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| Incentives & Rewards |
Pamper me, don’t scare me
Incentives |
(Copy article for Business MK, February 2005)
 Drive me around the Silverstone Race Track in a fast car and I close my eyes all the way round and live in fear of my life, but give me a pamper day at Whittlebury Hall and I’ll be very happy and remember you.
When you incentivise or reward your staff or thank clients for their support and business, one of the biggest mistakes we all make is thinking if it’s something we enjoy so will others, but that can be far from the truth.
Right Mix
It’s getting the right mix of understanding what motivates the recipients and matching the incentive to their and your benefit. Just take a look around your desk and see how many gifts you’ve received – I bet there is a mouse mat, a coaster, a pen, a wall planner, a diary – but what makes you keep these. If you can answer this then you’ll have a better idea of what makes your clients keep your gift and remember you - because that is one of the aims.
It could be something they need to use on a regular basis, or has contact details they want to keep, or is a fond memory of the time they won nearest the pin at a golf tournament. A lawyer friend gave her clients a small business card which acted as a magnifying glass “to read the small print” – novel Yes and something people kept, well I’ve still got mine!
Surprise
You may prefer the surprise element or something bizarre. One Christmas I received a box and inside was a single sweet with the message “Bah, humbug – enjoy your Christmas”. It was totally useless, I never ate the humbug but I still remember which company sent it to me.
Take your staff on a London Eye trip and for some it will be no thrill because they’ve done it all before or don’t like heights, whilst for others it’s the best thing they’ve done all year and the gratitude will show.
We’ve just completed an Incentive Calendar for a life assurance company where each month IFAs entered a competition to win a monthly prize. The prizes ranged from a Seychelles holiday, to a plasma screen TV, a helicopter trip and a watersports weekend in MK.
The response was excellent with increased sales and the client has since done more competitions during the year to support different promotions with prizes of Disneyland Paris family weekends, Mediterranean cruises and London Theatre weekends staying at top hotels. They hit the right note with the recipients.
So what’s your next “thank you” going to be?
Call us on 01908 336580 or
email
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| Key Points |
 - it’s getting the right mix - understanding what motivates the recipients and matching the incentive to their and your benefit
- it could be something they need to use on a regular basis
- you may prefer the surprise element or something bizarre
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