unexpected surprise. But I also want to give a gift that is perfect for them. I want the WOW! factor.

Lash Fary, the Hollywood gift guru who creates the spectacular gifts bags for the Oscars, the Emmys and the GRAMMYs, says that the cornerstone of giving the perfect present is to "know your audience."

In his hot new book, Fabulous Gifts: Hollywood's Gift Guru Reveals the Secrets to Giving the Perfect Present," Lash says that "knowing the personality of the recipient, their interests, hobbies, favorite colors and idiosyncrasies is crucial to successful gifting." In the book, Lash provides a simple yet profound system for coming up with the perfect gift for every person for whom you buy gifts.

Lash recommends that you ask yourself three questions about the recipient: 1) Is the giftee young (at heart) or mature (at any age)?; 2) Are they traditional or trendy?; and 3) Is your relationship with them that of a close friend or relative or more casual in nature?

Then the book recommends unique gifts based on their "personality parameters" and price range. For instance, if your recipient is young, traditional and casual, and you're looking for an inexpensive (under $25) housewarming gift, Lash suggests herbal teas for the giftee to have on hand for after-dinner conversation and late-night socializing. The twist is that you package an assortment of teas in a tea caddy that can be found at Bombay Company, World Market or even Costco. It makes the gift more impressive and a permanent part of their home without making it too pricey.

Now, in the same price category, but for someone who is young, trendy and close, he suggests fun and clever refrigerator magnets that are political, sexy or just plain cute. He says they give the feeling of "getting a present that you will totally use but would never have bought for yourself."

I buy many client gifts through Lash's company, Distinctive Assets. I simply call them up and tell them what the personality parameters are for my recipient. I give them a price range. I also share any other information that will help with brainstorming for the perfect gift.

I recently asked Distinctive Assets to help me find a unique gift for a client/friend who had just done me a big favor. His personality parameters are young, trendy and close. I also told them he was gay and loves to entertain people in his home. I set a price limit of under $100.

Jodi O'Hair, who works with Lash at Distinctive Assets, came back to me with a unique gift idea that was really spectacular and something I would never have come up with on my own - a beautiful black leather serving tray. My friend just loves it. He uses it constantly, and all his friends ask to borrow it for their own entertaining.

What Lash has taught me is that there is never a reason to resort to a thoughtless gift. Instead, gift-giving can be a joyful experience for me and an exciting experience for my clients, friends and family.

Denise Kotula

Comments

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[Idetrorce]

very interesting, but I don't agree with you
Idetrorce

[John Trosko]

Hi Denise,

Great post. I am not sure if you caught HGTV's "Cool Gifts" show this past weekend. Their producers visited the Los Angeles and New York Gift Shows and came up with lots of neat ideas.

You can visit the show's webpage for fabulous gift ideas (make sure you follow Gift Guru Lash Fary's suggestions, too) at http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/spcl_prsntn/episode/0,1806,HGTV_3909_41418,00.html.

My favorite is the roll top desk by Baekgaard Ltd. which organizes normally cluttered papers, stamps and best of all-- it's very masculine, for that golfing guy in your life -- http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/ah_tips_shopping/article/0,1801,HGTV_3213_4231789_06,00.html.

Baekgaard Ltd. site --http://www.baekgaardltd.com/productview.aspx?id=4ad73893-aeda-4ee0-a05f-767175ef6f72

[Denise Kotula]

Lash:
Thanks for the kind words. I'd love for you to share any other advice you might have about selecting the right business gift.

[Lash Fary]

Denise,
Thanks for the nice plug for my book. Just wanted to say that although I initially logged onto your blog to see what you had written about me :) i found many valuable nuggets and helpful insights! very nice. i will definitely share this with others.