3 Buying Trends for Holiday Business Gift Giving

Last minute ordering

If you have seen a trend towards later ordering of holiday gifts with your clients, you are not alone. Our experience shows that people are choosing to place holiday orders later every year. In 1999 50% of our holiday gift orders were placed after Nov. 8. In 2013 the half way cut off was November 15. How can you partner with suppliers to secure these late season orders?

Offer the option to ship directly to the recipient. This can save up to 5 days in transit time.

Option for inserting holiday cards:  Suppliers that insert holiday cards, or your client’s business cards, directly at the production point saves you the time and hassle of repackaging gifts.

Quicker ship dates. As it gets closer to holiday cut off dates, gifts designated for quick ship can sometimes mean the difference in securing a sale. (See Maple Ridge Farms quick ship items for some ideas.)

Quicker turn around for imprinted gifts. A large retail internet food gift company that offers imprinted gifts requires that the order be placed by November 4th for delivery the week of December 15. If your client is one of the 50% who wait until after November 8th, they are much too late for imprinted gifts from this internet company. Promotional product suppliers are geared toward quick turnarounds for imprinting gifts. 

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As it gets closer to holiday cut off dates, gifts designated for quick ship can sometimes mean the difference in securing a sale.

Digital influenced shopping

Increasingly, shoppers are relying on their smartphones and other mobile devices while making holiday gift purchases. The trend is to be heavily influenced by digital, but make more purchases in person. Suppliers with mobile friendly web sites will make it easier for you to present ideas to your clients electronically. Sites that offer action boxes where you have the options such as emailing product page information, sharing to social networking sites, and create virtual samples helps you be more immediate in your online communications with your clients.  Then you have the option to seal the deal with a personal presentation or call.

Tiered Giving is becoming popular

According to ASI, last years sales in the promotional products industry increased by 6% in the fourth quarter over 2012, and suppliers and distributors both anticipate an increase in 2014. People are increasing their holiday gift purchases, but are still budget minded. Using different price points for various clients is one way to become more economical in gift purchasing. It may make more sense to give top clients a gift of higher value and others more budget-friendly gifts.

The bottom line is there are still lots of unplaced holiday orders out there, just waiting for you to save the day for your clients! Busy clients don’t have time to go out shopping for business gifts. Purchasing through you is easier than through internet or retail store options; plus add value, expertise, and branding.