We’ve heard about hotel concierges and personal ones as well. However, the newest craze in the concierge world is for gift services. Typically, the hardest part of the gifting experience is discovering what gift is right for each important individual in our lives. This is where a concierge service can help. Choosing the right gift concierge service can mean the difference between happy loved ones during Christmas and expressionless smiles of unenjoyment. There are some key traits you should be looking for in a potential service before you even consider hiring them.
The first indication of a quality concierge service is their willingness to set up an initial consultation free of charge. There’s no reason that they wouldn’t be willing to meet with you for a brief chat to share their services and willingness to provide great results. Your initial consultation should include talking about your expectations from the service they provide and should establish the communication between how your relationship is going to work. You want to know the specifics of what you need to provide them and what they will provide you.
You should spend some time asking questions about the history of their concierge service. Simply asking how long they have been in business can allow you to get an insight into their history. Asking for past client references is something you should consider doing. A firm that has developed great relationships with their clients will have no problem sharing their current and past client references with you. They know that you’re doing your due diligence before hiring them. A firm that won’t share any client references may be trying to hide unhappy customers and should put up a red flag in your evaluation.
Any potential gift concierge firm should be extremely flexible. You are hiring them to complete tasks that you can’t find the time to do or simply don’t want to. Communicating with a concierge should be available throughout a large portion of the day. For instance, they should be able to accept your phone calls after work. In addition, they should provide ample time for you to evaluate the potential gift options they supplied. Any concierge service that makes you feel rushed in your decision is not a good firm to work with.
Price should be another thing you should look for when hiring a gift concierge. It’s important to understand how they charge for their services. Is it per hour, per gift, or another payment structure. This can help you to manage costs over the long run. You should be asking when payment is expected. In some cases, you may be asked to put down a deposit as the concierge is expected to purchase the gifts you approve. In other cases, the concierge may cover the gift expense and add it along with the other services to your bill. You should take the time to hash out the specifics ahead of time so it’s very clear what you owe and when. Also, understand what forms of payment they will accept from you.
You should never let the happiness of your loved ones up to the fate of just any concierge company. You need to ensure the service you hire has all of the traits listed above.
