A small gift to a valued customer wouldn’t really sound like advertising, however it can have the same effect as advertising with much to gain for the business owner.
Effective advertising (gift giving) creates awareness and maintains a positive image of your business. No customer is likely to forget where she was given special status, and will probably tell her friends about her “special” gift. The gifts don’t have to be expensive ones – the monetary value of the gift is not important. What is important is that you’re giving away something of value, and it is the act of giving that really counts.
Listed here are some ideas for your “gifts” – things that are usable by the customer and promote your business at the same time.
** Make a copy of a “fabric conversion chart”, put your business name/address/phone number along the bottom, laminate it with self-adhesive laminating sheets (available at any office supply company), then fold it so it will fit into a small felt “pouch” (that you will also make), so it will fit into your customers’ purse as a handy reference the next time she goes fabric shopping.
** Check a novelty company to get pocket make-up mirrors with your name and address on the back. The customer will keep this in her purse, so your company information will never be far from her.
** The same novelty company should also be able to provide you with key chains that you can put your logo on. In this instance, just the logo would be best so the customer will actually use it and not just throw it in a drawer when she gets home. The logo will be reminder enough that it came from you.
** Sun visors with a logo in the summer would make great gifts. Again, just the logo will be fine, as a visor with your name plastered in bold capital letters will probably be put in a corner and not used.
** One of my very favorites that I got as a free gift is a calendar – 8 1/2 x 11 in size — across the top it says “Every day is a gift, that’s why it’s called THE PRESENT”, then it has all the months arranged around the outside with a small box right in the middle with the name of the company, address, phone number and website. It was also laminated, so that one got stuck on my refrigerator. WOW! How many of YOUR customers could use something like that as a little Christmas gift this year — most computers have some kind of calendar making software that you could use and be able to print out a dozen or two to give away. Think of all the people who will be seeing YOUR name on your customers’ refrigerator for the entire 2015 year!
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