1. Tombstone, text, or copy Having the most accurate version possible of your tombstone is extremely helpful. Most awards, deal toys, mementos, and corporate gifts are created to mark an achievement, an occasion, or a milestone. The text that describes the deal terms, accomplishments, or events are often referred to as a tombstone and are an essential part of the deal toy. The specific details in a tombstone play an important part in the design of the award. The company logos, industry, project names, and circumstances surrounding a deal can offer inspiration and content. 
   
2. Budget We can develop amazing options for any budget, but it’s helpful to know how much you have to spend. This will obviously have an impact on the final piece. Is your budget “all-in” or per piece? “all-in” means the budget covers design, set-up, production, shipping, and taxes. Whereas per piece is dedicated to the piece only, and set-up, production, shipping, and taxes are added costs. When we know your budget, it’s easier for us to help you create the best deal toy within your parameters. No worries if you don’t know your budget right away, we can always design within an expected range. In these circumstances we start on the low end, as it’s no fun to tell people they can’t have something because it’s out of budget.   Many of our clients have strict rules regarding budgets. Not to worry though, we know who to talk to and what is permitted. We’ve spent years learning the ins and outs of the systems so don’t hesitate to ask how your specific company handles policy.   
   
3. Design Guidance  This is the quickest way to expedite your deal toy process. Coming in with an idea of what you want is extremely beneficial. Our design team can help you develop your idea to its fullest extent, and possibly beyond. You don’t have to have a fully formed idea, but concepts, themes, and inspiration are always welcome. Buttonwood is known for creativity, so building off of your ideas is our specialty. Here are some quick questions to ask yourself to help you develop concepts to bring to the table:    Does the company have an interesting logo?  Are there any specific branding elements or color palettes you would like to see?  Do you have a theme in mind? An inside joke?  What makes the company stand out form the competition?  What makes this deal special?  Is there a project name?  Is there a pitch book or roadshow that could be used for inspiration?  Does your client or Managing Director have input?    If you still come up blank, no worries. We can handle it. Maybe you will find   revelation in something we come up with for you. Either way we will make sure you get something you are happy with. You can also read our posts on brainstorming, creativity, and making a great deal toy to help you come up with killer ideas. 
   
4. Materials Knowing materials can help to speed you to the finish line. Each one offers a unique look and tactile experience. Crystal, lucite, wood, aluminum, pewter… the list is long and distinguished. We have so many materials to choose from that it can be quite daunting. Do you want a realistic replica of a specific product? Lucite or 3D printing might be your best bet. Do you need an elegant design to wow your teammates and clients? Maybe you should go with crystal. Still feeling lost? Our team is happy to help you decide the best material for your job. You can read more about materials and industry terms here. 
   
5. Timeline Deadlines are important. We pride ourselves on making sure we get the job done on time. Providing us with a timeframe at the beginning of a project helps us structure the job so we can get it done on time. Under current circumstances closing dinners may not be an option, but that doesn’t mean we back off on delivery. Your order will be there when you need it, period.  
   
6. Logos & Supporting Files Providing company logos and design assets can really help the process. We understand the importance of following brand guidelines. Your company and your client’s company have spent millions of dollars on building strong brand identities. Our job is to help personify your brand to whatever degree you choose. By providing us with the appropriate design files, you are insuring accuracy and cohesion. You may also be delivering a fair bit of inspiration. Read more about keeping your branding on point here.

Now the fun begins. Armed with the list above, you are ready to get started on developing a deal toy, award, or memento that will stir gratitude in your clients, and envy in your colleagues. Give us a call and we can get started on creating something awesome today.

1. Express Gratitude
   There are so many reasons to show gratitude. It improves performance, boosts empathy and collaboration, reduces stress, builds trust, enhances self-esteem, is good for your health and is just the right thing to do. Who knew you could get all of that from a deal toy?
   
2. Show a Culture of Recognition
   Everyone wants to be recognized for a job well done. Deal toys recognize the countless hours spent closing a deal. The late nights and weekends don’t go unnoticed. Deal toys can motivate and inspire employees when they see them in the office. They can even attract top talent, because when the best deals are personified on a shelf, it’s proof of a winning team.
   
