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Filed under: Tip of the Day
- Keep it low-key. Many companies aren’t looking for the lavish gifts of years past. “Let people know that food is universally accepted,” says Mike Shulkin of A La Carte (asi/30350). “Most people like the idea of a food gift and it doesn’t need to be extravagant. People who receive it won’t feel like the person who sent it was wasting their money. People don’t want exorbitant gifts at a time when jobs are being lost. It feels inappropriate.”
- Sharing is caring. One of the benefits of sending food items is the fact that it can be shared among the entire office or with family and friends. “That’s a key selling point this year,” says Lauren Fox, sales and marketing manager at Fresh Beginnings Inc. (asi/55439). “Food is an item that can still show consideration and thoughtfulness. Instead of sending five different items, you can send one big one.”
- Make it personal. If you know a client loves a certain type of food, these gifts can really strike a personal chord. James Robinson, CEO of Alliance Marketing Partners, is an end-user who has used food gifts because “it’s a product that is really personalized. If you can figure out who likes steak or cheese, it is more intimate. For people who are special to us, we always try to find personal things.”
- See if they’ll let it ride. Juan Carlos Lopez, president of Nema Associates (asi/282191), conducted what he called a “pre-emptive strike” in June. “We’re contacting everyone for Christmas,” he says. He was pleasantly surprised to find out that many clients were continuing to spend. “Most clients are going with the same thing they sent last year. Whoever ordered food in the past continued to do so.”
- Make it permanent. One of the knocks against food is the fact that it is perishable. To make a lasting impression, Shulkin recommends sending it in a glass jar or a bowl. Clients can then send refills periodically. “Maybe once every quarter they can send a refill based on the season. It adds some nice continuity, plus they can include sales literature and give updates.”
From Education Adviser.
Tuesday
September 29, 2009
Filed under: Sell This Product
Sweet Nut Tree makes the case for why food is a good value as well as a tasteful gift.
While most gifts offer enjoyment only to an individual, your clients can often please a whole department, office or family with a food gift, getting the most bang for the buck. “When you prorate the cost of a food gift by the number of people who will enjoy it, the savings can be very substantial,” says Larry Robbins, vice president of Sweet Nut Tree (asi/90392).
Robbins says that food gifts are especially popular with companies in construction, real estate, trucking and financial industries – but the potential for markets is unlimited. “It’s not like a golf item, where some participate and some don’t,” he says. “It is universally enjoyed. You may have too many calculators or calendars, but food gifts will always be well received. Because food gifts often go to a whole office or department, nobody is forgotten or left out.”
Besides nuts, other products offered include popcorn, pretzels, chocolate and candy. Robbins says distributors can provide clients with fresher or better-quality food gifts than most retailers or mail-order establishments. He encourages distributors to incorporate them into their daily presentations, provide taste samples and use them in self-promotion.
COOL PACKAGING OPTIONS
Personalizing or branding the container, which can be reused and serve multiple functions, provides a reminder of the gift to recipients long after the goodies are gone. Sweet Nut Tree offers a variety of packaging options:
- Designer tins
- Gourmet boxes
- Wooden keepsake boxes
- Collectible wooden trucks
From the 2009 Advantages September Supplement.
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