It’s no secret that Australian property developers are facing tough economic challenges. As a result, many companies have begun looking for different ways to create positive industry buzz and stand out from their competitors.
Customer satisfaction and referrals play a pivotal role in success and innovative strategies are continually sought to foster positive sentiment and encourage word-of-mouth marketing.
Corporate gifting has become a key component in helping businesses drive growth and property developers are discovering the transformative potential of gifting as a means to not only enhance the customer journey but also to amplify brand recognition and loyalty.
Melbourne-based national corporate gifting expert, Style Bundle, is dominating the industry with their unique and tailored solutions for businesses across the country. After launching in 2016 they have fast become leaders in the property space by helping companies drive growth and business outcomes by taking a different approach to corporate gifting.
“We’ve created custom property gift solutions for some of the biggest names in the industry, like Mirvac, AVID, PEET—and we’ve learned what it takes to elevate the customer experience throughout the entire journey; from contemplating the purchase, through the building process, to settlement and beyond,” co-founder and head of people and growth Susan Beardsley [pictured top, on left] said.
Beardsley along with co-founder and head of customer experience and creative Suzy Leys [pictured top] realised there was a gap in the market for corporate gifting solutions that were highly impactful and personalised without compromising on style.
As female founders with more than 30 years of combined experience in HR, corporate advertising, marketing and business strategy they had a clear vision and breadth of knowledge to bolster their entry into the market.
The Style Bundle co-founders say they are seeing more and more businesses enlisting their help to drive customer loyalty and amplify brand recognition.
“Ultimately our clients come to us because they want to create more genuine and memorable connections with their clients and people,” Leys said.
“We help by curating gifts and experiences that resonate with customers and the sentiment of the occasion and provide real business outcomes in the form of improved customer satisfaction and loyalty, referrals and new customer acquisition.”
Essential to the success of these corporate gifting solutions is the Style Bundle team’s ability to truly understand their clients’ objectives and provide a holistic service.
“We do our best work when we have the opportunity to work as an extension of our client’s team, really understanding their business, their clients and their customer journey to tailor a gifting solution end to end,” Leys said.
“Our approach is easy and stress free for the client, with a range of fulfillment options available to suit the individual project needs.”
Purchasers are pursuing an experience, a lifestyle and a sense of belonging. Their expectations extend beyond the property itself, encompassing the entirety of the purchasing journey. It’s crucial for developers to stand out not only in the quality of their projects but also in the way they engage with their clients and help them to create ‘wow’ moments along the journey.
The customer journey in property development is multifaceted, from the initial awareness stage to post-purchase engagement.
“We work with our clients to identify key strategic touchpoints within the customer journey where gifting can create a profound impact,” Beardsley said.
“We look to optimise these key interactions helping make engaged, positive and excited clients—and future brand advocates.”
“We know that how you leave customers feeling will determine how they act, and the development process from end to end is a long one, with positive and not so positive stages for a client. We look to build up the positives and mitigate the risks of the negatives,” Leys said.
The Style Bundle team consider various stages across the journey in their approach:
Awareness and Consideration Stage: Gifting can begin even before the potential buyer becomes a customer. Offering useful and engaging content, such as e-books or webinars on property trends, guides to choosing the right property, or virtual property tours, can position the developer as an expert and build trust early on.
Decision-Making Stage: During the decision-making process, personalised gifts can make all the difference. A beautifully branded welcome kit or a curated gift box can instill a sense of anticipation and belonging in the buyer’s mind.
Post-Purchase Engagement: The journey doesn’t end with the purchase. Regular communication and thoughtful gestures, such as housewarming gifts or exclusive invitations to property-related events show continued care and commitment. This leads to increased customer satisfaction and the likelihood of positive referrals.
Settlement Experience: Thoughtfully designing how buyers will experience settlement provides the opportunity to create lasting, positive memories at the crescendo of their journey.
Referral and Advocacy: Satisfied customers are more likely to refer friends and family to a developer who went the extra mile and acknowledged when things may not have gone to plan. By acknowledging these referrals with tokens of appreciation, developers can further deepen the bond and encourage more referrals.
Today’s customer demands more than just a transaction, so property developers must approach their projects holistically, considering the entire customer journey—and gifting emerges as a powerful tool to enhance positive sentiment, foster loyalty and boost referrals.
Working with the Style Bundle team to thoughtfully incorporate gifting at different touchpoints along the journey, developers can create lasting emotional connections with their customers and create a genuine and memorable experience.
The resulting ripple effect of satisfied buyers turned advocates can be a game-changer.
>> Book a gift strategy call with our team
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