3. Tell a Story
   Every deal has a story. A good deal toy can tell that story. Was there an inside joke? Was a particular product the cornerstone of the deal? Buttonwood can help you personify that in a deal toy.
   
4. Impress Clients
   This is pretty straightforward. We are a culture fully aware of brands. We are a culture that reveres money. Deal toys show big dollar amounts and big name brands. In combination that is very powerful. It shows you know what you are doing, you’ve closed huge deals for huge clients, and others will want to be a part of that too.
   
5. Build Brand Image
   The deal toys you give reflect your brand and your clients brand in every aspect. Sometimes in very obvious ways, with a giant logo for example. Sometimes in more subtle ways, like simple clean efficiency. However you choose to express your brand, the appreciation shows through.
   
6. Attract New Clients
   When things return to normal and people come and go through your office they will see all of your deal toys. They will see the success you have achieved, and when they need financial services they will know where to turn.
   
7. Subliminal Reminder
   Deal toys are usually given a place of honor in an office. They are in the line of sight because they represent accomplishment. Every time your client catches a glimpse of their shiny deal toy, they are reminded of the goal you reached together. It’s a catalyst, a conversation piece a symbol of appreciation.
   
8. Build Trust
   Giving an appropriate deal toy shows you know your client and you care enough to get the details right. Insights only you would have into your client help us create the best mementos in the industry, and help you present the best gifts and build strong relationships.
   
9. Bragging Rights
   “Our new deal toy is so much better than yours.” Before the current pandemic, we would frequently hear stories of teams gathering around unopened boxes, eager to see their latest deal toy. Ready to show their friends on other teams or in other groups how cool it turned out. Sometimes this would generate envy, sometimes jeering. If you are looking for the former, I suggest you call Buttonwood.

When done right, a good deal toy can create quite a stir. So next time you need a deal toy remember its more than just a piece of crystal for your desk. Give us a call – we’d love to talk about how you can create the most benefit from your next deal toy.

About Buttonwood

We are the company behind the world’s most beautiful awards, deal toys, mementos, and corporate gifts. For over 10 years, Buttonwood has designed iconic awards for the most storied names on Wall Street. Our custom deal toys and mementos are designed in our studio in New York and can be shipped anywhere in the world. We are a women owned business and we have been at this for a while.

The Process

Deal toys vary in material, shape, size and complexity. In general they display transaction details, and focus on the company or industry involved. For the past 10 years Buttonwood has been creating the most creative deal toys in the industry. We have a great team: experienced, creative, well trained and dedicated. We have a process that makes the journey painless, and more importantly fun. It goes like this:

1. Design Brief After initial contact we start with understanding the project and the target business. We get a good overview, goals, objectives, requirements, budget and schedule. We inquire about and encourage creative input. This gives us a source of truth to fall back on.
2. Research Using the brief we conduct research focusing on the target, the industry, it’s history and competitors. We research key products, themes and branding. We make observations and develop insights. We do this as individuals and as teams.
3. Brainstorming Once the research is conducted we come up with as many relevant ideas as possible in a set amount of time. We do this as individuals and as teams.
4. Design refinement Once we have our ideas, we thin the pack. We cull the herd. Brutally if needs be. We settle on 4 designs and refine them digitally for presentation.
5. Presentation With clear focus and solid ideas we present our designs to the client. Fresh shiny and in high quality 3D.
6. Revisions Sometimes we need a tweak here and there. Sometime we need to go back to the drawing board. It happens. Rinse and repeat. A solution is out there and we will find it, intelligently.
7. Prototype To understand material, scale, and proportion we produce real, tactile samples you can holding your hands. Digital is also an option. We can provide 360 degree views in detail.
8. Approval / Delivery Final steps, almost there. We review all project details, help you line up internal requisite approvals, and then we move to final order production and delivery. In the end we know how to cross the t’s and dot the i’s.

The Devil is in the Details

We covered the process, now let’s get into the details. This is the fun part, the stuff that makes a deal toy unique and special. All deal toys are different by nature. However they are all made-up of a combination of the following things in varying levels of complexity.

On most images below tombstones have been removed to highlight specific design elements.

