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Remember your customers and suppliers during the holidays

Regardless of what the holiday or religions observe your customers and suppliers, the season Christmas is the perfect time to thank them for their business and their contribution to your success. Here are some thoughtful and affordable ways to remember your clients this year:

1) Send personalized holiday cards between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. I go with a generic message such as Happy Holidays or Season's Greetings, so they are all purpose, but I always sign each card personally and include a note thanking the customer or supplier for work with me this year.

2) Send a gift of appreciation. I bought my current clients and a small gift at Christmas – a pen nice and pencil set, a box of chocolates, a gift basket from Harry and David, or else I know that the customer would benefit. For example, I have a client who prefer natural and organic products, so my gift to his will reflect that preference. For those who are far away, I send gifts. If they are local, but I deliver the gift personally.

3) Make a donation on their behalf. This year, because so many charities are struggling, I will donate toys or food for the account of some of my clients. I know my customers appreciate the gesture, and with so many people in need is a way for me to stretch my dollars in donations too. To make a gift more personal contact with customers by phone or e-mail and ask for the name of their organization nonprofit favorites and donate to this organization on behalf of the client. Followed with a card noting the donation.

4) Present a gift of homemade biscuits, chocolates or other gastronomic delights they can share. This is especially nice if you're dealing with a group of persons of a company.

5) Buy a gift card. If you know a particular customer likes Starbucks or a local espresso or a latte or support as Kelly Kona Kai (Kent, WA), buy a gift card in any amount you deem appropriate. This way, your customer thinks about you next time, he or she buys their favorite latte or mocha!

6 products offer) or free services as a thank you. If you are not able this year to buy gifts for your clients, consider offering products or services free. Send them a gift certificate or coupon note the freebie (Good for one free hour of consultation to be used in marketing as desired by May 1, 2009) and a card thanking them for doing business with you.

7) Treat your client to lunch for an end of year review meeting, consultation or simply to say thank you. If the space of these throughout the holiday season, it can be an affordable to say thank you while creating the possibility of generating more business.

However you choose to remember your customers this holiday season, make sure the focus is on the client, not you. Let them know you appreciate their business and hope to continue the relationship in the new year.

Copyright © 2008, Dana Blozis for virtually Yourz.

About the Author

Dana Blozis is the owner of Virtually Yourz, a Seattle-area marketing and PR firm catering to small businesses and nonprofits. For more free marketing tips, visit http://virtuallyyourz.blogspot.com or subscribe to the monthly Virtually Yourz marketing newsletter at www.virtuallyyourz.com.