Should you give gifts to clients at Christmas?

Depending on the size of your client base, Christmas gifts can be quite an expense. So are they worth doing? Should you give gifts to clients at Christmas? And what are some of the best ideas out there for pro dog walkers? Let’s take a look.

Are Christmas Gifts to Clients worth doing?

What do expert marketers say about gifts?

The practice of giving gifts to clients is often referred to as “client gifting” or “relationship marketing.” and there are several reasons why marketers advocate for this approach:

Building Strong Relationships: Gifts can help strengthen the relationship between a business and its clients. By showing appreciation and thoughtfulness through gifts, businesses can foster a sense of loyalty and trust.

Personalization: Personalised gifts show that you value and understand your clients on an individual level. This level of personalisation can leave a lasting positive impression.

Retention and Repeat Business: Client gifting can help encourage client retention and repeat business. When clients feel appreciated and valued, they are more likely to continue doing business with you.

Word of Mouth and Referrals: Happy clients are more likely to refer your business to others. A well-thought-out gift can create positive word-of-mouth marketing and lead to new client referrals.

Brand Perception: Thoughtful gifting can positively influence how clients perceive your brand. It can communicate that your brand values quality, attention to detail, and customer satisfaction.

Positive Emotions: Receiving a gift often triggers positive emotions. These emotions can become associated with your brand, creating a positive connection.

It’s important to note that the effectiveness of client gifting can vary based on factors such as the nature of your business, your target audience, and the cultural context. While gifting can be a powerful tool, it should be done genuinely and authentically, without any expectation of immediate returns.

When implementing a client gifting strategy, it’s crucial to consider your budget, your client’s preferences, and any legal and ethical considerations.

Shouldn’t you be getting the Christmas bonus?

After all, the dog’s owners are your bosses, right?

The dynamics between clients and service providers can vary based on the nature of the business relationship and the industry. In some cases, clients might be seen as the “bosses” because they are paying for products or services.

However, it’s essential to recognise that the relationship between professional dog walkers and their clients is more nuanced than a traditional employer-employee relationship.

Top Ten Best Christmas Gifts for Professional Dog Walkers to Give Clients

Treat Baubles

These are a surefire winner with the dogs and if you go the extra mile to personalise them with the dog’s name, the client will be impressed too.

Plastic baubles can be bought that come in two halves ready to be filled with dog treats and hung on the tree.

Then either use your artistic ability to write their names on the baubles or if you’re sadly lacking in the art department (much like myself) then you can get sticky vinyl lettering instead.

Depending on the size of your baubles, each filled and personalised decoration should cost between £1 and £2 each.

Photo Baubles

Just like the treat filled baubles, these make use of some of your best photos from the year and come with a slot to put a picture in.

Photo baubles run at around £2 to £3 each and of course you’ll need to print off some appropriately sized photos too.

Alternatively, you can send off your pics to someone like funkypigeon.com but you’ll be looking at nearly £10 per bauble.

Personalised Keyrings

We’ve seen some lovely wooden keyrings on Etsy to order with the dog’s name on, or you can buy the plastic type where you can insert a photo of the dog.

Wooden ones will set you back around £4 each and the plastic ones under 50p each (plus the photo printing costs)

Calendars

There are several websites that will print calendars for you, you just have to send them 12 high quality photos.

These are great as they’ll be seen and used all through the year, the only downside being the cost. The cheapest we could find was £18.99 for an A4 sized calendar at Snapfish (price correct as of Aug 2023). Let me know of you find any cheaper I can link to!

Charity donation

If you’re really pushed for time, then a cash donation to a dog charity is a great way to give something back.

If you have a little more time, then buying some food, toys and treat donations for a local dog shelter is a wonderful thing to do, and you can even label each gift with a ‘from *client’s dogs name*’ for an extra personalised touch.

Taking a few pics for your socials might seem a bit cheeky but if you’ve got a following on Facebook or Insta then why not use it for good and suggest that they might like to donate something over the festive period too.

Personalised Treat Jars

Grab yourself an armful of jars from your favourite £1 store, order yourself some personalised vinyl stickers from Amazon and fill the jars with treats. Should set you back around £5 to £10 per jar depending on your choice of treats.

Wooden named Xmas Decs

Giving a gift that owners can get out every year and hang on the tree is a great reminder to them of your value.

These personalised wooden tree decorations are only £6.99 each fully personalised with the dog’s name.

Top tip; If you’re looking to have a bulk amount of these made, try contacting the maker directly and asking if there would be any room for movement on the price. Don’t ask, don’t get!

Christmas crackers (personalised)

Do you have any creative flair? Making your own Christmas crackers might be fun and you can fill them with each dog’s favourite treats.

Personalised Christmas collar bandanas

If you’ve only a few clients to buy for, a slip-on bandana with the dog’s name on in a Christmas theme will cost between £9 and £15 each

Photo Mug

Last but not least… who can resist a good mug!

Grab your best photo of the year and send it off to be a daily reminder of the value your walks bring to their dog’s lives.

then wrap it all in edible paper (yes it’s a thing!) (https://scoffpaper.com/)