Tombstones The “Tombstone” is the transaction details, usually branded and formatted specifically for our clients. From our Lexicon, “Formal printed notice that announces and gives basic details of important financial transactions made by investment banks, real estate and law firms. Examples include: Initial public offerings, mergers and acquisitions, debt deals, bankruptcies, etc.”

What are you made of?

Black marble base with custom crystal, Custom pewter on clear lucite with black Plexiglas, Log cross section with cut Plexiglas.

There are so many material choices. Crystal, lucite, plexi, wood, metal, resin, aluminum. Materials can make all the difference. Crystal is elegant. Lucite is versatile. Wood is classic. Aluminum has an edgy look. You get the idea. Choose wisely. Our team can help. More on materials in the Buttonwood Lexicon.

Flying Solo

Cut crystal with artwork at back, Faceted Crystal with 3D etching, Custom aluminum

There is something stately about a free standing deal toy. Transparent or opaque, it has substance. It makes a statement with simplicity. They can have inner etched details, color artwork or nothing at all. In the end it’s about presence.

Can you feel the base?

Base with artwork on bottom, Base with mini cars, Wedge base with custom artwork on top

Thick base, thin base, wedge base, shaped base. There are a ton of choices to consider depending on budget. Bases can hold all sorts of things. Sourced objects like replicas. Rectangles, circles, custom shapes. You can put the tombstone directly on the base, or usually on whatever is on top.

Strength in Numbers

Crystals on base, Layered black crystal on base, Crystals on base.

The more the merrier. Having multiple pieces on a base can make a strong impression. Whether equal size, one small on big, layered or custom cut. Your budget is your only limitation.

It’s What’s on the Inside that Counts

Embedded Pewter Plane, 3D etched truck, 3D etched forklift

Clear materials mean you can play with illusion. Embedments in acrylic. Inner etchings and sandwich pieces with crystal. Color refractions too. Ask our experts what works best for your project.

Big Time

3D printed golfer, Various pewter pieces on custom base, Custom pewter statue

If the sky truly is the limit, we can do some really amazing stuff. Metal, pewter, multiple pieces, spinners, detailed product replicas, you name it. We have done a lot of detailed, custom work. If we haven’t tried it, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. We will stretch to the limits of a given budget to make your dream a reality. Give us a call we’d love to have a conversation about your ideas.

Buttonwood has been at this for almost 11 years. We love making deal toys. We have multiple team members with over 20 years of experience in the industry. We know the ins and outs, the ups and downs. Give us a call we would love to hear from you.

“A brand is the sum of expressions by which an entity intends to be recognized.”

That can involve many things. Building a brand involves a serious process of research, inspiration, ideation, and implementation. At Buttonwood it took us six months to define our new brand. We conducted internal, industry, and competitive research. Then we developed a mission statement, a vision statement, and core values. Only after that was complete did we address the visual identity, tone, voice, and various touchpoints that represent what we stand for. You can’t build a good house without a strong foundation. The process was extensive, but fun. By the way, it’s not over. It becomes organic, it’s ongoing, constantly evolving. Thats why it so important to understand that a brand is a lot of moving parts all aimed at gaining recognition for a company or even an individual.

A brand is not one single defining element. A brand includes many things: color, think Tiffany Blue, voice, think Apple, image, think Patagonia, feel, think Pixar, experience, think Disney World. You get the idea, many elements with one goal: recognition. We’ve established that a brand is organic. It’s constantly growing and needs to be addressed at every level. Starting with the foundation of mission, vision, and core values. If your employees have an understanding of your company’s “why”, they can express your brand in every interaction. From making a million dollar pitch, to answering the phone on a Friday after 6 PM.

There are many ways to aid your employees, clients and vendors in helping with brand recognition. Start with education. Make sure the word gets out about what you stand for. In order to gain recognition you need to be consistent. Make your employees, co-workers, clients and vendors brand ambassadors. Get them to sing your praises. You need to live the brand. Your brand is reflected in the way you speak, the way you write, your packaging and your website copy. A brand is not a logo. A logo is a visual representation of a company. That makes it a part of the brand but not the whole. That being said, it’s important to get your logo right. Again consistency. This is where brand standards come in. They help to guide anyone not familiar with the correct usage and application of any visual branding materials. This comes in handy when working with clients. Branding is very personal to a company. When working with a client, it’s very important to uphold their brand standards. At Buttonwood, we create highly branded, custom products for our clients to give to their clients, and brand standards are always on the the top of our minds. We adhere to our client’s strict guidelines in regards to their visual identity and design for their clients based on products, brands and industries.

