The Promo Coach

So you are retiring..after many years of working, and about a decade of hard work with your current company. And what did you get for it? Your manager gave you a pen as your retirement gift. Wow, what a letdown. You certainly don’t feel like you have been a valued employee or an asset to the company. Couldn’t your manager have done a better job in choosing a business gift for your retirement? So many years of loyalty, hard work, goals reached, meetings held and attended, phone calls, conferences, stress, and extra hours – the list seems virtually endless – and all you have to show for it is a measly pen.

Managers should really make the extra effort for employees who have been with a company for years. Sticking with the same company shows loyalty and commitment and this behavior deserves recognition, especially upon retirement! Just giving a thoughtless gift, like a pen or some gift card, shows no appreciation from the giver and that no effort went into the selection of the gift. Something more personal, customized and unique is a good idea to show that you have appreciated and have valued an employee’s hard efforts and work over the years.

Does your retiring employee like golf or sailing? Buy something that shows you know and remember their interests. Something they can use and enjoy and something they will value. This will make them feel valued. Shop online if you are looking for ideas or if you are short on time. You can have order expedited and quickly delivered. So even if you procrastinate, you can still deliver and give something that counts, something special that your employee will be proud to display and keep for years as a keepsake and a memoir of his or her years with the company.

Finally the day arrives when you open the doors of your neighborhood fitness center. You’re ready for the customers to pour in and mount those treadmills and stationary bikes, and to start using those workout machines. However, soon reality will hit; there are bills to pay like rent, electricity, insurance, maintenance, accounting fees and employee salaries. Fitness is no different then any other business. You need to maintain membership, grow the numbers and prosper. Marketing can play an important role in this goal. Most neighborhood gyms have a few hundred paid members so retention of memberships is quite crucial.

One strategy to seriously consider is offering a gift for members to renew. The most common enticement is a discount upon renewal, and people love to save money, especially with the renewed trend towards frugality. However, this represents a fixed amount of lost revenue where the value is non-negotiable. Using personal business gifts allows you to control the amount of revenue expended without necessarily revealing the amount.

You can e-mail members whose contracts are soon to be up and offer a free gift if they renew now. Videos are a sound choice for business gifts. There are fitness, aerobics, diet, and dance videos ranging in price but fairly inexpensive. Make up a little gift bag and put in a video of speed jump rope and some nice athletic socks, which altogether won’t cost too much. Portable fat analyzers are now available as well at an affordable price. This might be a touchy subject so you want to be careful with this item. Try and have your gym logo and phone number imprinted on these gifts.

Even though you may be a small local gym, think like a big business and show your members you appreciate their business and you’re not afraid to give a little back. A good promotion will have you muscling your way to bigger profits!

Surprisingly, employers are realizing that cash rewards don’t have a good long lasting effect and value with employees. If you’re planning to hand out cash rewards for first quarter performance, don’t expect your employees to remember them. People commonly use their cash rewards to pay bills and many receivers can’t remember where they spent their cash bonuses.

Ideally, employees would use cash incentives to treat themselves and then remember when and why they earned the specific reward. However, those good intentions often fall by the wayside when the check is cashed. The realization: if you really want to reward your employees, don’t show them the money! An employer’s best bet is personalized incentives, rewards, and corporate gifts that show appreciation and gratitude and offer something unique and special.

It is a reality that very few people enjoy spend the money on a special treat for themselves - and even less splurge on a vacation or special outing. Money may at first glance seem like the best gift, but monetary rewards fall short because they aren’t memorable. Instead of feeling personally rewarded and proud of their efforts, most employees spend bonuses on necessities like groceries and gasoline, which have no lasting value.

Motivating employees with memorable rewards is a challenge, especially given the diversity of today’s workforce. Today’s employees are most motivated by rewards that fit their individual lifestyles and desires. Allowing employees to choose rewards that have personal meaning will have significant, sustained value. So why not give something that will be enjoyable and remembered for a long while?

Whether you’re considering recognition plan for the first time or you need to revamp an existing program - take your process to the next level. Your bottom line will thank you and so will your employees. It is well worth the extra effort!

No one wants to be known as the person who gave someone lousy business gifts for Christmas. It is truly amazing the things that people will do in the name of gifting during the Holidays. How does your office rate? Wonder what other people are doing?
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Like the businessman, the businesswoman can be difficult to buy Christmas gifts for. In fact some can be even more difficult to buy for than men! Here are some ideas for the professional woman, a gift guide to help you find just what you are looking for.
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There is no doubt that the one of the most popular items on the business gift list has to be gift baskets and food items. There is such a variety of possibilities with food gifts that they are almost a no-brainer, covering every conceivable occasion. (continue reading…)

Whether you run a small company with three employees or a huge mega- corporation, corporate Christmas parties are, or should be, a priority on your to do list. There is really no better way to build morale and tell your employees thank you for a year of loyal service.
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While Christmas may seem a long way off in reality there are only two more weeks before the rush of the holiday season hits full blast. Make the most of the next few weeks with these tips for holiday gift giving.
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