Ideal gift giving for this year Holiday gift

The older simpler days of giving a scarf or mittens or a sled are over. Everyone wants technology gadgets. You can't give household things because people already have them or they are more choosy about kitchen, household, and personal items that they want specifically. The problem is that now with internet and huge stores and even much larger selections of products, we each can choose from a countless and lot of possibilities for each item. Plus most people go out and buy those items themselves. I am in a real dilemma of what to get people this year. Let me give you some cases. My mom wants a special set of serving dishes and she already purchased it yesterday in an early Black Friday special. My nephews presently have more electronic games than they can even play and my brother buys them the newest one immediately when it comes out. My sister wanted first-class luggage and told me yesterday at Thanksgiving dinner that she found one online and has already purchased it for herself. My dad was up early this morning to buy new power tools for us for Christmas and I just know that he bought himself one of each too. The last few years I asked my family at Thanksgiving for lists and that truly helped me. Yesterday at Thanksgiving dinner no one was able to come up with a list of stuff. This has been a increasing issue over the years. I don't have as much time to shop and I detest to fight the crowds. My wife and I decided to go to a theme holidays and buy everybody something by the theme of the year. One year while at a nearby book shop we started buying books and then went to a giant box book store to pick up not only books but calendars and games and they even wrapped a lot of them for us. It turned out to be quite expensive but it did work. The next year we had been so busy that we just went to the food market and bought gift cards for everyone. That was totally easy but it was pretty detached and we didn't have time or want to take the effort to wrap them, so we ended up feeling cheap when we handed people just an envelope. Plus it wasn't cheap in the long term and the thank you letters proved that people got our gift cards and amounts mixed up with other people's gifts. They liked them and could use them but we noticed that we forgot to use our gift cards or lost them which was a total waste of money. In fact it was published that stores really like gift cards because so many people never use them or find them beyond the expiration date or lose them. The next year we individualized it a bit more and purchased food and restaurant coupons we thought each person would love. It was fine. Yesterday my wife and I were complaining about the fact that gift giving has merely become a gift card exchange and lost its whole luster and objective. We lost for the past days of taking time to shake and open packages or people excited about something they have been wanting realized in a gift. Those days are no longer . People go online and just buy what they really want. A lot of her family members are restructuring and do not need more things. When they need or want something they go buy exactly what they want and our gifts are either regifted or go to Salvation Army. This year we want to make an impression. Quite honestly we are usually doing our shopping at the last minute. We went online last night and decided we are going to either order or go out and fight the crowds today and do our shopping. This year we want our gift to be the very first one people get. So for the friends and colleagues and extended family we won't see, we found a website and local company right here in Denver called Baskets by Rita. There are all kinds of holiday baskets to send. We ordered online those baskets to be sent as soon as they can. Will they ever be pleasantly surprised. Not only will ours be the first one there, but the packaged baskets are wrapped so nicely with holiday ribbons that will probably be put on exhibit in their house as a decoration. It was so easy. We are done and don't have to agonize about those gifts. Then we talked about going to our relatives houses for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and we want to take the gifts ourselves so we didn't order baskets to be sent to their houses. Then we had a great idea. Why not order those gift baskets and have them delivered to our house and then we will have them to take. We are excited because we can walk in with a gift that is WOW and that is not the common mail order basket from the big companies. The baskets we are ordering today for loved ones are filled with gourmet food items and that is just fine. Plus we decided that is one of the only things people don't buy for themselves. My mom just goes out and buys fresh flowers when she wants them. But none of us order a gift basket for ourselves. Perfect. We are placing the order today and guess what? We can now rest. We will have sent and gotten the gift baskets even before December l. That buys us not only gifts but the whole freedom of not scrambling. The gift baskets to take Dec. 24 and Dec. 25 will be on display on the shelves in my home office ready to go. This year we will go to holiday parties and watch other people worry while we are eating out, going to movies, holiday parties and relaxing. Not only is Baskets by Rita doing all the work of buying, wrapping, and sending the gifts, but it turned out to be less expensive than what we usually spend because we already paid for shipping, wrapping and bows and all the extra costs that go up each year. Ideal. We are placing the order today and guess what? We can now rest. We will have sent and gotten the gift baskets even before December l. That buys us not only gifts but the total freedom of not scrambling. The gift baskets to take Dec. 24 and Dec. 25 will be sitting on the shelves in my home office ready to go. This year we will go to holiday parties and watch other people stress out while we are eating out, going to movies, holiday parties and relaxing. Not only is Baskets by Rita doing all the work of buying, wrapping, and sending the gifts, but it turned out to be less expensive than what we usually spend because we already paid for shipping, wrapping and bows and all the extra costs that go up each year.