Simply asking for a client’s Brand Guidelines can help you get it right and often times provide you with inspiration. Things like products, images, and even buildings can support a brand. It’s important to get it right. When we design a deal toy we make sure it conveys our sense of creativity and craftsmanship. We handle the process with a personal touch, and ensure it’s delivered on time. That’s our brand. But let’s say the deal toy represents a specialized product that our client’s client developed. It’s the most unique, well-designed product of its kind. It helped our client’s client become an industry leader. That’s why we make sure to represent that product, that brand, in the best, most accurate way we can. We pay attention to the most minute details. The curve of a handle, the cut of an outline. Even the clever use of color. That way we are true to their brand, and by extension, we are true to our client’s brand. In the end we accomplish this by being true to our own brand. So stick to the brand.

Understanding what branding is can be confusing. But if you just remember it’s about gaining recognition you should be ok. Again I quote Hertioga and Christensen:

“Business models, marketing tactics, and environmental constraints all influence persuasion and loyalty, with or without branding. It is recognition that is branding’s function. That being said, if done well, branding can influence persuasion and loyalty by providing orientation, fostering trust, and enabling self-expression (we are what we buy).”

A good brand is well-defined, developed from many sources and keeps growing organically. You can help your company’s brand with every interaction. You can also help your client’s brand by being true to their vision, and in the end you help yourself. With a little effort, every day you, can be a brand ambassador.

Links and References

What is a Brand?, Calin Hertioga and Johannes Christensen

A Logo is Not a Brand, Dan Pallotta

About Buttonwood

We are the company behind the world’s most beautiful awards, deal toys, mementos, and corporate gifts. For over 10 years, Buttonwood has designed iconic awards for the most storied names on Wall Street. Our custom deal toys and mementos are designed in our studio in New York and can be shipped anywhere in the world. We are a women owned business and we have been at this for a while.

Benefits of Gratitude

There are tons of benefits to gratitude. Being grateful should be relatively easy and it pays huge returns. It has a ripple effect. If you show gratitude it makes others want to show it too. Show gratitude to your employees, and they show it to each other and to your customers. It’s a powerful tool that makes people happy, makes them feel valued and appreciated.

1. Enhances Self Esteem Showing gratitude is a way of taking special notice. This lets people know they are doing a good job. Whether they admit it or not, everyone needs to hear they are doing a good job and saying thank you is an easy and effective way to say it. It lets people know their work is valued. When people feel valued it increases their self esteem and they just want more. Win win.
2. Improves Performance With greater self esteem, performance is improved. It feels great to be in an environment where your work is valued and your contribution is appreciated. You are actually grateful to do all you can to help. You are motivated because people notice what your are doing and show gratitude. It’s important for leaders, employees, clients and vendors. Attitudes improve and positivity increases. Best of all it’s contagious. “Researchers at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania randomly divided university fund-raisers into two groups. One group made phone calls to solicit alumni donations in the same way they always had. The second group — assigned to work on a different day — received a pep talk from the director of annual giving, who told the fund-raisers she was grateful for their efforts. During the following week, the university employees who heard her message of gratitude made 50% more fund-raising calls than those who did not.” – Harvard Health Publishing
3. Boosts Empathy and Collaboration When employees see leaders displaying gratitude they show it to each other. They see people acting with humanity and respond in kind. This builds an environment of trust and helps strengthen collaboration. With better collaboration comes boosted problem solving. Are you starting to see a pattern here?
4. Builds Trust and Relationships With empathy comes trust. Consistent and genuine gratitude lets people know you are supportive and that you value their contributions. From trust, strong relationships are born. This leads to better collaboration and greater innovation. Rinse and repeat.
5. Reduces Stress Stress does have its benefits. You only grow when you step out of your comfort zone. Facing new challenges can be stressful, but ultimately you gain from it. That being said, other types of stress can lead to lower quality of life and diminished health. A toxic boss, cutthroat co-workers, unreasonable demands, and ambiguity are just a few examples. Luckily some properly delivered gratitude can make it all seem better. A sincere thank you from a leader, client or a co-worker can revive lost drive. Gratitude is a like a light in the darkness.
6. Good for your health Obviously lower stress is good for your health. Gratitude is also scientifically proven to be have other healthy benefits. According to Amy Morin of Psychology Today,“Grateful people experience fewer aches and pains and report feeling healthier than other people… gratitude reduces a multitude of toxic emotions, from envy and resentment to frustration and regret… and recognizing all that you have to be thankful for —even during the worst times—fosters resilience.” So basically, being grateful helps you physically, mentally and emotionally. Studies show writing down a few things you are grateful for before bed every night can even help you sleep better.

