Should home business owners give holiday gifts to their customers/clients?  If so, what should they give and how much should they spend?
This all depends on your business, the number of customers, and how much you have to spend.
Receiving gifts pleases most customers and serves as a good public relations technique.  However, most businesses can’t spend too much on gifts and must be careful they don’t favor one customer over the other.
Some ideas:

Calendars
Planners
Cheese and crackers gift box
Something you’ve made
A hand written thank you note
Grab bag
Include something extra with a holiday purchase
Open house party

What do you give as gifts…to your walk-in customers …read more

If you have a home business with walk-in customers, promote online sales but do some demonstrations of your products, or conduct home parties, why not organize an Open House?  Invite customers to see your displays, receive updates on your products,  enjoy refreshments, and have fun.
One of my friends is doing this with her business and planning an Open House this weekend.  A number of her friends and acquaintances have said they will attend.  This gives her an opportunity to share with them the gift giving ideas she has available.
Ideas for a Holiday Open House:

Set a specific time and plan it …read more

Thursday Thirteen: My daughter-in-law presents us with a list of gifts each year – for herself, her husband, and the grandchildren.  While this is helpful, my husband rebels.  He specifically gets them things that are NOT on the list.  If you like holiday gift lists, here is one for you to present to family and friends.
I decided to look on Etsy.com to see what handmade products might be appropriate for the home business owner.  Since I wrote about Etsy on Small Business Boomers a while back, I have spent way too much time on this site.  I love the idea …read more

As you scurry about filling last minute orders, getting gifts prepared for family and making other holiday preparations, you might like to take a look at some previous Home Biz Notes gift giving posts for inspiration. 
Christmas Gifts for the Home Business Owner
Your Children & Your Home Business Leading Up To Christmas
Gift Giving Suggestions for the Home Business Owner
I’ve been tucking items into small gift bags and adding tissue paper and bows to complete the festive look.  These I hand deliver or give out if a customer stops by our home.  They’re also a handy way to thank a customer throughout the …read more

In a previous post, I described gifts the home business owner might give at Christmas time.  Now…what would the business owner like?
Each business owner has different interests and needs, so it’s difficult to find many common gifts.  However, a bookkeeping system or system update comes in handy.  Since most small business owners do much of their bookkeeping, possibly having an accountant help them set it up or finalize it, the computer programs for doing this save a great deal of time.
Also, since business cards are almost a necessity for business owners, a unique holder for these makes a nice gift.  …read more

When we talk of gifts as the holiday season approaches, small business owners often turn to their own talents. What can you do when it comes to offering a gift, whether it’s an item you produce or a service you offer?
For instance as a writer, I often give my books as gifts. (I suppose I assume everyone will want to read them!!) I also teach and write about scrapbooking and compiling one’s family history. (With these classes, I provide supplies from my business as part of the fee.)
Family members seem to appreciate booklets I compile of …read more