Holiday Gift Time!

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Don’t hate me…you do realize it’s that time of year to order your Holiday Gifts for your clients and for what your clients can buy from you?

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Gifts, what is it and who thought of it anyway?
By definition- A gift given willingly to someone without payment.

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When it comes to this time of year, I think we all feel a little obligated to give gifts. Personally, I never really liked the gift idea because it does become an obligation. We gift on Birthday’s, Christmas, Showers and more because in Society we have been taught and/or brainwashed that Gifts on any occasion should be given. I feel a Gift is more of a Gift when it’s unexpected.

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In looking at the definition of Gift, “willingly and without payment” sticks out at me. If you are thinking about giving client gifts, it has to be because you want to, not because you feel you have to. And, you must realize, there is a cost involved for these gifts with no monetary return. However, the ROI received, cannot be calculated. Especially when the gift is thought provoking, usable and memorable.

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One of the best gifts I gave to my clients when I owned my Salon, is something totally unrelated to our Industry.  An ornament!

I ordered my ornaments from “Oriental Trading”.  They had some really great selections and when bought in bulk, were fairly inexpensive.

You can’t just get any ornament.  Again, it has to be thought provoking.

One year I gave crystal hearts.  A great way to tell my clients I love them…..which, I did.

What you have to be careful about, are the other Holidays of clients who don’t celebrate Christmas.  That’s why the hearts were such a great theme.  It was pretty neutral.

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This gift was a little more costly, but the retail sales which followed afterwards, more than made up for it.

I gave a travel size hand cream and foot cream combo.  I tried to get flavors conducive to the Holiday and the clients loved it.

For those clients who received them earlier in the season, they wanted to buy them as gifts for friends, their own clients and/or stocking stuffers.  It was a win win situation.

Centre for Beauty has the LCN creams available again this year. Baked Apple Cinnamon, Pinewood, Prestige and Butter Cookie Vanilla, are all available for purchase.

The 50ml size is perfect for travel. Buy them at an amazing price, and package a single cream in a little gift bag, placed under your tree with your clients name on them.

Put your Santa hat on, when you gift it to your client.

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Before my Salon days, the Salon I frequented to get my nails done offered a Gift Certificate book for 12 months worth of savings.

This is a great way to get your clients to try new services, and to cross promote within your own Salon.

Some ideas are;

  • January – 10$ off Massage
  • February – 10% off all Gift Certificates
  • March – Buy 1 retail item receive 2nd item at 1/2 off
  • April – 10% off a Foot Care service
  • May – 10% off a Nail Care service
  • June – 10% off a Hair Care service
  • July – Bring in a friend – receive 10% off your service (and they do to)
  • August – Nail art design – receive 1 Free
  • September – Anti Age series – 1 FREE with purchase of 4
  • October – 10% off a Facial service
  • November – 10% of a retail item
  • December – MERRY CHRISTMAS

These are just some recommendations and/or thoughts, you really have to tailor it to your services, your Salon.

You also have to state the stipulations

  • Only 1 coupon per month designated
  • Not combined with any other special
  • Expires month end of month indicated
  • Non-transferrable
  • No cash value – can not be traded in
  • Can not be applied to non-designated service

You have to make sure you cover all your bases.  The great thing about this idea, is no cash outlay on the onset, and it’s the gift that keeps on giving.  In addition, as I said earlier, it will stimulate clients to try other services.

It’s a win win!

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Another idea that always went over well was a cuticle oil and/or conditioner.  There are so many available from simple 8ml sizes, to cuticle pens which, are all easy to carry in a purse.

Centre for Beauty has three(3) different options.  For the month of October, we are offering 10% OFF

  • Nail oil 8ml
  • 3Phase nail oil
  • Tea Tree cuticle pen (includes 3 replacement heads)
  • Bamboo cuticle pen

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Nail Polish is always a great gift as well.  A small 8ml size doesn’t set you back a whole lot and if you are thinking about adding nail polish for sale, it’s great way to introduce the brand to your clients.

Centre for Beauty offers the 8ml LCN brand of polish.  It’s free of everything you can think of, Soy-Gluten-Formadahyde-Paraben free and Cruelty free and it’s a Vegan polish.

You can buy the new Holiday sets which gives you 6 polishes (only give your clients one(1)), or you can purchase them separately and choose whatever color you want.

Take a look at the color chart and preorder yours today.  You want to make sure you begin passing gifts out to your clients by November.