How to Show Gratitude

Now you know the benefits of gratitude. It’s good for people and it’s good for business. But how do you show it? How do you unlock the potential to build relationships, boost collaboration and improve performance? Quick hint, it’s not something you do begrudgingly or half heartedly. Put some thought into it. If you want to build trust and relationships make it authentic and sincere. People can tell the difference. It’s about increasing a positive environment. So do this often and make part of how you conduct yourself everyday. Here are some simple ways to show people gratitude.

1. Tell Them By simply having a sincere conversation with someone you can express empathy and gratitude. Human connection is so important. At Buttonwood, it’s a core company value.
2. Send a Note Everyone enjoys a good thank you note. It’s personal and makes a connection. It shows appreciation. Taking the time to express gratitude and write it down means a lot. It’s also very easy and makes a lasting impression. You can send an e-mail, write a letter or just leave a sticky note. At Buttonwood, our clients often have us include notes to the recipients, whether they be employees or clients, in recognition of the team’s effort and achievement. So go ahead make that authentic connection.
3. Give a Gift Who doesn’t want a gift? This a great way to show gratitude. It can be anything, but again gratitude is about connection, recognition and appreciation. The more personal the gift the better. Full disclaimer: This is what we do. The corporate gifts, deal toys and mementos Buttonwood makes serve the dual purpose of showing gratitude and marking high achievements. Our Fortune 50 clients take pride in the gifts we create for them to give to their hard working teams and clients. It’s a customized thank you, given and received with gratitude.
4. Present an Award Awards are a great way to say thank you for a job well done. Internal awards showcase achievement and innovation in different departments within a company, offering insight into how people work and excel companywide. Outside awards recognize collaboration and achievement externally. Both types of awards exemplify gratitude and provide inspiration and motivation. At Buttonwood we help companies present gratitude as an award everyday.
5. Encourage Employees to Thank Each Other You can set up a system. It can be as simple as collecting handwritten thank you notes. You can display them somewhere in the office to build a culture of gratitude. They should be directed at individuals, but can be anonymous. For example: “Neil, Thanks for going above and beyond and taking the lead on learning and teaching the new 3D program.” Or “Allie, Thank you for doing everything you can make sure the design team understands what the clients want out of their deal toy.” Your system can be as simple or complex as you desire, just make it clear that gratitude is encouraged.

Having the opportunity and ability to foster gratitude is beneficial in so many ways, both personally and from a business perspective. It promotes health, relieves stress, builds trust, and boosts self esteem. Gratitude drives performance, strengthens relationships, and enables empathy and collaboration. We have so much to be thankful for, just take the time to express it. Thanks for reading.

Links and References

7 Scientifically Proven Benefits of Gratitude, Amy Morin

Why Expressing Gratitude Is Crucial In Business, Michael Kay

Expressing Gratitude, Giorgia Guazzarotti

Giving Thanks Can Make You Happier, Harvard Health Publishing

About Buttonwood

We are the company behind the world’s most beautiful awards, deal toys, mementos, and corporate gifts. For over 10 years, Buttonwood has designed iconic awards for the most storied names on Wall Street. Our custom deal toys and mementos are designed in our studio in New York and can be shipped anywhere in the world. We are a women owned business and we have been at this for a while.

