But the best gifts are the ones that take you by surprise

But the best gifts are the ones that take you by surprise. A birthday wish from an old school buddy who you haven’t been in touch with, a surprise birthday party with all your close family and friends there, a visit from a relative who lives in another country, or even an unexpected email from your favorite clothing store giving you a special discount to celebrate your special day!

Yes, who wouldn’t like to receive a special something from their favorite stores or restaurants, offering a discount, free gift or even a personal sale?

Customers don’t expect you to know their birthdays and thus this is a very smart way to market to them. Most people only like to shop when the stores are offering sales or eat at restaurants where they can use discount coupons. So harnessing this as a marketing strategy is a great idea as your customers will appreciate your intelligent and relevant 1:1 marketing skills. They will also take advantage of this offer and return to your store or restaurant in the future!

Keeping in mind that not all customers are a fan of receiving what most people consider ‘junk mail’ and don’t like the constant email blasts, they will definitely appreciate the thoughtfulness of the offer and even take you up on it. The $20 off coupon, 30% discount on their next purchase or a free desert on their meal offer, might even turn out to be a great celebration on their birthday!