Plan Early and Beat the Holiday Rush!

This season I will plan to ship corporate holiday gifts early. Horror story. Last season I thought there was no hurry and that I would get true deals by waiting until mid December to order gifts for my clients. Client gifts of gratitude for their business is extremely important and if you fail to send a holiday gift you have botched the regular gift that has come to be expected yearly. Don't forget how important and necessary these gratitude tokens are. Three years ago I decided to forego the gifts because of a budget crunch. Thinking it made very little or no difference I felt quite dapper about the amount of money and time and trouble I would save for this extra meaningless expenditure. Was I ever incorrect. In fact many of us were wrong. The other company people I meet with weekly all talked it over and were in agreement that one year couldn't make that much difference and we were quite smug about our money saving tactics. In my business my major competitor is someone who has tried to get my clients but I've always won their allegiance. Unfortunately for me he made a decision to take the risk and send out gifts early. The next year I found I was losing some of my clients because they had decided to take a look at other organizations that could deliver the same or same service. As we called on new clients many of them had already signed up with the major competitor and my laid back and secure style that I would easily keep clients was slipping away. I had to work really hard to keep the clients I had and put in a lot of time and effort for the next few years to get some of my original companies loyalties back. Maybe it wasn't just the holiday present, but the next year I took note. Listening and asking questions of close friends and relatives about what made them devoted and things that made a difference I noted that follow up letters of thanks,phone calls, and gifts aren't just tokens they are are reminders and stamps of confidence for the clients. So two years ago I made sure I had money for gifts at holiday time budgeted. I started looking for gift ideas and sent them out the first of December. What I observed was that I immediately got cards and calls from clients. They loved them plus mine were the first gifts to arrive at their business office. My secretary and I were talking and she pointed out the gift we got at Thanksgiving one year with the note that here's your first holiday gift to enjoy. Since it was the first and only gift at that time it did make a difference. Most gifts of food, gifts baskets, and cards come that last week before December 25 and although we appreciate them they sometimes get tossed in and mixed up and we can't remember exactly who gave what. Besides employees are bringing in treats and food for each other all week. So my secretary and I started talking and analyzing that the first gifts that come in are the most noted and appreciated and you normally remember them. That brings me to our approach for this year. We have already contacted a basket business to send out holiday gift baskets to be delivered no later than December l. Why? Because last year we thought we'd order them later and they were sold out of the one we really wanted. Since we have clients in 10 states we had failed to note that many would not arrive on time because of shipping days needed. We gave up after checking about sending flower arrangements or poinsettias which seemed useless for a few days in the office. As a last resort we scrambled to get gift cards for local restaurants or bakeries near each client. It took way too much time. We were able to find some gift cards in grocery store, but they were not the right denomination. We also felt uneasy that the exact amount we were spending was evident, putting a dollar value on the client. But we got the cards sent out. It was fine and at least we sent a gift. However one of the more vocal and boldly honest secretaries called to thank us and did say she preferred the gift baskets because she was the one who had to order and go to the bistro to bring back what was ordered with the gift card. She also made it clear that to feed everyone they had to add more money. Yikes, not a good plan. This year I called Baskets by Rita the first of October and placed my order for gourmet gift baskets and Colorado gift baskets to be sent out just before Thanksgiving so they will arrive that first week of December. They explained to me that they have to order all holiday products in August and September to have enough stock to not run out additionally suppliers run out early. We're feeling really smug. Our clients will know these are gifts of appreciation, there are food items to be shared by all, they come packaged amazingly giving that WOW factor and our card and gift will be the first one they get and will be hanging around the break room all holiday season. It won't get lost with all the other gifts. Since there is not a dollar amount attached you are not blatantly telling them what money amount they are worth. Plus my secretary is so happy because this is a slower time for us and she was able to make all plans in a more relaxed way. We came across another money-saving hint for giving holiday gifts. We will have Gourment Choice Gift Baskets shipped to 9 other states, but the majority are in the Denver area. My secretary has arranged to save some of the shipping and delivery costs by going to pick up most of the baskets and deliver many herself. We've added a wine and cheese FAC the first Saturday in December in our office for clients and we'll give most of them out then. If not, it would be good for me to take them and give them myself and make the personal call. The moral of the story is do not underestimate the power of the holiday appreciation gift and order early.

