Managing a budget is a skill you are probably good at if you have your own business.  With the recent downfall in the economy, you probably also know how difficult it is to meet that budget.  You may have considered gift baskets as a promotional tool, but might think that they are too expensive.  Spending money on something like this might be a difficult decision to make. 

Actually, gift baskets are great marketing tools.  That ‘personal touch’, important for any small business, is one thing every recipient of a gift basket feels.  For certain clients, putting some of your advertising budget into gift baskets might actually gain you new customers. 

Here are five business reasons to give a gift basket to your client. 

1. To market products and services to new potential clients. 
This is a good strategy if you already have a client list.  Send the gift baskets to clients you want to have, including in the basket free product samples and discount coupons. 

2.  Remind past clients of your services. 
If your client database includes customers you have not seen in awhile, send gift baskets to remind them of your business.  A small, personal reminder might be all you need to do to get their return business. 

3.  Upsell your past or current customers. 
If you fill an order for a customer and find you have the opportunity to up sell, consider sending a thank you gift basket as a thanks for the purchase.  Make sure you put promotional literature about the additional products you think might interest your client. 

4.  To market new products and services to past or current clients. 
Use gift baskets to inform past or current clients of your new products or services.  Clients who have been happy with your products and services in the past are more likely to try out your new services. 

5.  To keep your client base loyal and growing. 
Word-of-mouth advertising is both free and priceless, and loyal customers love to tell their friends about good business relationships they have.  Keeping your relationships with current clients is one way to bring in good, reliable business. 

If you want growth, you have to market your products to the right people, and as with any marketing plan, you need to make sure the advertisement fits.  If you are a small business offering services or products with a personal touch, then giving gift baskets might be the right marketing choice for you.  Look at your business plan and see if any of the above reasons makes sense to you.  If so, consider adding gift baskets to your marketing plan and watch your business grow.