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One year I took clippings of my “Christmas Cactus” and made 35 starter plants.  I wrapped them in red foil with a red bow and that was my gift for my clients.

They loved them, and many are still thriving and have grown quite big and healthy.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Another year, I spent a whole day making chocolate covered pretzel sticks.

I wrapped red saran wrap around the ends with a bow, and viola…….thoughtful, personal AND edible.

It was so well received, it has become a tradition of which I make extra and bring to my neighbors on Christmas Eve.  Wearing my Santa hat of course.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Soooooo…who’s idea was it anyway?

According to Curious History

Origins of Gift Giving

The giving of gifts may be one of the oldest of human activities that pre-dates civilization and may go back to the origin of our species. Even in primitive cavemen culture, the giving of gifts was fairly common as it was used to show love and affection towards one another. The bestowing of gifts was also inferred as a status symbol when leaders of tribes or clans would show their appreciation for the contributions of those who were part of an important achievement. At Gifts Ready To Go, you will find many gifts ideas to help you find the perfect gift for any occasion and connect with people around you.

Whether it was an unusually shaped rock, a tooth from an animal, the bark from a tree or some other item that was natural in origin, the giving of gifts was certainly common behavior long before we became an advanced civilization. As tools were developed, the gifts started to become more elaborate, for example holes were drilled into animal teeth and stones so they could be displayed on necklaces and many other objects were fashioned as well.

Later during the Egyptian era, gifts were most notably given to their pharaohs who built massive pyramids to store their wealth for afterlife and produced idols to support their beliefs of idol worship. In Roman times people would present each other with good luck tokens, which lasted for centuries and later influenced all of Western civilization onwards. Such tokens of good luck were used as presents to carry favors and show allegiance, which is still the case today.

By the Medieval age, gifts were used to secure the personal favor of the king or show allegiance in times of war. Also, personal gifts of betrothals were given as dowries which ranged from coins to precious metals to a herd of cattle, goats or sheep. In many cultures, dowries and other similar expressions still exist today.

Today gift giving is still part of our everyday culture and defines who we are and the message we want to send with our gift. Gifts are given for all occasions and celebrations and are a means of us communicating with each other and expressing ourselves.

The Psychology Behind Gift Giving

Today, gift giving is spread across all cultures around the world, from celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, offering good luck, best wishes for getting well, showing love and affection, or just saying thanks. Gifts are given to family members, friends, those we work with and even neighbors who receive gifts of all different types. There are large industries dedicated to creating and selling gifts that allow people even in the busiest of times to find the right type of present to give someone for many different reasons and occasions.

The psychology of why gift giving is so rewarding is simple it allows people to connect. The giver of a gift expresses their feelings and emotions by sending a gift with the hope of being able to share these with the receiver of the gift. The receiver of the gift in turn receives the feelings and emotions and with this a connection is made. Making connections with people around us gives us a sense of purpose and feeling of satisfaction. This feeling is one that enlightens the soul and brings out the best in us. There is an old saying “it is better to give than receive” and it has a special meaning especially when the realization of the benefits that it provides to those who give.

Why is it Important To Give Gifts?

There has been a considerable amount of research over the years into the feelings of wellbeing that occurs when we give gifts to those we care about. From as early as cavemen days gift giving has been rewarding which may be the reason it has stood the test of time. Here are some reasons as to why:

We Feel Happy: Simply put, the giving of gifts can make a person feel happier about themselves as well as to the person that has received their gift. In studies were people were asked to give gifts as a part of an experiment, the result was that people actually felt better and happier about their own lives.

Improve State of Mind: Research suggests that giving gifts may improve a person’s state of mind. If giving a gift makes you feel happier with a sense of purpose then this may inevitably improve your state of mind.

Greater Social Connection: By giving a gift, you not only expressing your feelings but building a stronger connection to that person as well. Not only does the person receiving the gift feel closer to the giver, but vice versa as well. This greater social connection also means an improvement in the state of being as well as overall happiness.

It’s Contagious: When a person starts giving gifts, not only will the recipient become more likely to give, those around them who see this act will start giving as well. This is in part due to the release of the endorphins, which not only benefits the giver, but is also felt by those who receive and see the act of giving as well.

Visit giftsreadytogoblog.com for more interesting articles on the history of aromatherapy, cast iron teapots, silk flower arrangements and more.

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[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”2087″ title=”CJ Murray, President”][vc_column_text]CJ Murray, President

Centre for Beauty Salon Supply[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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