On the Ninth Day of Christmas…

The last cookie has been rolled in icing sugar. I'll deal with the kitchen in the morning, as I am nestled in for the night.

It has been 9 Christmases since it all began here at Janet Helm, with the thought that giving could be meaningful and easy.

The original Christmas card thought of sharing my vision of “The 12 Days of Christmas” has, over the years, evolved to include my sons. With “9 Ladies Dancing,” (I made sure I mentioned the "ladies" part to them after...), they danced for me in the park. “10 Lords a-leaping” should be a snap next year.

To see the entire series to date visit: www.janethelm.com/12days

Snow is falling here, a rare delight for Vancouver. (I say delight from the comfort of my home, the night before the morning commute.)

I am wishing your holiday season is filled with much fun, love, and laughter and that the year ahead brings happy, healthy times.
Janet

Don’t “down-size Christmas” say employers in the know.

I recently read an article by Joanne Chianello in our local paper, The Vancouver Sun, that mentioned a company whose employer hand-wrote 20 notes and personally delivered them to his employees, inviting them all to dinner. I felt compelled to call this company and say, Kudos.

I spoke to Jennifer Cross, the business development manager who mentioned that the company is 40 years old, and has original customers coming in who are now in their 70's. No wonder they have such happy customers- their employees are happy, which reflects in the outstanding customer service provided. As she is quoted in the Vancouver Sun article, "its our job to keep our employees happy and feeling like things are good. We want everyone to feel excited about their job."

The article also quotes Patrick Sullivan, President of Workopolis, saying that it is not about the party, but "it's all about the symbolism," and “what employees appreciate more than a grand gesture is some recognition that they worked hard."

December is just one time of the year to say thanks to your team. I recommend recognizing and rewarding employees throughout the year. It creates a culture of appreciation and a happy, satisfied team. Ongoing recognition, whether a formal program or not, that thanks employees- from public displays of thanks with awards or gifts, to subtle thank yous in the form of emails with a cc to the CEO- goes a long way in helping a company achieve their goals.

Avoid generic recognition items, like dated gold watches or gift cards that people may not redeem. Instead, choose ideas, experiences and items that are directly tied to your corporate culture and mission. This creates a team atmosphere that all are involved and feel truly contributing to goals.

To modern meaningful giving,
Janet

It is all in the delivery...

One of our most popular Ready to Give gifts, as the meaningful symbolism works for so many occasions.

During a recent follow up with a customer after her event, I learned that, while she loved the gifts, in her presentation to the recipients she felt perhaps she didn't communicate the symbolism of the gift as well as I had with her. A great lesson learned for both of us.

Helping our clients present their gift to best showcase the meaning behind it is as important as the gift itself. I learned that sharing our excitement and symbolism comes naturally to me because this is what I do. For our clients, that is why they have come to us - they are experts in what they do, and we provide the expertise to help them recognize those most important to their success, clearly and effortlessly.

With this in mind, we are now providing easy techniques and tools to our clients to ensure their gifts continue the experience effortlessly and with meaning, as intended.

Here are a few tips to ensure that when presenting gifts, they are received with as much meaning and value as the thought you put into them.

1. When presenting your gift to an individual or a group, tell a short story of why you chose this gift- the symbolism, how it ties in with the occasion, and how they can benefit from the piece in their home or office. Make it easy for them to understand the relevance.


2. If the gift is delivered or presented in a hotel room, ensure a story card is included to speak to the symbolism and why you chose the gift for them.
   For example:
   "I chose this basket made of FSC-certified cherry wood that was hand-made by an artisan in a time-honored tradition a hundred years old, because it reminded me of our working together for a better planet and creating a bounty of opportunity as we continue to work together. I hope you enjoy this basket and it reminds you of our time together, as well. Yours to enjoy filled with seasonal fruit, or simply displayed at your home. Each piece is hand-signed by the artist for you on the bottom of the basket. Thank you again. And enjoy.”
   

I am grateful for the opportunity to share this as it is an important part of the giving process.
Readers, what are your thoughts or questions about the giving process? Please feel free to post your comments and questions below.

Janet

Craft Fairs- that time of year

Painting, Red Pine, by Victor Goertz is enjoyed daily by my family.


