Client Christmas Gifts

What is everyone doing to client gifts this year. I don't like to spend a whole lot but like to send a little something. I usually make a photo calendar and buy cheap magnetic frames but am kind of bored with that idea.

Since I take most family pictures I was thinking something for the kids this year but can't find a place that does puzzles for under $20!

Anyone have fabulous ideas?

Discount offers for your work?
(Or is that a sin in the professional world?)

That's a good idea except that most of my clients are all return customers who are going to return (and pay normal prices anyway.)

But I do think I've got it! Not sure how awesome the quality is but I found mouse pads at Sam's Club for like $4.

For the kids I found some printable mustaches, beards and hats that I'm going to print on magnetic paper and send a couple prints from their session and they can "dress" themselves up with the magnets! I've shot the kids since they were newborns or like only 1 - they are all about 3-6 now so I really think they will enjoy the gift!

I normally don't throw big logos or anything on the gifts since it is just that ... a GIFT but I do think that I will this time with the mouse pads. Just on the bottom corner ...

tracyvb wrote in post #15263746
For the kids I found some printable mustaches, beards and hats that I'm going to print on magnetic paper and send a couple prints from their session and they can "dress" themselves up with the magnets! I've shot the kids since they were newborns or like only 1 - they are all about 3-6 now so I really think they will enjoy the gift!

This is a great idea. I could see kids really getting a kick out of this. It's one more tool I could have used to torture my sisters so many decades ago.

Logo is fine on a gift! I wouldn't mind it at all.

tracyvb wrote in post #15263592
Anyone have fabulous ideas?

Ruth's Chris gift cards.

Wayne

I think it's important to know if you are wanting to reward people that have spent money with you in the past or target those that you want to get them to. The latter is a hard thing in the family portrait business. Since I do mostly corporate and commercial work it is easier to make a target list. I only spend money on this type of thing if I think there is going to be a return. This is an area that has certainly be cut back by alot of big businesses. Take a look at where you spend alot of money each (say your camera store), what are you getting from them. In this economy I think you are lucky if you happen to get a Christmas card let alone any graft. I have everyday marketing materials like pens, sticky pads, etc. that I will throw in with a Christmas card. For me it is all about working towards a return on anything I spend on them. You should ask yourself, if I do nothing beyond a card am I going to lose business. I knew one person that sent a discount coupon in a card and the discount was only good if they booked within a certain date range. According to him this worked well and it cost him about the same in the end but garnered more revenue.

I do this:

http://www.dagtoffee.c​om/
Great stuff