X-Mas cards - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

KellyPainting · 12-06-2006, 09:57 PM

I need all your addresses?...just kidding..
Customer christmas cards... who's sending them..What are you saying?
any presents for above average customers.( I do )...

dougchips · 12-06-2006, 10:10 PM

Already sent, I like to be the first one they receive. Non Jewish customers cards say Merry Christmas. I was debating on tossing in a coupon, ended up tossing in a couple business cards.

No one pissed me off enough this year for me to send them a $500 Home Creapo gift card that is not validated. Great gift idea and they are free!

JMGP · 12-06-2006, 10:43 PM

No Christmas Cards here... not everyone celebrates...(jewish customers)

I send Happy New Year Cards ...

Thanking them for a great year and happy new... bla bla bla

No bussiness cards, coupouns or anything else... I think that is cheesy...

mdshunk · 12-06-2006, 10:50 PM

I have a hard enough time getting invoices sent out. Christmas cards would end up arriving mid March.

Richard · 12-07-2006, 06:09 AM

I've thought about it, but haven't made a decision--I keep coming back to the idea that one could take it as "fishing for work", even though it's just a simple card.

Traditions · 12-07-2006, 07:30 AM

i'm sending them.. Saying the normal merry christmas and what not. I also am including a before and after pic of their house. I don't care if it looks like I am fishing for work. "Can't catch anything if your not on the lake!"

ATH · 12-07-2006, 09:21 AM

We send them every year. They usually have the politcally correct "Seasons Greetings" or "Happy Holidays" on them. I don't have the time to track all my customers religious preferences let alone send out different cards based upon that information. I guess we feel it is less likely that we'll offend the militant Christians in the bunch by not using the word "Christmas" than offend our customers of non-Christian faith if we did use the word "Christmas." In general, we try not to wear our political, religious, etc. feelings on our sleeve.

We always include a small gift with our name on it. Two years ago it was a rubber jar opener in the shape of a house (company name is Around the House). Last year it was a magnetic business card with a pad of paper attached. That got the most comments, but was heavier (and more expensive) to send. This year it was a pad of Post-It's.

Fishing for business? Yeah, I guess so ... and it usually springs a couple of jobs, in the slowest time of the year. It also often prompts a nice e-mail or note thanking us for all our help the past year. We have never heard anyone complain about it ... yeah, I know, we wouldn't hear the complaints.

We do not include any coupons or other "offers." Sending a card with a small (marketing) gift can be thought of either way ... as good thoughts at this time of year or as a marketing message. We feel if you include a coupon or "special offer," it is hard not to look at it as any other marketing flyer.

Besides, we don't really do discounts off of our prices.

Danahy · 12-07-2006, 07:55 PM

My wife has been preparing these things for a week now... I'm sorta hesitant, as I'm just not that kinda guy.

However; I was in the paint store today, when a woman called, and asked if they knew my number. It was a customer of mine from last year, who wanted to refer me to her friend. I got on the phone, gave her my number, and booked her friend.

... with this in mind, I might just send the generic cards, with my card inside, nothing fancy, just a quick merry xmas...

b34nz · 12-07-2006, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMGP

No Christmas Cards here... not everyone celebrates...(jewish customers)

I send Happy New Year Cards ...

Thanking them for a great year and happy new... bla bla bla

No bussiness cards, coupouns or anything else... I think that is cheesy...

God forbid you send a x-mas card to a Muslim customer by mistake

:::hears the ACLU knocking on your door:::

PaintPro · 12-07-2006, 10:01 PM

It's a good idea. Can't hurt!

Steve Richards · 12-08-2006, 05:52 PM

I sent out holiday cards, but only to people I haven't done any work for in a few years. I figured maybe they've lost my number by now, so I hope a few will at least keep the business card I slipped in.

"cheesy"?

yup

"Fishing for work"?

you bet

lornmastro · 12-08-2006, 10:32 PM

I wouldn't send a xmas card...it gets too mixed up with all the other xmas cards sent..plus that time of yr no one will even notice they even got it...to hectic....i sent out a new yrs card last yr...with a coupon for referral business

ARCS · 12-08-2006, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ATH

We send them every year. They usually have the politcally correct "Seasons Greetings" or "Happy Holidays" on them. I don't have the time to track all my customers religious preferences let alone send out different cards based upon that information. I guess we feel it is less likely that we'll offend the militant Christians in the bunch by not using the word "Christmas" than offend our customers of non-Christian faith if we did use the word "Christmas." In general, we try not to wear our political, religious, etc. feelings on our sleeve.

This is what this world is coming to, everyone having to be all politically correct. I can't stand it, even if you are one that does not celebrate holidays, you have to realize that 99 percent of the population does and it is your choice not to, if you haven't learned to disreguard holiday messages and plan to hold a grudge for getting one, go climb back in your cave and please don't bother to call me ever again.

tzzzz216 · 12-08-2006, 11:45 PM

I just sent out the ones I bought from national pen , they're pretty nice card, I only ordered 25, they even have a CD that comes with the card and 12 songs on it , I've been getting alot feed back on it the phone wont stop ringing from customers saying what a great idea thank you , where can i get them for my customers , the wife loves, etc. the cost on it wasn't all that bad compared to other companys , $1.85 each i've seen others out there for $3.95

Try to send these jobs overseas !!

ATH · 12-09-2006, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ARCS

This is what this world is coming to, everyone having to be all politically correct. I can't stand it, even if you are one that does not celebrate holidays, you have to realize that 99 percent of the population does and it is your choice not to, if you haven't learned to disreguard holiday messages and plan to hold a grudge for getting one, go climb back in your cave and please don't bother to call me ever again.

We dont "have to" be politically correct. We spend a lot of time and trouble to make our customers comfortable with us and trust us. It only takes a little thing to make them begin to look elsewhere for their help. If a non-Christian customer suddenly becomes less comfortable with us and decides not to call us for their next job, we have wasted money and time with this marketing effort. We dont need any marketing effort with a negative return.

We don't expect that any of our customers would go so far as to "hold a grudge."

My personal opinion: Is it any harder for a Christian to translate (in their head) "Happy Holidays" to "Merry Christmas" than to expect a non-Christian to "disregard holiday messages?" I don't care if you celebrate Christmas, Hannukah (sp?), Kwanzaa, or even a holiday you just made up. We are wishing you good thoughts at this time of year ... and if you need anything, give us a call.

rick4u2000 · 12-09-2006, 09:32 AM

I send out christmas cards every year. Does not take to long to write up. Most if not all of my clients really appreciate them, and my newer clients are caught off gaurd that some carpenter guy takes the time to write out christmas cards.