Virtual Assistant Forums | Work from Home

Rebecka Melson · #1 (**permalink**) 09-10-2008

Has anybody given any thought yet to client Christmas gifts? I just sent cards out last year, and still will, but wanted to do something extra for my steady clients.

Here are some of my ideas so far:

1. "Green" gift baskets. Dilemma: Is this preachy?

2. Flash drives with my logo printed on it, with some personalized stuff on it for each one, but the custom imprinting is pricey due to the minimum order requirements. So, I thought about doing them without the imprint and then getting imprinted keychains to attach to them instead. Dilemma: Is it tacky to send a promotional item as a gift?

3. Donation to a charity they support. Dilemma: How much?

I'm having a hard time with this because I am a "practical" gift giver. I don't want to give someone something just so I can say I did. I would rather give them nothing at all over something they don't want or need.

*I know it's 4 months early, but I need to budget.

Cheryl R · #2 (**permalink**) 09-10-2008

Its a nice idea to give a Chirstmas gift and not at all too early to be thinking of it. I also like practical.

Prime Admin Solutions · #3 (**permalink**) 09-10-2008

You can make a donation on their behalf and I think they only get a letter or card saying a donation has been made on their behalf but it doesn't say how much. We did that last Christmas for our Vet - we made a donation to the Humane Society. The giver gets the tax receipt.

I like the flash drive idea; something they can keep and re-use and keep seeing your name.

Administrative Partners · #4 (**permalink**) 09-10-2008

I don't celebrate holidays so I'm sure how to handle this. I'm a gift card for every occasion girl, so maybe an end of the year appreciation gift card might be something I would consider. Still looking for a company that would customize gift cards.

Cheryl R · #5 (**permalink**) 09-10-2008

Won't Visa customize gift cards? Of course you might have to order in bulk which would be a problem for me at least...none of us probably need like 100 or anything..but they could be used all through the year. its a thought.

Office Goddess · #6 (**permalink**) 09-10-2008

Advanta business cards customizes Visa gift cards (www.advanta.com is their main site)

VirtualLorri · #7 (**permalink**) 09-10-2008

Bravo for thinking ahead! :-). I'm not certain I would give branded merchandise as a holiday gift, but that's just me. I give branded items as welcome gifts. I do like your other ideas and think that either would be acceptable. How much for a donation is something only you can answer depending on your budget.

kimadhd · #8 (**permalink**) 09-11-2008

I have to agree that I would not normally give a branded gift but instead give something that useful/practical instead. I think many times it depends on the client and the type of relationship you have that drives the gift idea.

Prime Admin Solutions · #9 (**permalink**) 09-11-2008

Originally Posted by tamikarjohnson

I don't celebrate holidays so I'm sure how to handle this. I'm a gift card for every occasion girl, so maybe an end of the year appreciation gift card might be something I would consider

You could send a New Year's card. Send Out Cards can personalize them AND include a gift card. I'm not sure which gift cards they have but I once received a card from a Send Out Cards distributor and it included a Starbuck's gift card which I thought was kind of cool (especially since I love Starbuck's lattes and peppermint hot chocolate).

I don't know if they do Tim Horton's gift cards for Canadians, but if they don't, they should consider it.

Rebecka Melson · #10 (**permalink**) 09-11-2008

Thanks for the suggestions. I've decided against the branded items, I already send that stuff out with my welcome packets.

I have a personal issue with gifts cards, but I'll spare you all my rant on those. LOL I think I will do the gift to charity for a couple of my clients, because I know which ones they support. The others I'll have to do some more snooping to see what to get them.