Clients - 40 Anniverary - Should I gift?

[katie1nel]

Hello,

I have clients of approxamently 4 years. They are a married couple and will be celebrating their 40th wedding anniverary in a couple days.

The husband was in tonight using a gift certifcate purchased in May during my gift certificate special. The conversation went something like this:


BEFORE THE SESSION

Him: Do you have any specials?

Me: No

Him: Oh. I am using this today. He hands me a gift certificate for 'A Deluxe One Hour Massage.'

BEGINING OF SESSION

Him: Are those deluxe massages popular?

Me: Yes, very! I change my list of services once in a while. When I find something isn't very popular, I change things up. The Deluxe is very popular, as are the foot mud wraps.

Him: Good, that's good. I sure do like those Deluxe Massages.

AFTER THE SESSION



Me: Here's your water, blah blah blah, just to let you know, I am raising my rates October 1st.

Him: Oh okay. I want buy Sharon (his wife) two gift certificates for those Deluxe Massages. It is our 40th anniversary in a couple days and I want to buy her something nice. What are your popular scents of soap? I am going to take 6 and get one free. (buy 6 bars of soap and get one free - doesn't have to be all at the same time)

Me: 40 years? Wow!! You guys don't look old enough!

Him: Yeah, we have been together a long time. Let's make it 3 Deluxe Massages instead of two. (Because of my rate increase in October - I could tell he had been thinking about this.

He handed me his credit card and I rung him up. I bagged his soap and we said our good byes.

Question??

Should I gift them or not?

Between the two of them, they each come in about 4 times a year. He for hours, and her for halves. So, at my current rate the collectivly spend $360 about $40 on products, and they never tip. Over the last 4 years they have refered 3 clients who have collectivly come a couple of times since.

If yes, should I do it big? Should it be a 40 flower bouquet or should it be $40 gift certificate for a nice restaurant in town? Or just a card?

I have an oportunity to make a good impression.

Should I implement this idea and do this for all of my long married couples who hit a milestone anniverary? Should I do it when a client reaches a certain age?

Or.... Do you think they don't spend enough to warrent such a gift?

They are such a sweet couple, just totally in love.

 

[Greshnab]

In case you are wondering what a Deluxe Massage is, here is the description.

I start the session with a hot towel foot wrap, put some hot towels on the clients back when they are face down, include some hot stones, and wipe their back off with a hot towel at the end of the session.

I like them because they are $10 extra, and add perceived value for minimal cost. Because the cost is so minimum (less than 50 cents and about a dozen towels extra.) Sometimes I run a special and include the Deluxe or one of my other add ons with a gift certificate purchase for free or for only a few dollars.

This is how I got him to try the Deluxe Massage. He and his wife bought gift certificates in May. So, now he is hooked on my Deluxe Massages and finds them totally worth the extra $10 and plus he didn't appear to be phased by the rate increase.

I like to think of my session extras as French fries at McDonalds. I haven't gotten the nerve to say, "Would you like a foot wrap with your massage today?" But, if I did, I know some of my clients would say yes. Even the men like mud between their toes!

 

[Samuel]

Clients - 40 Anniverary - Should I gift?

Should it be a 40 flower bouquet or should it be $40 gift certificate for a nice restaurant in town? Or just a card?

40 roses for instance would be too expensive IMO

I'd probably recommend a card, a $40 GC to a nice restaurant AND one perfect red rose. Ah... flowers, the language of love...

P.S. the 40th anniversary is Ruby. I know because my friends just had one a couple months back and my sister's is in November. :

 

[LasNoches]

I have had clients for a very long time and if I bought gifts for every occassion I would be broke.

That said, I have sent flowers and cards when a death occured. I also sent a small flower arrangement after a client broke down in the office and cried for 2 hours over some situation.

But of course a card is a must!

 

[katie s]

I would go with a card. I agree with Softy that a gift for every great client for every occasion gets expensive - plus it's alot of important dates to remember! I have sent flowers after a death, and I did give a gift once to a long-time client couple for their wedding present - (they hired me to do massage at their party.)
But I usually do cards.

 

[leafie]

Or.... Do you think they don't spend enough to warrent such a gift?

A gift should not be based on how much the receiver spends on you. As cliché as it sounds, a gift should come from you heart, not because you want to make a good impression.

In this situation, think a card would suffice. If the husband had not come in, you wouldn't have known about the event ~ unless perhaps it would be in the newspaper. If I read about a client's milestone, I would send a card.

 

[Coolguy101]

Send a lovely card. Flowers for funerals, etc. or, as someone posted, the clients who have had meltdowns [if appropriate] to cheer them up - just don't go hogwild crazy and spend a mint!

 

[dkomarovska]

This is a very good topic. I am early in my practice so I would say a gift would be best, but I can see how if you have been up and running for a while with a good clientel base it would cost you way to much to buy gifts for everyone.
I too apreciate the imput!

 

[SgtShamy]

I am for the $40 g/c to a nice restaurant. Its a milestone that few people make it to these days. You are doing it out of sheer goodwill for one set of clients . I am sure they will appreciate it greatly as it would not be expected from you and a lovely surprise for them.
Now i wouldn't do this for every client just a select few.

Plus it shows them you pay attention to them.I also can pretty much bank on they will refer more people to you because of it.

 

[Elise Jane]

I vote for the card. These clients only buy your services during your discount specials, right? I wouldn't encourage more money-focus by sending them an expensive gift. It would be different if they were weekly clients instead of quarterly. I think a card is a wonderful gesture.

 

[Scotto]

Well Blisss, to be honest, yes, they are bargin shoppers. There are a lot fo them in my area, especially lately. But, they come in plenty of times paying full price.

 

[OLD MAN OF KNOWLEDGE]

I would send a card, maybe a very nice gift if you can find it on clearance.I'm always giving gifts to my clients cause I find stuff 75% to 90% off.That's what I do for my friends and family too.If you can't find something like that, just the card will be fine, the more people come, the more gifts they get.Example: I like to give little things out around special occasions.