There is no better time than the holidays to buy gift cards and other incentives than now.  Many restaurants, grocery stores and retailers are going out of their way to provide you with an incentive to buy more gift cards.  Most restaurants are offering 1 $10.00 gift card when you purchase a $20.00.  Although some think that gift cards do not provide the “ah” factor as a beautifully wrapped present with a gift inside,  it does have longer lasting effect.  A few days or even months later when your friends and relatives go to use their clothes, food or cocktails it is always reminds them of you or your business once again. You see a gift card is not just a gift providing the recipient with their choice of gift or incentive to do business with you, it is a long lasting incentive that often includes sharing who presented them with the gift card over dinning.  If you are a business owner you realize the importance of word of mouth advertising, the best type of advertising in the world!

One thing to note, if you are mailing gift cards be sure to place it in a box so that it can not be felt in a Christmas Card and stolen. Also, select a retailer or restaurant who insures the card in case of theft or lost.

Other Ways to Maximize Your Gift Card Purchases:

1)   Combine purchases with friends for a bigger incentive.

2)  Look for coupons online or swap coupons you need with friends.

3)  The incentive to buying online is saving money on taxes and get free shipping.

5)  Purchase at smaller retailer who are willing to bargain for your business.

6)  Ask friends on Social Nets works where the deals are on gift cards and other cool things.

Even if you are finished with your Christmas shopping, take advantage of gift card incentives on groceries and other items saving you even more money. Hurry deals end when the Christmas season is over.

Give

6)

Although technology has greatly improved our professional and personal lives, it is still human interaction coupled with technolgy that boost a company’s effectiveness. Your employees, vendors and customers want to know that if and when technology fails that there is a skilled and caring individual on the other side to help when needed.  Nothing is worse that driving off a car lot with your new car then finding out a few days later that there is a problem and no one is there expect the automated attendant that answers the telephone.  

In Call Centers across the world, a systems called call presentation delivers incoming calls very efficiently to representatives without them even having to pick up the phone. The representative simply hears a beep and in a few seconds a caller is waiting on the line and their account seems to magically present itself  on the Call Center Representative’s screen. Seems easy but if that employee is not trained correctly, is stressed or is disgruntled, it is a recipe for disaster.

Do you remember the scene on the “I Love Lucy” show when Lucy and Ethel were working at a candy factory when all of a sudden the conveyor belt quickly speeds up preventing the two friends from wrapping each piece of chocolate?  The belt goes faster and faster sending chocolates all over the floor causing Lucy and Ethel to panic! Soon the two best friends become stressed out due to lack of training, experience and become forced to look for ways to cut corners eating many of the chocolates before more landed on the floor thinking they could save themselves from being fired. It was one of the most memorable scenes of the show and something like this is just as memorable to your customers but without the humor.

Doing more with less is sending productivity higher however at what costs? Usually the first to suffer is quality because employees become tired and frustrated if cuts result in long term sacrifice. Without an incentive to hang in, stretch and grow accustomed adjusting to new demands, employees will make more mistakes and as soon as their is an opportunity, they will leave to greener pastures. Last month, a survey found that a growing percentage of workers are unhappy on the job and are looking for new employment. No matter what the economy, quality skilled workers will always have a place to go. Turn over is just as costly now as it was 6 years ago before the Recession however it is much harder to find those who are skilled.

As Managers, one has to become more creative, foster an atmosphere that is stimulating and provide incentives to push employees to higher standards during challenging times. If you are not a people person that gets involved and greets your employees at least a few times a week, you are not investing in your future. The way you manage your department today will carry you and your company ahead of the competition as the economy begins to turn around. If employees are left to continually think about getting a new job as soon as the economy changes because you did not demonstrate appreciation for their dedication, you will be spending  more hours spent on recruiting than in planning for future growth.

Tips to Help Boost Productivity:

1.  Make everyone fully aware of goals and expectations each week. Don’t badger just go over expectation, recognize employees who are doing well and train those who need help.

2.  Brighten up your department with motivations posters, balloons when they reach their goals and Pep Rally type meetings on Mondays.

3.  De-clutter your department and ask your employees to work on doing the same with their work space.

4.  Create a contest and reward employees who can an opportunities list suggesting methods to cut waste and increase productivity.

5.  Deliver a “Do it right the first time” campaign that often results in less phone calls and rework saving thousands of dollars.

6.  Request that employees batch small tasks together and getting them done quickly each day.

7.  Revisit individual employee talents. If you have someone who is a good researcher, have them be your point of contact for those needing to do research to complet requests.  If  one or two of your employees have good people skills, appoint them as your rallying team so they can help you engage other employees. There’s no reason not to use your team’s natural talents to your advantage.