Need an idea of what to give for a holiday gift?

With rivals for your business, it has grown to be absolutely crucial to give a thank you and appreciation gift item at holiday time. Like it or not the mindset of saving money worked for only a couple of those daunting economic years. The accepted trend was prudence and we all believed and secretly hoped it might become tendency and a way of life. Most of us cut back on everything. We cut down the additional items like travel and vacations, Starbucks, newest fashion pieces, new cars, and entertainment. We also monitored our pennies as we were mindful of multi-tasking errands to cut gas costs, attentive to food charges and shopping the special offers, turning off lights and turning down heat, making gifts or regifting. It was interesting and some parts of it made us recognize we do waste. However, we also realize how much we like using our time and money on things we take pleasure in. Take Jason from Denver, for instance. He missed not skiing, not going to Avalanche or Nuggets or Broncos games, not eating out and enjoying a movie. He jumped into the economic recession with vigor and mentally told himself he could cut personal and business expenses and that would be the best way for him to handle both operations. He didn't like it but he was amazed at how much money he could save. He watched games on television. He shopped at the food market instead of take-out food. He discontinue his gym membership and used the exercise equipment in his place. At first it was a novel experience and definitely eye-opening. In business he cut one of his workers and spent more time doing the work himself. He cut the usual treat Friday by not bringing in breakfast and his employees understood when he told them times were tough and to keep jobs it was unfortunate but there would be no Christmas party or holiday gifts or the traditional birthday gift. It absolutely saved money. There were three major issues. One was that cutting the extras in his personal life touched Jason's mental and emotional health. He found himself missing something and becoming more grouchy. Second was that cutting business extra perks greatly touched the morale and spirit in his business for the employees and for Jason himself. Before long efficiency went down and the setting of a positive place to work took a turn for the worst. The cooperative teamwork turned to competitive existence as employees wondered who would be cut next and missed those small birthday and holiday perks. Jason himself found that he missed the positive vibes he got at work which were now replaced with uncomfortable silences. The third major problem was that his main competitor had taken the entire opposite approach and as he and others cut costs and services the competitor decided to maintain and even raise the bar. That Denver based company hired a few additional workers and took a forceful approach to steal customers away from the competitors who were cutting everything. It even hired away one of Jason's strongest employees. It chose to take a gamble and go into debt to keep workers and keep giving gifts for birthdays and Christmas. Take the holiday gifts for example. The Denver company ordered their regular thank you and appreciation holiday baskets from Baskets By Rita and maintained their regular customers. Why? Because the customers had few other gifts, so when the holiday gift basket arrived it endured alone. The customers responded with calls of gratitude and acceptance of using that company for the next year, since they seemed to be the strong one that would be there for them. The Denver company even put out more by ordering the Grand Gourmet basket to send to their competitors' strongest clients. For Jason it was a disaster because he lost two of his strongest. When he contacted them they said they were wondering if he still was in business and they knew the competitor seemed to be doing well. Jason decided it would be cheap to make phone calls to his clients to keep contact. That worked for some, but he had lost some clients who would didn't come back. The next year he called Baskets by Rita in November to set up an order for baskets. He ordered a less expensive basket but had them sent in mid-December. It did serve. He also ordered a huge basket filled with candy bars and individual treats for the staff workroom. It arrived on the scene with a big bow and he was astonished at the results of his $200 expenditure on morale. The next year he did the same thing but also called Baskets by Rita and ordered small baskets to give his employees at their annual pot-luck lunch before the holidays. They were delighted and he felt he got so much more appreciation than just giving them cash or a gift card. It was a observable Wow and a festive gift instead of a card. Also they didn't know how much he had spent where they used to know their value by the value of the gift card. This year Jason called Baskets by Rita the first of November and mentioned he needed a few grand baskets and gourmet baskets sent to competitors' clients. Jason jumped at the next option they gave. They suggested he send them out to be delivered right after Thanksgiving. Their motto is to be the first holiday gift received. The first gift creates more bang for the buck because they take time to read the card and it's around for a while. Some even hang the cards and the top one is yours for folks to read over and over again. Jason did remember there were clients before who had seemed to forget which company sent which gift because they all arrived at once. Baskets by Rita said to let yours be the first and rock star gift for a lasting impression. Jason is thrilled because his Colorado Christmas Gift Baskets will arrive early not a few days before December 25.

