send holidays gifts to all your clients?

Question

hey all!

The past 2 years, I've sent out holiday gifts to all my clients.  As my business grows, I'm finding that those gifts can start to add up really quickly and get expensive real fast.

I'm curious what everyones opinion is of buying every client a holiday gift as their business gets really big.

Thanks for your feedback!

Brandon Vukelich · Answer

Almost everyone in my sphere gets a holiday card but no gifts.  Those that have done a deal or referred me to a deal in the last year (JAN-NOV), get an invite to my VIP Client Holiday Happy Hour event.  I normally keep that to around the top 20 or so for the year.  I'm believe they appreciate that over a small sweet treat or hokey agent gift. If they can't attend, at least they knew they were on the invite list and maybe I'll roll them to next year's event. I try to plan half way between Thanksgiving and Christmas, on a Thursday evening and keep the cost to about $100/person.

All of my residential buyers get on a recurring gift plan for 2.5 years (10 quarters).  It's all automated and I only get billed each quarter when the gifts are sent out.  Another reason they don't get a specific "holiday" gift.

Check with your CPA but gifting limits apply and if over $25 or something, it should have your business brand on it.  I don't recall all of the specifics for write offs.

Bruce Lynn · Answer

I don't give gifts every year to every client.  However I have seen some people do something like pie giveaway.  Instead of delivery, they hand out at the office.   Probably could do wine that way too?  or Olive Oil and Balsamic.   You could do all of that probably for less than $10/client.   Leverage your time and money?