Gifts & "thank you" responses

[BluesCam]

Do you folks send gifts to clients after a big project?

What about when a competitor sends a referral your way?

What about big events in the client's life like having a baby or getting married?

I know some small companies that are always sending nice gifts to on-going clients. They think it's maditory as a business practice.

Thanks.

[SF Camera]

I generally don’t send gifts to a client unless I know them personally on a big event and usually after a shoot I always follow it up with a phone call to see how things went in post. I always keep in touch with my clients even if I haven’t heard from them in a while just to touch base.

As far as a competitor referral I will always return the favor.

[Sean-1966]

Christmas a lot of my client get a little something.

[BluesCam]

Someone suggested Starbucks gift certificates as a "thank you."

[quicklad]

I send out Starbucks cards as holiday presents for my biggest clients. One - it is a small fraction of the amount of business I do with them (When we settled on our new house my real estate agent bought us a lawn mower - a nice gift - but also a fraction of his commission). Two- everytime they get a coffee - for a while anyway- they think of me.

I don't usually do it after the gig itself - just around holiday time.

[Birdy]

I know of one woman who sent cards or small gifts to business associates' family members for birthdays, holidays, weddings, etc. (How she even got that info, I have no idea.) Waaaay over the line! :eek:

Holidays get cards, and small gifts (usually some of our hometown junk food) for a few larger clients. I also do follow-up and "keeping in touch" calls every so often.

[2000lux]

I once got a thank you card and a photo of me on the set with my check from one client after a week long project. I thought that was nice.

If I can, I like to take a photo of the client with a digital camera while we're on location and I e-mail that to them later with a, "I enjoyed working with you [blah blah blah]..." note. They appreciate it and it reminds them to think of me when they're crewing the next shoot. ;)

[Todio]

I do the thank you, pleasure working with you email too. Never thought of a photo but I always carry a small digital camera in my pocket so I'll start that practice.

I get a LOT of referrals from shooters so anyone I've worked with in the past year gets a small gift. Last year it was a small LED flashlight with a gooseneck tip (perfect for finding lost tripod plate screws in dark corners and junk at the bottom of the run bag) The year before that it was wristbands that double as soft, washable eyecups (I've still got shooters coming up to me 2 years later and commenting on that one). Problem is, I'm going to have to top myself this year...

[BluesCam]

I know one guy that sends big gift baskets at Christmas, but his clients are paying him $$$$ every year. I guess you run the risk of too big or too small when you send a gift. An attorney I consulted with about media law sent me a box of Hershey candy at Christmas.
One guy I know even sends gifts for client's personal events (birthdays, weddings, etc.) I think that's a bit much.