If you’ve got clients coming into town this spring and can’t afford tickets to the Masters, you could take it in another direction altogether and create luxurious gourmet baskets with all kinds of accessories related to golf instead.Try putting together baskets with specialty golf balls, a set of golf towels, some high-end coffees, nuts, chocolates and maybe even a fine bottle of cognac.  It’s not exactly front row on the green, but it says you’ve taken interest in your clients nonetheless.Gift baskets are excellent gifts for employees too, especially those who you know may be deserving of a raise but, due to tough economical times just aren’t going to see it this quarter.  It’s been proven that employee recognition is one of the key motivators; that by simply calling out an employee on a job well done is often all that is required to push them to keep up the good work.Studies have shown that employees who tend to call in sick more often than others do don’t see their jobs as important and, therefore, don’t consider the ramifications of their frequent absences from work.  By recognizing these workers for their time and efforts, you remind them of their place within your company and their roll in the big picture. 

One inexpensive way to do this is to offer them a specialty gift basket.  These don’t have to be lavishly crafted and are not necessarily that expensive.  A simple basket with coffees, chocolates and other delicious edible treats are often enough to get that worker to think twice before playing hooky.