Halloween is over, and it’s nearly Thanksgiving, so you know what that means… the Holidays are officially here! Whether you are already humming Christmas jingles, or refusing to accept it until December comes, the truth is, they are upon us! NOW is the time to start thinking about what you are going to be gifting to your clients, top referrers, preferred vendors or students.
Some of you reading this, are maybe thinking “Wait, what? Gifts? Why am I buying my clients gifts?” Well let me tell you WHY YOU SHOULD BE GIFTING. First off, everyone loves to receive gifts, and many of us love giving gifts even more! Gifting token items to your best customers and preferred vendors is a great way to highlight your business’ identity and values. It reflects a level of generosity and implies that you care about these individual relationships. The truth is, no one expects their Makeup Artist to send them a gift. It will surprise them in the best way possible, help increase repeat business and referrals, and completely set you apart from the rest. Best of all, they will be left feeling so appreciated! And … depending on what you gift, it is an awesome way to get them hooked on a new product you carry.
So now that I’ve convinced you, you must be thinking, “I’ve never done this, where do I start and WHAT SHOULD I GIFT?” Truthfully, it can be anything! It could be a makeup product or something makeup related … like a lip gloss, a compact mirror, a makeup bag or your favorite blotting sheets. Or it could be something unrelated to makeup, and simply something you just love! For example, a trio of your favorite teas, yummy sweets, your favorite face mask, a small candle or even a cute business card holder. Whatever it is, it should just say something about who you are, or about your brand. The idea is for someone to see this item and remember that YOU were the one who gifted it to them. Also, remember that you don’t have to give the same gift to all kinds of clients, so you can have a few gift options for your different client types. Here are some of my favorite items to gift and some ideas for you to snag for your clients:
NARS PENCIL SHARPENER $6
(Plus your discount if you’re a PRO Member). I have 3 of these in my kit at all times and the large sharpener hole is bigger than most, making it life saver for those larger chubby crayons. https://www.narscosmetics.com/USA/pencil-sharpener/0607845099109.html
BERRY NUDE LIPS KIT by NUDE STIX $24 for 3.
Great winter colors for everyone! Creamy crayons are a fool-proof makeup item for even the most novice of makeup fans. Their eye crayons are great too! Check out their packages of 5 items too! https://www.nudestix.com/products/berry-nude-lips
HELLO GORGEOUS MUG $5.99 from Target.
4. HELLO GORGEOUS MUG $5.99 from Target. Stick your favorite tea or lip gloss in it or even some cute pencils for your vendor friends. https://www.target.com/p/15oz-porcelain-hello-gorgeous-stackable-mug-pink-gold-threshold-153/-/A-51093178
MICRO MINI PRO by Beauty Blender $18 for 2.
Don’t forget to apply for your PRO Discount!Who doesn’t need a fresh Beauty Blender?! https://beautyblender.com/collections/blenders/products/micro-mini-pro
MARIO BADESCU FACIAL SPRAY WITH ALOE, HERBS AND ROSEWATER $7.
Amazing for dry winter skin and just a mid-day pick me up! *PLUS! When you spend $35 at Ulta you get this gift for free that you can re-gift! Check out the gift here: https://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=pimprod2001889 https://www.ulta.com/facial-spray-with-aloe-herbs-rosewater?productId=xlsImpprod6200727
Now you’re ready to step it up in a big way but maybe a little worried about HOW MUCH SHOULD I SPEND? So i’ll tell you this. Holiday gifting is about showing your appreciation to your client, and nothing more. We have to remember, there are A LOT of makeup artists out there and they chose us. You don’t have to spend a lot. With Black Friday around the corner you can find some smokin’ deals and also there are always adorable gifts in the dollar section at Target – that area gets me every time! This year, the items I am having made are under $15 for my VIP clients. If you think about what your client spends with you, this is a tiny investment in your long-term relationship with them…plus it’s all tax-deductible! It’s truly a win-win: you create good-will with your clients without breaking the bank!
So now you know why you should give, and you have some affordable ideas on what you should give, the last question you may have is WHEN SHOULD I GIVE? The answer to that is an easy one, the answer is NOW! But really, the sooner the better! Being a makeup artist is different than being a hair stylist – your client is likely not coming in every 5 weeks like clockwork, so you may have to pop it in the mail if you don’t expect to see them anytime soon. However, with the holidays, your clients are more inclined to get their makeup done for the parties and family photos – so your chances of seeing them are increased. In fact, if you do pop it into the mail early on, you MAY even see them for makeup for that certain holiday party as a result of the gift! Not saying this small token is going to necessarily get you work, but it will be that little buzzing in their ear reminding them how great you are and that they in fact need you to glam them up for their next event!
Have way too much going on during the holiday months? Well, consider a New Year’s Gift or even a Valentine’s Day Gift! Nothing wrong with being a little different, and it may be even more unexpected which is a good thing! You want to be memorable, just as these special clients are to you!
Now that you have the tools needed to gift, remember that PRESENTATION IS KEY also. Don’t forget a pretty ribbon or handwritten thank you note to include with your thoughtful gift! So this holiday season, strive to stand out in the crowd! Beyond being a nice thing to do, this gifting also gives you a reason to reach out to your client base without asking anything of them. It is an easy way to reconnect with people who you haven’t been in regular contact with, and most importantly, it’s genuine, much like you.
Happy Gifting!
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