The Key to Incentives

The Incentive Federation in its 2003 industry study found that in most incentive programs, gift certificates were one of the most popular types of merchandise.

“When you want to recognize someone for a job well done, you need to give them something they really appreciate. If you give something that isn’t quite right, you risk ruining the whole intent of the gift,” says Cindy Mielke, Vice President of Education.

According to a recent readers survey conducted by Incentive magazine, most incentive buyers go directly through retailers to purchase gift cards and certificates for their incentive programs.

Since 1997 sales of gift cards in the US have grown from 15% to 35% annually, with 2003 sales estimated at $42 billion to $45 billion, according to a Bain & Co. study.

Source: Elizabeth A West Potentials.Minneapolis:Nov2003.Vol.36,Iss.11;pg.26
How Businesses Communicate

A survey has found that email has become the business world’s preferred means of communication (see below). Auckland e-marketing development company Calcium Software worked with the Direct Marketing Association and MessageMedia to poll 3,000 business people.

64% of respondents said they used email to develop business or generate sales on an individual-to-individual basis:

* Email 42%
* Face-to-face 25%
* Phone 18%
* Fax 2%
* Other/not stated 13%

Individual emails sent per day:

* 10 to 30 - 62%
* 31 to 50 - 23%
* 51 to 100 - 8%

Source: Businesses saying it by email The New Zealand Herald,, 12/2/04
What’s Your Individual Index Rating?

Tick Yes has created a new rating for organisations of all sizes. The Individual Index measures how well you actively engage with and earn the loyalty of your key stakeholders.

Give your organisation a realistic mark out of 10 as to how well you perform in theseareas (click here to read the article ‘How Do You Rate on the Individual Index?’)

1/ We have each individual stakeholder’s personal information as it relates to my product/service

2/ We have permission to use that information

3/ We are using that information