8. Always be ready to capture new ideas as they pop up. Don’t put it off because you may forget.

9.  Communicate clearly and often keeping everyone’s eye on the ball.

10. Keep them healthy mentally and physically by bringing in oranges during flu season and have fun frequent contests to provide an incentive to reach higher p

By Leo Jakobson
June 7, 2011

Your employees succeed more often on stretch assignments when they are encouraged and provided with an incentive. While these types of assignments provide great opportunity for growth and notoriety they can be perceived as risky. It is uncomfortable to step out beyond the normal day-to-day responsibilities of our position. Your employees must plan, step up their courage and carefully jump into the challenge. Employees should seek out Expert Advisors, corporate resources and research the risks. They should be made to feel supported by you and that the assignment is well worth their efforts.

Don’t forget that stretch assignments are not only for your shinning star employees, they are for those on the fringes of greatness. Not everyone is meant to be a leader however you may just have your next Vice President amongst your team. Most high potential employees are eager to learn, are savvy, have a strong work ethic, are decisiveness, accountable, passionate and possess a pioneering spirit. These employees appreciate some level of uncertainty, excitement, view differences in people as an asset and foster relationships within all levels in your organization to accomplish the task at hand.

Some of the phrases that may help you motivate and encourage employees as they work to succeed on their stretch assignment are:

• Bring out the kid in your employees at every level
• Host meetings in the beautiful spring weather as everyone sips lemonade
• Create Friday Fun Days with contests for production pushes or Craziest T-Shirt Day
• Another idea with a wonderfully positive response is the “Un-Meeting”. Invite all to a meeting surprising all with candy, music and fun welcoming the weekend
• Customer Appreciation Day with rewards and incentives following the theme of your campaign
• SMS Text coupon codes sent to customers and employees giving them free movie tickets
• Scratch off tickets for prizes
• Extend Monday lunch hour
• Enhance your benefits with Pharmacy, theme park, dinning and other discounts all in one terrific incentive

Focus on the future separating the negativity of the past making way for all the posibilities of tomorrow.

Think back to your summers as a young adult what types of things made you stop and take notice? Get out a pad of paper for some neat ideas that will not only get your donors in, it will get their families in too.

• Host an  educational  water safety event.
• Collaborate with MADD or other organization providing a public service.
• Give away tickets to the nearest water park for donations.
• Host a parking lot concert for donor drives.  
• Create a baseball themed contest. Provide give aways for each run scored in addition to points they have earned for their individual donations.
• If Type O blood is in demand, soccer themed events are a big hit.
• Local athlete presentations and sports camp.
• Dance presentation on site.
• Have a luau party during the month of July with food and beach toy give aways. Ask your team to join in on the fun wearing Hawaiian shirts.

For online charity websites:

Create an incentive wall that allows people to post short comments about their experience and invite others.

Add interactive games with gift incentives for their participation.

Short term theme events with interesting facts and online prize awards.

Host live and informative classes on nutrition.

Post your organization’s wish list.

Be sure to keep your website up-to-date and interesting. Stale information will only lead visitors feeling that your organization may be on vacation mode too.

Keep the energy up in your organization by providing employee and volunteer incentives. If they are motivated, they will help your organization reach its goals.

This is the best time of the year to let go of the past
and start anew!

Your “I Will List” is a contract with yourself. It works this way.

Just look at the following list and add or delete as you see fit.

Once you’ve created your “I Will List” print it out!

During 2009 . . .

“I Will” stop . . .

“I Will” start . . .

“I Will” change . . .

“I Will” smile more.

“I Will” exercise my mind and my body.

“I Will” invest $$$ in my self-development.

“I Will” treat my spouse like a King / Queen.

“I Will” plan my work and work my plan every day.

“I Will” rewrite my personal and professional GOALS.

“I Will” continue to work on my attitude of gratitude.

“I Will” write at least one handwritten note every day.

“I Will” commit every thing it takes to win.

Provide the gift of choice to over 4,000+ day spas, hair, nail and tanning salons nationwide. Gift recipients select the location, appointment time, service or treatment.   The recipient books their appointments directly with the location of their choice.

Vacation incentives to 3 star hotels with high perceived values. 

Their choice of location and date for land travel.

They enjoy a free vacation, you enjoy the residual benefit when they return from their vacation sharing their experience with other employees and clients. A great way to enhance your referral business!  Ask us how to give a travel gift of choice to 45 locations for under $50.00 per vacation!

Gift catalogs that get you in front of your customers 3 times!

1)  When the initial incentive is awarded

2)  When they select their gift

3)  When they receive their gift

Strategic Concepts and our partners will work with you to determine the right incentive  for your promotion. We will assist with contest design and kick off meeting planning.      See our store for various theme catalogs. Is what you want not seen on online store?    Ask us, we will provide you with lots more. http://www.giftheadquarters.com/

Branded email that looks and acts like your website

Host an event that they all will want to attend. We will bring an array of luscious   chocolate to you for all to enjoy. Candies, smoothies, yummy chocolate martinis and marvelous mousse.

