I am a regular subscriber of Springwise (and if you’re not, you should be!) and loved this article that I just received on some of the most crucial trends for 2010.
This appealed to me because it provides inspiration for business ideas for the year to come. Perhaps your creative juices are drying up for 2009 – read this article and prepare to let them flow again!
My fave? Urbany – the automatic teller machine that will provide withdrawal options with Cockney rhyming slang, if that’s your preference....
The underlying theme of the article is that the more niche your market is, the better. Gets you thinking doesn’t it?
Enjoy.
Can you believe it? It’s that time of the year already and we have to start thinking about Christmas gifts for our family, our friends and even our clients.
I’m not sure what your beliefs surrounding Christmas are, however there is a bit of debate going on about whether or not you should purchase your clients gifts, and if you do, what do you buy?
If you’re struggling for a few ideas as to what to purchase your clients, we’ve compiled a couple of suggestions for you here.
The Donation
Quite a popular idea this year is to purchase something charity-based for your client. Instead of spending the money on an expensive bottle of bubbles why don’t you put that money where it’s needed most? There are various charities that will sell special Christmas gifts that can be purchased on behalf of someone – check out www.charitygifts.com.au.
The Experience
Perhaps you’re a fan of buying someone an experience, as opposed to buying a normal gift. If you visit somewhere like www.redballoondays.com.au you can search for various gift ideas based on whom it’s for, their age, sex and your budget requirements. You can even purchase online and deliver straight to their inbox – so, so easy.
The Indulgence
What more to say “thanks for your business in 2009” then by sending something yummy for your client to enjoy. I’m thinking of something along the lines of champagne, chocolates and other gourmet nibbles. At David Jones they have food hampers that you can purchase and deliver to your clients, or you could visit somewhere online such as www.chocogram.com.au and you can personalise your own Christmas message. Sweet!
The Practical Gift
It’s like buying your Dad a pair of socks at Christmas. The gift doesn’t require much thought but is always put to good use. Think of a diary organiser, a magazine subscription, a calendar, a funky USB stick or a laptop cover. There are plenty of corporate type gifts on www.wishlist.com.au - click through and have a look! You can order online and they will deliver straight to yours or your clients’ door. They even do gift-wrapping!
Let’s not forget the meaning of buying presents at Christmas, however. Think about what is behind the gesture and remember that it should say to your client just how much you value them and their business.
Happy shopping J
If you’re in the retail industry, Christmas sales won’t be so foreign to you. But if you’re in the service industry, the idea of a Christmas sale might be something new.
If you’re self-employed (like I am) then the Christmas break is not only a break from work, it’s a break from earning an income. Perhaps you’ve stashed away some extra Christmas cash, or perhaps you’re living from invoice to invoice.
Whatever your situation - having a Christmas/New Year sale could be a great idea for you.
Consider it a great opportunity to promote your business, gain some free PR and boost your sales for the New Year.
Some might like to offer a 2 for 1 deal, or perhaps you’ll provide a service for free. There might be potential customers out there that normally wouldn’t purchase goods or services from you, but will consider it on this occasion.
Here are some sale methods that you might like to consider for your biz: -
- Discount vouchers for service or product
- Heavily reduced floor stock that you want to get rid of
- Introduce a client referral program and reward those who refer on new clients
- Repackage existing products or services with a Christmas or New Years twist
- Keep your doors open late so that it’s convenient for clients to shop
- Offer free gift wrapping if you’re in retail
- Offer free expert advice to your clients for a limited time.
Don’t be scared to go against the trend and instead of winding down for the Christmas period – take advantage and ramp it up! Just make sure that you have sufficient headcount and all the resources ready to manage a heavier than normal workflow.
Good luck!
