How To Never Lose A Client, Even If They Pass Away

For the last 27 years, The Basketry has helped thousands of businesses with their gifting strategy. From client to employee gifts, the strategy of giving meaningful gifts at specific times throughout the year is more effective than gifting only at holiday time. Kristi and her team of amazing gift-givers can help you put this strategy to work for you.  

Kristi loves to listen to John Ruhlin, author of Giftology. She often says, "Everything that John says about how important gifting is to business is what I recommend to my clients everyday!"

Giftology's top tips for gifting.

Tip 1: Don’t Ever Use This Word To Describe Your Gifts

You’ve heard the expression “token of my appreciation” a million times. But there’s a big problem with it. If you’ve been using it in your communications, Ruhlin wants you to stop immediately.

Describing your gift as a “token” implies that it’s petty, obligatory, and routine. It deflates the impact of your gift before your recipient even uses it.

Be genuine with your language. Focus on what your recipient did to warrant the gift, and avoiding the “T-word” will come naturally.

Tip 2: Use Their Logo, Not Yours

Swing open the closet door of any financial professional and you’ll see the evidence of branding abuse. All those logo-laden golf polos collecting dust in there might be okay on the course, but would you find yourself wearing them at a social function with your high net worth friends?

Doubtful. More likely than not, they pile up in your closet until your spouse hauls them off to the Goodwill.

According to Ruhlin, heavy branding on gifts makes them destined for failure, because it makes them not feel like a gift, but more like a marketing strategy gone bad.

Tip 3: Choose Gifts That NEVER Get Thrown Away

Struggling to find gifts people actually want to keep?

Ruhlin says it’s best to target an area of your recipient’s life where they spend a lot of personal time and where they’ll find themselves using your gift frequently. The kitchen meets both requirements.

Wine decanters, fine cutlery, and cutting boards are all great examples.

The best part about gifts like these is that they’re more likely to become what Ruhlin likes to call “artifacts.” Artifacts are gifts that turn into permanent home fixtures, and the recipient thinks of you every time they use them.

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If you would like to create a gifting strategy in your business, let's connect!

Kristi's cell: 504-400-6425