Creative Gifts That Differentiate You and Build Customer Loyalty

When was the last time you did something creative for your customers to say thank you? 

I just read this post that outlines what one manager did for his team when they kept their cool.  That made me think that these kinds of creative ideas could easily be applied to customers, and would certainly carry more value and marketing punch than any of those lame and expensive "thank you" gifts that we send during the holidays!  How ordinary, how predictable, how boring, Zzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Here are a few examples and ideas that you can use TODAY to build a little customer love:

• Labor Day Picnic – One of my clients (Aexcel Corporation) sent their customers a 4th of July Picnic a few years ago.  Brilliant! It was a perfect marketing promotion for several reasons.  First, because the CEO of the company is a "foodie" and everybody knows it.  John loves people and food and his business and if you can combine those three things into a marketing promotion — well, you can’t lose.  They sent their customers a cooler full of hot dogs, buns, condiments, soda and everything else you can think of to have a picnic right out of the box.  Since Labor Day is just around the corner – what a great non-traditional event for you to do the same, either for your employees or customers.
• Vacation in a Box – So, you’re on a vacation and a great locale.  Why not take a few hours to create several care packages let’s call it "Beach in a Box" and send them to your best customers?  Run to the local gift shop, pull together a few choice trinkets that best represent the features of where you are, maybe some local food or fare,  throw some sand in a bag or container and for that and the price of postage – you’ve got a built up some create and memorable loyalty.
• Their Favorite Things – My mother-in-law is nuts about stockings at Christmas.  All year long she buys little things here and there that she knows we like.  They aren’t expensive, but they are useful and fun.  She wraps them and collects them throughout the year – then at Christmas time, she throws them into a stocking (which after about 9 months of collection is pretty full.)  Do the same thing with your clients.  Take note of what they love and create a box or collection area – and throw stuff in there when you find it.  Anything counts, it might be trinkets, postcards, magnets, even articles or magazines, the more unusual and mundane the item, the more it shows that you’ve thought about them.

What are some of your ideas?