Comment contest - Winner receives a $25.00 Visa gift card

Good morning,
 
We want your feedback. The winner receives a $25.00 Visa gift card

Contest rules: Must be a US citizen and 18 years of age

Contest dates: All comments must be posted between 8/17/10 and 8/24/10

Comments: All comments must be relevant to the blog content (spam, strictly ad comments will not count). Each comment counts as one entry.

How will the winner be chosen?: The winner will be chosen from all comment entrants and announced on 8/27/10 on this blog.

Thanks for commenting, :o)Tina D. Fermin
When you want to be remembered long after the gifts are gone contact TD Gift Solutions. www.tdgiftsolutions.com

When to send out a prosperity letter - How to stand out

Twice a year I send out a physical and email letter to each of my family members, clients, friends and colleagues to update them on the news from my business, quick personal happenings with me and my family as well as sending some referrals to my business colleagues. I call this my prosperity letter. I send out my letters in February and July, off times of the year so that my letter will not be one of the 100's of holiday cards received by everyone else.   Its important that your letter not just be a sales pitch and it should include something personal. You are not just a business owner but a person with family and hobbies. See my sample letter below:

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Dear Tonya,

Happy Valentine's Day ! I wanted to thank you for being my client and sending business our way this year. You are the very heart of our business. Just a quick update on news from TD Gift Solutions and my family.

The economy has not slowed sales for TD Gift Solutions and we have been able to make some great new business connections and colleagues through our sales. For 2010 we have been heavily involved with the Jordan Area Women in Business group by serving on the board and participating in charity events related to Chef & Child and scholarships for local girls planning to start their own business. Lastly my son Brandon is in his last semester of school to become a chef, (I'm looking forward to gourmet meals when I'm old and retired, :o).

I really believe in the power of referrals, and so to give back to those who help make my business successful I make sure to refer my clients, friends, family and associates to other qualified business people in the community. Attached is a list of areas in which I know very credible, ethical and outstanding professionals. If you’re looking for a professional in a specific area that I’ve listed, please feel free to contact me. I will be glad to put you in touch with the people I know who provide these services.

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My prosperity letter would include a list of businesses I have contact or access to (the names and contact information would not be included in this letter). The goal is to put my business colleagues into contact with legit referrals and not just pass the name of their business around.

Saying Thank You With A Smile

Lets face it in the world of business there are many reasons to give gifts to our clients as a way of saying thanks. One can give a thank you gift as a means of being polite, seal a deal or just because it is the right business move. On the other hand there is another reason to thank clients or employees and that would be because you appreciate the business relationship or hard work done by both parties. Working with a client who gives for the second reason is such a joy. As a gift consultant I am inspired when I have a client who seems to truly love thanking those who have helped them or worked with them on a project.

I have a client who does just that, he seems genuinely happy to recognize those who help his business move forward and become successful. Every time I have ever designed a gift for him it has always been a gift with a personal touch and attention to who the recipient is. I am sure his business associates are surprised and thrilled with the gifts they receive from him.

1) Taking note of your business partners – When working on joint ventures, collaborations or closing a business deal take note of your client and their surroundings. You need not know every minute detail about them; however being even a little observant can allow you to give them a well thought out gift because you have taken note of them as a person and not just a business client. One of the best ways to give a gift of detail would be to have a gift themed after your client’s hobbies or food style.

2) Taking note of your employees – Giving thank you gifts your employees can actually use is one of the best things an employer can do. It shows that you as an employer are paying attention and are not just about the bottom line of what’s in it for you. Well thought out employee gifts need not be expensive or extravagant. Many years ago my employer at the time noticed that many of us complained about the office area being too cold at night. Since we really could not adjust the thermostat to suit everyone he gave each of us a very nice throw blanket as a gift one holiday season. I still have that blanket today and use it often. 

Just by being a little observant you can give a gift your client or employees will remember every time they look at or use your gift. 

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About the author
Tina D. Fermin is the owner of TD Gift Solutions. We use the WINS from your clients, friends, family to create custom corporate, diabetic, holiday, event or Thank you themed gift baskets. When you want to be remembered long after the gifts are gone contact 

TD Gift Solutions. 
www.tdgiftsolutions.com