A Great Investment!

A supervisor of a company in the Colorado area granted an interview to a friend's son, a graduate business student, making ready his thesis statement. The young man asked questions about marketing, budgeting, and the most beneficial market procedures. The conversation and questions also including corporate and business risks and challenges, protecting assets and the problems and practices in increasing sales. The CEO admitted that managing a firm's long-term reserves had always been at the heart of his energy and determining stakeholders was important. Weighing choices in every aspect was his response to the question about best decision-making practice. The 60 minute interview was almost over when the graduate asked his last question about what was the biggest liability and what was the biggest asset in the company. After blundering through a list of financial jargon, the CEO stopped unexpectedly and thought carefully before saying that all of that was secondary because the employees could be the greatest asset or they could be the greatest liability. The folks working for you can make or break the company. Simple as that. The CEO then took our friend's son out to lunch and they continued to discussion. The conversation included examples from the CEO's working experience when he worked at a restaurant through college and when he managed various establishments. He had many examples of how good workers actually made the company money and the managers and owners did not always know it or recognize it. At the same moment, a rude or incompetent or an employee with a bad attitude could ruin not only the sale at the time, but later. They discussed about the television show Undercover Bosses where CEOs make as if to be new employees on the ground level for a week to actually get some in field experience and insight. The CEO confessed that he had thought of doing that. The two of them throughout lunch talked about different episodes and came to the conclusion that employees do make or break a company. And usually what they want most even more than money or raises is to be treated respectfully and to have their efforts acknowledged. They want a thank you of some kind whether it be just a sincere thanks, a gift card, money, a promotion of a gift. The graduate shared that his mom who had been an administrative assistant had just quit her job the week before saying she had just had enough. Her boss not only did not see what she had done but did not seem to care about rewarding anyone. When she suggested he give gift cards he said that was fine but she would have to give them and write the note and he put her on a small budget. After a year she suggested they give time off to employees but he refused saying. She observed morale was extremely low and he did agree and she was to come up with something. She told him to come into the next morning meeting, which employees hated, with food. He told her to get some cheap donuts from the supermarket. She started just standing up to him and said no, he needed to spend some bucks and get quality pastries or food and quality coffee boxes from the Panera Bread down the street. He appointed her to do it and to be sure it was there on time. It worked and employees liked it. She needed a totally different idea for the mid afternoon meetings. So when she saw the huge basket delivered next door with all kinds of treats for employees she was impressed and contacted the basket company, Baskets by Rita. For the same money they put together a large basket with goodies to put in the break room for everyone to enjoy. It was big and they delivered it to her that day. The boss walked in with the Thanks A Million Gift Basket and there were cheers from the once tired employees. The student made an appointment the next day with his adviser to change his thesis topic to center on the importance of appreciation and acknowledgment for employees contending that they are the most valuable long term investment.