The Gifts That Keep On Giving... Back to You

The holiday season is fast approaching its inevitable conclusion for another year. Hopefully your sales have been better than last year and your staff has delivered exceptional experiences that will turn your customers into loyal advocates. And hopefully you've had the opportunity to complete your personal yuletide duties. In addition to meeting your responsibilities to your family and friends, you've hopefully remembered to include your peripheral business associates in your holiday cheer. Consider how many individuals impact and support your business without being your direct customer. Of course, you should already include your employees in your year-end thanks. How about the FedEx/UPS/DHL courier who picks-up/delivers to your site every day? The janitorial staff? The postal worker? The bank tellers? How about the staff of neighboring stores? The caffeine king or queen who provides you with your first jolt of bean juice in the morning? If you're on a first-name basis with any of these people, do yourself a favor and include them as recipients when it comes time to hand out small gifts or cards. Heck, even if you're not on a first-name basis (and goodness, you should be) these folks you interact with regularly can become great advocates for you and your business.

What's that you say? You're already paying some of these folks for the privilege of your business? Well, of course you are. But thanking somebody for helping you to run your business is different than paying an invoice. And we're talking a token gift here, not a college endowment. In fact, many companies forbid their employees from accepting gifts above a certain dollar value. A personal note of thanks, a $5 gift card to the coffee hut, or some tchotchke is sufficient.

When you remember those who helped you succeed throughout the year, they'll continue to do so throughout the new year and beyond.