I received a wonderful call from an AR contributor asking about the closing gifts I give to my clients as I made a comment on another member's post (whom I forget right now.) There is no set gift and I don't always make them but there are times when I do. This is a hobby of mine and while I have sold some before I entered into RE I really do this as a hobby. When you start turning your hobby into a for sale product the fun sometimes disappears.
Mahogany Goblet Various Exotic Woods Buckeye Burl Pen
I have been a woodworker on and off for many years. I really enjoy working with wood. It is alive. It moves. It has various textures, colors and other various characteristics. Since people seem to spend the most time in the kitchen I thought that cutting boards would be a nice gift. it helps that I enjoy making them and that I usually end up making some for myself (sometimes of course my wife decides we should keep them and not even use them but I still move forward.
(Amboynia Burl Pen and Pencil set)
The person who installed my beautiful quartersawn red oak floors received a pen along with the person who installed my wooden stairs. I have given away many pens and even pencils as well. I had a cabinet person and a floor person ask if I would do these for them for their customers. Buy a floor and get a wood pen made from the same wood as your cabinets or floors.
In addition to the pens I turn (on a lathe) vases, goblets, boxes, etc... Most of these I could easily turn into closing gifts. RIght now I think a cutting board with piece or two of cutlery with my logo and info on it is my thing for people who close transactions with me. The pictures in this post are all works I've done. They all have problems I know of and recognize so they never make it to my clients. I keep all the "seconds." Maybe one day I will get rid of them in an "as is" condition at a garage sale but for now I just keep on turnin' and sandin'.
Comments (13)Subscribe to CommentsComment