Creativity Is Key For Entrepreneurial Gift Giving

What does the entrepreneur in your life want for the holidays? And what can entrepreneurs give others, when they’re cash-strapped?

I’m asking myself these questions as part of today’s Business Channel Theme Day all about holiday gifts.

Great Gifts for Entrepreneurs

The easiest answer is cash. Lots of entrepreneurs are bootstrapping, so a little cash on the side wouldn’t hurt. But that seems cheesy, doesn’t it? I can just see my grandmother saying, “Ben, I know you run a small business, must be tough…here’s $20.” Woohoo!

Of course, feel free to send me cash…but let’s try and get a bit more creative.

How about books? Books are a great gift. There are tons of great books out there for entrepreneurs of all stripes – home-based businesses, eBay aficionados, Web startups, retailers, etc. – but “been there done that” keeps ringing in my ears.

So, I’m forced to come up with some more interesting ideas. Here’s what I got:

• A bottle of champagne. Not necessarily unique, but it gives you the chance to get creative with the accompanying note that you’ll attach to the bottle. “Ben, I believe in you. I believe in your passion, and I know you’ll be a huge success. You already are. Open this when the time is right; you’ll know when that is.” (Aww…sappy, but it’ll work, trust me.)
• Business cards. You might not be able to design the cards yourself, but lots of entrepreneurs have crappy business cards. And business cards are still important! Go online and find a business card store. Get a gift certificate, or buy a few samples for the entrepreneur. And don’t forget the touching note, “I want you to shine as much as I know you can…”
• Contacts/Referrals. Not really a traditional gift, and not something I’d recommend for close friends or family, but entrepreneurs always need contacts. Nothing says, “I’m really thinking about you,” to an entrepreneur like a contact or referral. It’ll take some thought, but the accompanying card (or email) will never be forgotten: “Ben, I was thinking about you today and realized that you should speak with Tom. He’s a great guy and I think you two would really benefit from getting to know one another. I’ve told Tom to expect your call, and I wish you the best.”
• Personalized piggy bank. A little humor never hurt anyone. Check out these personalized piggy banks. Some have funny sayings/jokes, others can be monogrammed. There’s not an entrepreneur on the face of the planet that won’t appreciate this gift (OK, maybe there are some…)

Now that I’ve done all your holiday shopping for you let me tackle the second part of this question, “What can cash-strapped entrepreneurs do for holiday gifts?” Specifically, what can they get clients, contacts, vendors, etc.?

Inexpensive Gifts Entrepreneurs Can Give Others

Truth be told I don’t think there’s anything better than a handwritten note. It’s personalized, meaningful and will stick out in anyone’s mind. Do it on a company-labeled gift card and it’s even better! (They’ll keep it, show it around, and your logo/name won’t be forgotten.)

Getting a bit more creative, I would veer towards the cute and humorous. You’re an entrepreneur, just starting out. You want to come off as witty, sassy, entertaining and memorable. Come up with something that’s cleverly tied to your business/industry.

For example, say your business has something to do with streamlining the way a company works; improving operations, helping with project management, teamwork, etc. (That covers a LOT of businesses.) Why not buy some Whoopee Cushions ($1.99) and send those to clients and prospects. In the attached card, write “Meetings Stink.” (If you make a million dollars on this idea I want a piece of the action!)

Or what about some fake Christmas lottery tickets? The person scratches them and it looks like they’ve won $20,000 or more. The back of the ticket tells them the disappointing truth. But you can turn these into a hilarious success with a nice card that says something like, “There are better ways to make money.” That’d be perfect for so many businesses…

Gifts don’t have to be expensive. The thought really does count. Get creative and spend some time really thinking about what you can do for gifts that’ll make a lasting impression. And then next year, you’ll just have to outdo yourself again.

Happy Holidays!

Photo by gawp.