Using quality, branded products to make an impact

Our goal here are Coastal Connections Marketing is to make sure your business stands out from the others. We want your swag to send a message, make an impact, and create a lasting bond between you and the recipient.

December may be the most popular time to send a card or gift to a client, but I’m here to tell you that it’s significantly more important to surprise your client throughout the year.

December is noisy.  According to the Greeting Card Association, there are more than 1.6 billion Christmas cards mailed every year.  If you target consumers directly, it’s almost impossible to stand out in that crowd!  If you are B2B, then you may have a better chance since businesses generally don’t receive as many cards as consumers, but it’s still going to be tough because people are busy.

Of course, we don’t endorse skipping all end-of-year cheer!  We just don’t want you to use your entire gifting budget in one swoop.

Here are five ideas for gifting to clients outside of traditional holidays. The recipient will be less distracted, and your gift will make more of an impact.

1. Use social media holidays! Ok, ok, they can get pretty silly, but they can also be really fun. Talk like a pirate day may not mesh with your brand, but you could send some clients this colorful Cotopaxi backpack for National Day of Unplugging (the first Friday of March). Encourage them to get outdoors and go on an adventure. Combine the gift with a social media campaign and encourage recipients to use a hashtag with a photo of them with your gift. Click here to see Hubspot’s Social Media Calendar for 2022, and reach out to us to see what branded products we would pair with your favorite social media holiday!

2. Bring in a new season with a gift! What is the perfect way to bring in the summer season? Ice cream, of course! This ice cream scoop will put a smile on anyone’s face, and they’ll think of your business every time they dig in for a treat. A picnic blanket to bring in the fall sounds heavenly too!

3. Surprise your clients with lunch at the office! Many industries have a busy time of year. Florists are swamped around Valentine’s Day. CPAs in the spring. Universities during enrollment. You get the point. Keep a stash of these pizza cutters on hand, so you can treat your client’s office with pizza and pizza cutters for lunch during their busiest season. I assure you that they will never forget your thoughtfulness, and they’ll have the pizza cutter at home as a reminder. If your clients aren’t in your area, then you could pair the pizza cutter with a customized gift card for pizza for a thoughtful care package.

4. Make an announcement! Never pass up the opportunity to add some swag to an important business announcement. Did you just update your website? Are you moving your office? Did you hire someone new? Is a beloved staff member in your office retiring? Send your clients a note and pair it with a practical branded product that they will love using in their office. Bulky mail always gets more attention than a simple envelope, so your message is much more likely going to be read and remembered.

5. Acknowledge personal moments. If it feels appropriate, personal life moments can be a great opportunity to show your client that you care about them. Send them a baby gift if they’ve had a baby. Send them a branded movie gift card if they have surgery and will have to rest for a while. If they buy a new house, send them a super-soft branded blanket to give them warm and fuzzy feelings!

Don’t let your thoughtfulness be lost in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season in December.  Think about other gifting opportunities that work with your brand and that your clients would appreciate.  They will be thrilled to receive something thoughtful from you any time of year!

If you want more ideas on how you can show appreciation to your clients, send us an email!  hello@coastal-connections.com  We look forward to working on this project with you!