Out of the Box Holiday Giving

Yes, it’s official…the holiday season is in full swing.  With Christmas only 6 shopping days away and Hanukkah wrapping up, ’tis the season for gifts, parties, cookies and sweets galore and, of course, retailer promotions.  I was curious to know what small businesses were doing this year in the area of gift giving (to employees and clients) with sales still down across the board in most industries.

A small business owner I know is hosting her newly named “Winter Party” in January this year and getting a 30% discount off the space.  According to a December Wall Street Journal article, a company called Jersey Street Furniture Rental out of Clifton, N.J. is throwing a “Bring Your Own Business” party, selling invitations to small business to “drink, dance and mingle with other small business employees”.  Also mentioned was Proforma Worldwide Support Center – whose executives have offered to scrape snow off of windshields of employees at least once a month this winter.

And then there’s the charitable giving angle (my personal favorite).  An organization I’ve recently been introduced to, TisBest offers charity gift cards where the recipient gets to choose to which of 250 charities the funds are directed.  I love founder Erik Marks’ recent quote from a Seattle Times article, “I think the world would be better if people focused on how to make it better rather than how to get more stuff.”  This is an awesome way to give a personalized gift and give back at the same time (and get a tax deduction!)

Other businesses offer discounts for customers bringing in donations to local food banks or other local charities.  I think probably the best way for small businesses to “give” during the holiday season (or really at any time of year) is to make use of the resources they already have.  I stumbled upon this blog post about an annual “Train the Trainer” fundraiser Momentum Fitness hosts every year to benefit local charities.  Clients make a donation to put their trainer through any exercise – usually the ones they despise the most.  To date, they have “raised over $40,000 and donated over $50,000 in services”.  Not too shabby!

With the need greater than ever, sometimes all it takes is a little out-of-the-box thinking to come up with a pretty amazing holiday season.