Choosing the Right Holiday Gift for Ag Clients

The holiday season is in full swing and many Ag business owners are in search of the perfect gift for Ag clients to let them know that they appreciate their loyalty. While the thought of giving business gifts can be stressful, it doesn’t have to be. The key is to stay within a budget and keep in mind some simple rules of business gift-giving etiquette.

How much to spend is one of the most important considerations when it comes to client gifts. Surveys found that the average client gift ranges from between $50 to $150 depending on who the gift is for. Gifts for your largest clients will trend toward the high end of this range while smaller clients will trend toward the lower end. In other words, the value of the gift will depend on how important the client is to your business.

It is important to focus on quality and presentation when it comes to client gifts. While gift cards are popular, most experts discourage giving gift cards to clients. Instead, choose meaningful gifts that the receiver might not think to buy for themselves. It also is a good idea to avoid putting your company’s logos on gifts because the gift will then be viewed as a sales pitch rather than a token of appreciation.

No matter what gift you settle on, it needs to be selected specifically for the individual it is going to and it must include a personal message. Personalization with the recipient’s name or initials is also a nice touch.

Many business owners say they have a hard time coming up with ideas for an appropriate gift for Ag clients. What follows are a few ideas that may spark your imagination:

  1. Tool sets
  2. Utility knives
  3. Custom water bottles
  4. Coolers
  5. Extendable flashlights
  6. Tech items such as ear buds, charging stations or blue tooth speakers
  7. Leather bound journals
  8. Plush blankets or throws

While it is tempting to avoid gift giving altogether, you may want to think twice before opting out of this tradition. Giving clients a thoughtful holiday gift is an important client retention tool. Therefore, failing to recognize your clients during the holiday season could land your Ag business on the naughty list.

For more ideas for promoting your Ag business to clients, give US Farm Data a call at 800-960-6267 or visit us online at usfarmdata.com.