Contact us at from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Pacific Standard time at               (866) 582-7853 or (949) 709-8328.

Capital campaigns can be particularly successful, said David Speltz, a managing director at the Huron Consulting Group in Chicago who specializes in health consulting. The hospitals that he has worked with tend to be quick to reward generosity with recognition, allowing donors to name facilities or programs.

“We named every room, we named every building,” Mr. Speltz said.

But not every program gets its share of the largess, hospital executives and professional fund-raisers say. Because hospital fund-raising is so reliant on individuals, programs without the popular appeal of cancer or pediatrics can get just a fraction of the donations.

Among the areas that have proven the most resistant to fund-raising is mental health, whether it is psychiatric care within the hospital or substance-abuse counseling for the community.

“The mental health areas, where the needs are just unlimited, have always been difficult,” said Robert G. Kiely, the president and chief executive of Middlesex Hospital, a community hospital in Middletown, Conn. Last year, for example, the hospital raised $416,000 for its hospice program, compared with just $9,000 for its mental health services. “The hospice program is a very strong generator of philanthropic support,” said Mr. Kiely, particularly through memorial donations.

Community hospitals, which might not have as many wealthy patients who are potential donors, also have mixed success in raising money for basic programs like emergency-room care or for poor patients.

Other sources of philanthropy, like foundations and corporations, often look askance at such needs, deeming them inappropriate for their broader philanthropic goals. Foundations particularly shy away from giving money to what are essentially run-of-the-mill services.

“They tend to be typically interested in not just a program, and they’re picky also,” Mr. Speltz said.

As money from foundations and corporations has become harder to find, competition for the grants and gifts from those organizations has increased in recent years. A result is that many community hospitals that need money the most from outside sources have fewer avenues of philanthropy.

“One of the concerns is the dwindling number of foundations that are willing to support hospitals,” said Zahida Noorani, a fund-raising consultant in Chicago. Only 20 or so foundations in Illinois will support hospital giving, while the larger national or regional foundations have little interest in supporting a community hospital.

Corporations present a similar challenge, Ms. Noorani said, because they are not interested in giving money unless there is an obvious advantage to be gained.

“The corporations are the first to say we are not in the business of charity,” she said.

Hospitals have the most luck in persuading corporations to participate in special events, said Lisa Hillman, a member of the board of the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy, which estimates that about 13 percent of the money raised by hospitals and the like comes from special events.

Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, for example, has found that its annual golf tournament helps raise money to support the hospital’s charity care to patients without insurance. Because of its vital role in the community serving those patients, the medical center has become increasingly creative in finding ways to raise money for the nearly $100 million it spent last year on such care, said Andrea K. Myers, the hospital’s director of development.

The hospital holds two events to raise money, and the Western Washington Toyota Dealers Association pledged $1 million over 10 years last year at the golf tournament, giving the dealers visibility and helping the hospital defray the cost of providing free or discounted care.

What makes mental health so daunting in raising money is that it does not lend itself easily to traditional fund-raising methods. Many patients who use these services are not able to donate to these programs, and approaching donors can be difficult because of the potential stigma associated with psychiatric care.

“We really don’t have an opportunity in the foundation to work with patients on these issues,” said Cecelia T. Fullam, an executive at the fund-raising foundation for the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System. Even those who are sympathetic may not want their own giving to be connected with the area, she said.

Because some of these programs are also addressing complex problems like substance abuse, they are also less popular, Ms. Hillman said. “Programs like that are difficult to show a more immediate positive response,” she said.

Hospitals have been successful in soliciting money for these services when they are sophisticated about concentrating on potential donors, Mr. Speltz, the consultant, said. The hospitals need to understand that the number of potential donors is limited to those whose relatives have had direct experience with the program or been affected in some way. “It’s sort of a club in some ways,” he said.

At North Shore-Long Island Jewish, a real estate developer, Donald Zucker, and his family gave generously to the psychiatric hospital there, since renamed the Zucker Hillside Hospital. Mr. Zucker, a long-time supporter of the hospital, gave because he recognized what was clearly an unmet need.

But finding donors for even less controversial programs can be difficult. Middlesex Hospital in Middletown, Conn., for example, is planning to replace its emergency room for $30 million.

So far, some foundations and corporations have said they are not interested in supporting such a local initiative, said Mr. Kiely, the executive. Foundations often have guidelines that make giving to a community hospital impossible.

“There’s no opportunity for a hospital to approach that entity for high-value, legitimate needs,” he said.

Similarly, the corporations, which are based outside the community, tend to want to donate money to entities where their headquarters are based, even though the emergency room serves their local workers.

“The smaller manufacturing companies and privately held business are being receptive,” Mr. Kiely said.