Gratitude Goodies

Gratitude Goodies
Cincy Chic chats with a gift-giving expert about some unique, fun and effective ways you can show your friends, family, clients and peers how much you appreciate them.

Kristen Folzenlogen has seen it all. She owns Poeme, a stationery and specialty gift item boutique in Hyde Park. In it, you'll find clever cards, personal luxuries and kitschy corporate gifts. So, when local ladies need a unique gift or card, they come to Folzenlogen.

That's why we asked her for some good gift giving ideas, not for Christmas, but for Thanksgiving. Turns out, Folzenlogen says, Thanksgiving is a great time to show your gratitude in the corporate world - versus Christmas, Hanukkah or other holidays tied to religion and personal belief systems.

Folzenlogen says she has many corporate clients who send cards to their client lists themed around Thanksgiving versus December holidays. She also has clients who send their cards themed around Valentine's Day, saying, "We love our clients" or "We take your business to heart."

"It's a way to stand out from all the other cards and gifts your clients are getting," Folzenlogen says. "It's also a way to show your gratitude in a unique, effective and meaningful way."

This time of year, with all the holiday parties and get-togethers, stocking up on fun hostess gifts is a good idea, too. "For small tokens that are fun and just an inexpensive way to say 'Thanks for including me,' I would suggest items such as the Pig Flashlights for Cincinnati lovers and the Hangover Kit for someone hosting a party with cocktails," says Folzenlogen.

Another fun idea, Folzenlogen says, is calendar coasters for someone hosting a cocktail party. If you want to give goodies to a foodie or photography lover, Folzenlogen says her cloth-bound recipe books or photo albums are ideal items. For animal lovers, Folzenlogen suggests something like the Enormous Champion animal silhouettes or Cardboard Safari's animal heads.

"Our favorite thank you gift is personalized stationery," says Folzenlogen. "It shows that you've given the gift some thought in advance and will definitely be an item that the recipient will use."

She says this is the perfect time to order custom holiday cards. "Many times the custom cards take 14 days to order and arrive, so it's good to be a little proactive with these items," Folzenlogen says.

Amy Scalia -
	Amy Scalia, a Cincinnati native, is the editor in chief and publisher of Cincy Chic. Send her an e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Read More >>

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