Every year one of your clients holds an auction for some worthy cause and they ask you for a "donation".  Or, it is Holiday time and they donate stuff to a local Kids Toy Drive.  You donate a few poinsettia.  Still, why it is all for a good cause, you go away muttering under your breath, feeling just a bit abused.  I used to feel that way until one year I woke up and smelled the eggnog.  This is a great opportunity, and I suggest you change your attitude.  Here’s the Plan.

LOSE THAT FEELING.  In fact, get in there and participate.  Why not?  You are going to have to do it anyway, so why not think ahead and figure out a way to contribute so it makes you look good, is good for your business and still doesn’t break the bank?

BECOME PART OF THE TEAM.    Find a Special at your Nursery and donate with a lot of splash but not a lot of cash. Maybe you could even get the Nursery to chip in for some acknowledgement.  Holiday time?  Bet you have an old, gently used 7 and a half foot artificial tree stashed away some where.  Put gold balls or red ribbon on it still leaving lots of room for "company ornaments", place it in the Employee Dining Area and let the company sell paper cutout Santas they sell for $1 each, the money going to their favorite charity.  Or, the tree is the center for the boxes of donated toys.  And, don’t forget, after mid December nurseries sell poinsettia for a buck apiece.  Make a huge splash and donate a bunch.  Only stipulation is the pointsettia have to leave the building so you are not conned into caring for them. 

TAKE THE CREDIT   It does no good to give stuff and not get the credit.  Signage, article in the company Newsletter, follow up letters to your contacts for allowing you to participate, all go a long way to being part of the Team.  Now go out there and get ‘em Tigers. and sell some TOPsiders for me.