It is that time of year- CRAFT FAIRS!
Some of the artisans we work with today I originally discovered through my
craft fair travels over 15 years ago. Way before children, were weekends spent finding artisan studios in obscure parts of the city, from Vancouver church basements, artisan homes and studios. Discovering must have gifts for my home, family, and friends were found at craft fairs.
Now with my busy life, you can imagine my delight when my manager Jen Hiebert- a talented artisan herself, presented a list and website links to many of the craft fairs happening in Vancouver this time of year. Found through the blog Magpie and Cake the list, helps shoppers – from experienced craft goers like myself to people simply wanting a new shopping experience sift through the many fairs that exist, saving time, time, and did I say time. www.magpieandcake.blogspot.com

This weekend I will be donning my rubber boots, vintage wrap and enjoying a fair a two, or three, or four, being inspired by the many talented artisans.

Side note- Last weekend I checked out the first time in Vancouver- One of a Kind show which was a pleasant surprise offering artisan work from fashion to food to sustainable all artisans from North America, not just Canadian or local. One of my ol’ time favorites I also visited the now ever popular but still worth a visit- 1000 Parker - Victor Goertz, contemporary paintings of the west coast is still one of my favorite visits as his Red Pine graces our living room wall and reminds me of the interior of BC and the fragrance of pine.
http://www.victorgoertz.com/pages/redpine_p.html
Congratulations to Silvia Dotto who after 15 years of making stunning ceramic dishes is moving on with new adventures. She will still be making her crows (her dad collaborates by making the feet.) http://www.silviadotto.com/ I have many of her pieces originally found at another great spot for artisan work, crafthouse on Granville island in Vancouver. http://www.cabc.net/


Happy craft fairing.
Janet

Giving

We have all heard it is better to give than receive. It does feel awesome to give, and I also believe when one gives from the heart, genuinely, the receiver feels just as much good. I’ve been thinking about how, for a living, I help people give and how there are many different ways one gives- whether things, time, ideas, thoughts, advice, or suggestions. In this blog, I am giving- sharing ideas because it is good.

Giving at the office
Click here to see six easy ways that by giving (with little or no cost), leaders, managers and companies will empower, inspire, retain and motivate their employees.

Giving for the holidays
And for those same companies, as well as individuals who may be wondering what and how to give this holiday season on a limited or no budget, our Gift Giving Tips also offers three holiday tips to help keep your costs down, while ensuring your message is genuine, and your gift of quality.

Giving to the community
There is much in the community that can benefit when people give a little time. My husband and our two sons volunteer in our city, removing graffiti around the neighborhood. We do it because we genuinely care, and it does feel great to give back to the community we live in.

Click here to read the story in our local newspaper.

Enjoy receiving as much as I have enjoyed giving.
Janet

Above and Beyond - Being Picky Pays Off

We have gained a reputation for being picky- I like to call it “particular.”
Are we picky? You bet we are!

We are picky- picky, or should I say particular, about details, quality, and service from our suppliers, just as our customers are as picky, I mean particular, about the gifts and service they receive.

We select suppliers who, like us, separate themselves from the competition by doing everything with excellence. I often say to my team that we are only as good as our suppliers, so it is important we choose and have relationships with suppliers who understand our needs in helping our client stand out from the rest- we make them look great.

One such supplier, who is officially our Janet Helm HERO OF THE MONTH, is Deb Hoffman of Deelor Sales & Marketing. Deb literally went out of her way to ensure a job would finish with the quality and price we asked for.

We choose to work with Deb to provide our custom hand-wrapped gift boxes for our custom tartan scarves, as well as other custom packaging designs. Not only did Deb save us time and money, but she also saved our client their time and money!

Thanks, Deb.
Janet

Thinking Outside the Gift Box - "Recognizing in Tough Times"

This year in particular, does the mere mention of holiday gift buying have you stuck between a rock and a hard place? Whether the market is up or down, smart companies have long recognized the value and advantage of a well-designed gift program.

This holiday season we see a return to the basics – gifts with purpose, thoughtful essentials, and earth-saving strategies - gifts that communicate the sincerity, excellence, and value that clients, employees, and stakeholders are looking for.

Join me as I share new, effective, and inspiring recognizing techniques for companies large and small in the new talk for my popular Thinking Outside the Gift Box series - "Recognizing in Tough Times." Until October 15, we are pleased to offer this results-driven talk absolutely free.

To book me for your event or for a private corporate presentation, call Jen Hiebert at 604 730.2600 or visit www.janethelm.com. Opportunities are limited, so book yours today.

What questions do you have as this holiday season approaches? How can I best help you now and during the busy holiday time? Feel free to post your questions or comments on this or any other post, as I would love to hear from you.

Janet