Q:  Denise, I would like to do something nice for the holidays for my past clients, but I don’t want to do a client appreciation event during this time of year. I am thinking about creating a special Christmas tree ornament for my past clients and giving those out. What do you think?

A:  I love how you want to make your past clients feel special this time of year and I agree that it is a great time to connect. I like the idea of the ornament, but many people are very particular about how they decorate their tree. One thing I used to do as an agent (which was a HUGE hit!) was go to my local bakery and buy cookies in bulk. My clients could nibble on the cookies during the holiday season or could put them out if they had a get-together.

The bakery would also supply the box, but I would create a special label in my brand and put it on the top. This was a much less-expensive solution (around $5 per client) than an ornament, wreath, pie, etc, but the impact was incredible!