Your guide to outstanding client gifts that will make you stand out

(November 2002) Finding unique gifts that make you stand out in the mind of your clients has been made easy, thanks to Advisor.ca’s holiday gift giving guide. Read on for some unusual yet thoughtful presents from Canadian Web sites that you can send to your client base or centres of influence this December.

For the environmentally conscious client:

www.natureconservancy.ca: Buy your clients an acre of threatened Canadian habitat for a $30 donation. Recipient gets a personalized gift certificate, noting whom the gift is from (an individual or a company), as well as a 2003 calendar, mailed directly to his door. The gift-giver receives the tax receipt from the Nature Conservancy of Canada. You can order online or print off an order form and fax it in. For more information about this program, call 1-800-465-0029 or visit www.natureconservancy.ca. Order before December 3 to ensure that your clients receive their certificates before Christmas.

www.eseeds.ca: Include a packet of rare seeds with your holiday card mail-out this December. Eseeds.ca has a wide assortment of well-known and well-loved garden favourites such as cosmos, zinnias and pinks to more unusual varieties such astrantia, catanache and eryngiums to choose from. Gift certificates are also available. Visit www.eseeds.ca for more information and to check out the extensive catalogue of seeds to choose from.

For the charitable client:

www.charity.ca: Make a donation in your clients’ names to a charity of their choice, and get the tax receipt. This site also provides charity profiles and information about their goals and financial status as well. Do a search on the site and you can choose from regional charities as well as a variety of international ones.

For the hard-to-buy-for client:

www.giftcertificates.ca: As its name implies, this Web site allows you to choose from a wide variety of Canada-wide stores to purchase gift certificates from. From restaurants to apparel to books and music, you can find something for every client.

For the client who has everything:

www.lobsterdirect.com: Treat your clients to a lobster dinner, delivered live to their doors! Place your order through this Web site, and within 24 hours, your clients can have fresh lobster, clams, mussels or crab from Halifax on their table. LobsterDirect.com also has gift certificates and gift baskets you can have sent to your lucky recipient — for $99.99 your clients will receive two lobsters, two pounds of clams, a cracker and fork set and bibs.

For the art-loving client:

www.amazart.com: Send your clients framed prints of some of the most popular artwork available, at prices 30% to 40% less than list prices. Imagine their excitement when they open up a Nu Bleu III by Matisse, and your excitement when you see how much you saved. Most prints can be delivered in 24 hours, but allow five to 10 business days for framed prints. Call 1-800-361-0014 or order online.

For the book lovers in your client base:

Advisor.ca’s Books For Advisors section: Check out this section of Advisor.ca for reviews of books you can give to your clients this December. Books on tax planning, estate planning and more can be welcome and useful presents your clients will appreciate.

Other sources for gift ideas:

Still not sure what to get your clients and centres of influence? Try these handy sites for more ideas: www.chatelaine.com: Chatelaine.com’s annual gift giving guide and essential Web guide have some unique ideas for your shopping choices.

Today’s Parent 2002 Top Toys List: After lots of play, Today’s Parent has published their list of the top toys for this holiday season.

Real thanks, virtual help: An advisor’s guide to online client appreciation resources: Online resources and sites you can use in your appreciation strategy this holiday season.

• • •

Want to get the most out of your gift giving efforts? For some advice from advisor marketing guru Marty Baird, please click here.

• • •

Filed by Wendi Phillips, Advisor.ca, wphillips@advisor.ca.

11/27/02

Wendi Phillips