The thread started by Dieselpig had a post that reminded me of something I have been thinking about for a while. He mentions that he used $300 in Legal Seafood gift certificates to get a project on the fast track.
http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=59948.22
I’ve been working on unique ways to thank suppliers, subs, customers, employees and anyone else who does a great job for us. Right now we hand out Olive Garden cards.
Do you have something special that you like to do for those who help you out?
Replies
Jon,
For the women-gift cert. to the mall (accepted in all stores)
For the men and tradeswomen-gift cert to my tool supplier.
They seem to remember more often than the finished meal.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
heh heh
Ya, there's nothing like walking into the candystore knowing the menus been paid for.
The shame is an hour later you come out having just stocked up on consumables again.
be sharp new blades. View Image
A person with no sense of humor about themselves is fullashid
Cal,I like the idea of something tangible. Especially if it's high quality stuff. For instance, if I really liked a trim sub and I gave him a Lee Valley plane I bet he would remember our company with fondness every time he used that piece of art.Very good idea.
Jon Blakemore RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA
Yikes, a storm just came through here and mama mia, a months rain in 20 minutes. Had a nice post for the Fest Shirts and Hats evaporate with the power outage in advance of the storm. Oh well, back to work.
Jon, I thought the same thing as I used to give/get restaurant certificates. Seemed I forgot who they came from, but the tangible things I remembered every time I pulled them out. I started giving customers something to hang inside / outside there home instead of the flowers/plants usual for openings. Tradesmen that would refer me always got the tool store certificate and I just reapplied that idea.Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
I work in with a landscaping outfit on some jobs.
The current one involved some heavy lifting etc that they helped with. I told them that on Monday I was buying lunch. Tell me what you want and I will get it.
For customers who spent a decent amount I used to give them a voucher to a local cafe. Now I am trying a thing where I make a nice box and fill it with wine, good cheese, all the fancy bits.
Be interesting to see how that goes.
I gave the only woman at my plumbing supplier a gift cert to a beauty outfit. She could get her nails done or something or whatever women do in those places. :-)
The same plumbing supplies is quite community oriented. Whenever they are donating for something, collecting or helping out I put some money in. They appreciate it and indirectly I am thanking them for helping me.
Everything, 100% of it, depends on how you look at it.
DW
Jon anything from Lee Valley seems to help business
On current job got the customer going there for didley stuff and at the rate they are going they will max at least one card .
Job started as a 2 week t&m currently we are in the 6th week and these people are usually careful with their money (god bless Lee Valley)
Hi Jon,
Just wanted to clarify... maybe I was loose-lipped when I said "grease money". I tend to think of grease money as a bribe. The three guys getting the gift certificates (the lumber salesman, the engineer, and the shipping guy) don't know they're getting them.... and that is all the more reason to give 'em out. For the record... wasn't a bribe.
I agree with some of the other responses that tangibles are a nicer touch. I try to do that when I can... it is a little more memorable and personal. The gift certificates are great though when it's going to be done in the mail, like my situation. I'll give my lumber salesmen his when I see him on Wednesday, but I've never met the engineer or the shipper in person and probably never will, so the gift certificates in the mail work nicely.
Along the same lines as this thread....
Does anyone know if it's proper construction etiquette (WHAT?!) to tip a boom truck operator? I hire a boom truck and operator once in awhile (once... but plan to use them again) and was wondering if I should've tipped him once he drove away.
Diesel - When we get a delivery, boom truck or otherwise, I usually throw the guy a few bucks and tell him to buy coffee. If they go out of their way, I pay for the egg sandwich to go with the coffee. It's like tipping the guy loading in the lumber yard - it can come back to you, and it's a nice thing to do. Don
Now that's totaly cool.
Riverfest 2005. Be there, or be square.
http://www.hay98.com/
I like to pass out a couple of home-brewed beers to customers at the end of the project if they happen to drink. If they don't it's secret recipe homemade pickles. It lets me find out what kind of beer they like and connect on a more personal level. I've had referred prospecive clients bring up the subject at the contract meeting (which tells me maybe I'm in the wrong business).
Otherwise I usually offer to take care of an hour of handyman projects if they have me over again once the furniture and whatnot is in place so I can take pictures. -Gives them an incentive for what might otherwise be an inconvenience.
Cheers! -Jack
And of course it can all be written off as "Promotional Expenses" , or whatever ur taxman calls it, if you've got the paperwork to prove it.
But if you slip them a few bucks out of your pocket , you're a REAL NICE GUY. Instant karma.
cheers
***I'm a contractor - but I'm trying to go straight!***