Happy Friday, everyone!
Here is this week's poll question:
What is your station's practice concerning Christmas cards and/or gifts for your advertisers?
Looking forward to reading your replies!
The station I work for sends out Poinsettia's ( that are traded) delivered to clients home and then they trade out gift baskets of wine, and snacks that the sales department takes to specific clients. Over the years I have personally had custom wine labels and wine made that I gave as gifts, I also make smaller gift baskets so all of my advertisers get a gift from me,
Yes, We send out a Holiday Greetings Letter to Our Clients. It is a two fold Letter thanking them for the opportunity to serve them during the past year and Wishing them A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
We are still a little old fashion but Providing Customer Service by staying in touch with them when so many other providers fail to do so. Our Business Owners Seem to appreciate us taking the time to reach out to them.
It works for us in our market.
Yes we do! It's a great time of the year to show clients that we do appreciate their business (of course this is not the only time of year we show appreciation) with a gift. We always chose a local business that provides popcorn, nuts, etc. and get the baskets from them so we keep all money and ties Local! We also take a group Christmas photo (which is happening today) and send a card with the entire team to our clients. It may be a small thing but most of the time it's the small things that make a big difference
My station does not give out cards or gifts. I have always been torn about this issue because I am a Jehovah's Witness and therefore do not feel that I personally can compromise my religious beliefs to send out holiday cards but I feel that the station should do something to thank our customers even if it isn't at Christmas time. Any suggestions or ideas on how to handle this situation would be greatly appreciated.
Julie Slanaker
KFMJ 99.9 FM
Ketchikan, AK
Julie, is it your preference not to send any holiday cards? What I'm wondering is, could you send thank-you notes to your customers around Thanksgiving or at the start of the New Year, in lieu of Christmas cards?
If that is not a workable solution, would your station consider designating its own customer appreciation day or week where the staff would do something special (doesn't have to be big - sending a card, delivering a box of donuts, something along those lines) to thank all their advertisers?
Finishing up my first year hear, I am not sure if the station sends anything. As a rule I send an
Email thanking my clients for working with me and wishing them a happy holiday season. This year
I plan to create a colorful Seasons Greeting card that I will mail to my clients as a way of saying thanks.
I have worked at some stations where they traded with a Deli for holiday platters that were delivered to
their top clients. It was always fun going to the busiensses and delivering a little bit of holiday cheer.
Back in 1973, the first station I worked for gave a bottle of booze to each of their best advertisers. Not sure how many that was all told, but the larger advertisers for sure. Might have been limited to house/management accounts, too. Not any of mine that I recall.
I've sent cards at Thanksgiving or Christmas myself on occasion, as an account rep, but the stations themselves have had no formal policy or practice in this regard.
My station will typically try to do something in trade. The last few years they did a really nice double-walled insulated travel mug with our logos on it. I personally will make cheesecakes for my top clients. (Well, my husband bakes them, I deliver them.) It's always nice to stop in with a holiday favorite, and many of my clients look forward to this time of year.
I've also done personal gifts when I find out specific interests of my clients.....depending on the year! Examples, one client loves Casting Crowns, so I bought their latest CD's, another one loves to hunt, so a gift card from Cabella's. Something that they will appreciate.
This year I've included cards with a special note thanking my clients with a heart felt sentiment. I appreciate their trust in me and their investment into the station. It's important to let them know how much that means to me!
My station does not do anything, but the past couple of years has hosted the December Chamber Mixer, which is a great way to "Host a holiday party". I make sure I invite my clients, chamber members or not. I send cards to all my clients and bake special Christmas cookies for my big clients. The cookies are a big hit (but I'm a master cookie maker), as I make special cookies you can't get anywhere. My clients go crazy for the cookies because they are so unique and delicious. I also, will take bottles of local wine at other times of the year as appreciation gifts to big clients. The trick here is to keep it local and unique, it is the unique that makes my cookies stand out.
From Joe Lyons: They don't. I do. I use the Jacquie Lawson online cards. They are animated, with music and you can set the date, so you can tell them your list today and they will run on the 23rd or 24th as you direct.
at December 7, 2019 10:47 PM PST
From Linda Francomb: We trade out for different items valued at varied dollar amounts like cherry gift boxes, boxes of spices, cookie trays, large assorted gift boxes that include wine and a cheese & crackers gift bag! It's a win-win for us and our clients... they get advertising, we get gifts for clients! We deliver them all personally unless it's an agency that's too far away, then we mail them. Everyone is very appreciative!
From Kevin Casey: Hi Gang, Hope the seasons are bringing you Cheer! The last station I was with for 40 years till having to go dark just a few months ago, always worked a trade with one of our florist so we could give each of our top advertisers a Poinsettia. The sales rep would be required to deliver in person, to give it that extra personal touch.
From Bob Woodley: We hand out wine, boxes of chocolate, and flower arrangements.
From the RSC Facebook page:
Zach Stohr: "I’m here in Anchorage, AK so we’re out dropping off meat gift packs including reindeer sausage, and we even have king crab we’re giving out this year. We also have wine, and restaurant card and even some day spa cards."
Michael Norris: "If stations don’t, I would hope SM’s, NSM’s AE’s etc would do it individually if they can. A $10 GC to Starbucks or similar is just fine! It’s the thought and appreciation that counts!"
Camellia Pflum: "Wine, cookies, candle sets, poinsettias. [What we give] can change year to year."
at December 9, 2019 11:37 AM PST
Our stations host a Holiday Party for any and all prospects/clients; the Party is held in our office and offers a catered lunch, entertainment plus a nice "thank you" gift for all that attend - it's a fun informal atmosphere that has been a great hit. I also hand write a Holiday card to each of my clients congratulating them on a successful year, thanking them for their business and greeting the new year ahead. I almost always receive an email or phone call saying thank you for the card, and several of my clients out the card on display in their business. It's the little things like a hand written card that can set you apart from your competition!