So why brainstorm?

Todays business landscape requires quick thinking and constant evolution. Whether design is a focus or not, companies need to find new ideas to stay ahead of the competition. Brainstorming helps teams and individuals come up with a lot of ideas quickly. It helps promote collaboration and inclusiveness. It gains insight from a wider group and builds enthusiasm. In working to create unique deal toy designs, we work in groups of 2 or 3 to translate difficult concepts into the visual realm. To tackle large company projects, we brainstorm in groups of 5-10 so that we can be sure we capture every team members point of view. From larger systemic solutions, to smaller specific challenges, we often bring issues to the table for discussion. Every team member’s role is ultimately in service of our clients and satisfying our mission. These are just a few of the reasons to use brainstorming as a tool to generate more ideas.

Setting up for brainstorming

Brainstorming requires several things to be successful. You need a plan and a certain attitude. While brainstorming is great for free flowing ideas and building off of thoughts, it needs structure. It has to start from somewhere with a clear goal in mind. You’re not brainstorming for the fun of it. Setting up is simple in theory, detailed in process.

1. Have a problem to solve. A challenge to conquer, an overarching goal.
2. Do your research. Find insight and inspiration as a starting point. Develop a brief, a strategy, or both.
3. Be curious and open minded. Brainstorming can be difficult for people who want a pre-set solution. Be ready to go wide before you go deep. The sky is the limit.
4. Frame the problem with a “How might we” questions. This comes from the folks at IDEO. IDEO is “a global design company at the forefront of creating change through design”. “How might we” questions are open ended and help in several ways, they ask for multiple, descriptive answers to a problem, seed ideation and ensure collaboration. The questions offer focus, can be applied to anything and encourages divergent thinking. For example “How might we design a great deal toy for the pharmaceutical industry?” Or “How might we offer order delivery options during COVID -19?” or even “How might we plan a surprise party for Kevin?”. More on “How might we” statements here.
5. Have a positive attitude. Be encouraging and empathetic.

Rules for Brainstorming

Now that we are all set up, let’s get to it. The following is a list of seven rules for brainstorming from IDEO. They solve problems for a living, and have set up some very useful processes to help anyone towards the goal of coming up with great ideas. The following are 7 rules for running a great brainstorming session. You will need a moderator to make sure things stay on track.

1. Defer Judgement Give people a comfortable space to come up with ideas. Help them feel safe. You want all voices to be heard. No such thing as stupid ideas at this point.
2. Encourage wild ideas Shoot for the stars. Suggest envisioning things that might be possible without the constraints of technology, materials, or finances. You can always tone down later.
3. Build on the ideas of others Be constructive. Aim for following up on ideas with “…and” instead of “…but”. Build on ideas, don’t tear them down.
4. Stay focused Remain on target. Divergence is great, but it can get out of hand. Gently keep the ideas flowing and conversation focused on the framed problem.
5. One conversation at a time Let one idea run its course before you build on it. Make sure all ideas are heard by everyone, as you never know where the great inspiration will come from. Everyone needs to to take part.
6. Be visual Sketch, draw, make pictures. Keep it simple, not fleshed out designs or prototypes, just visual representations of ideas. Get your right brain on.
7. Go for quantity It’s a numbers game. Go for as many ideas as you can. They don’t have to be fully thought out, just come up with ideas and build off of those. Have fun with it.

“It is easier to tone down a wild idea than to think up a new one.”- Alex Osborn.

There are a couple of other things to consider. Check titles at the door. This will stop people from naturally deferring to the leaders. Leaders should try to speak last. Encourage individual thought. Conformity can crush creativity. The moderator should impose time limits. Each person should be allowed 5 minutes, but try to keep the over all time under an hour. You want to keep people’s interest high. Be prepared to capture ideas. This is all a waste of time if you miss something great. With those things in mind you are ready to go. In the end you should have a nice collection of ideas to move forward with. After a brainstorming session, it’s time to reflect, gather feed back and decide what’s feasible, viable, desirable. You can always double back and run the process again if you have honed in on a good idea. Keep an open mind, show empathy and enjoy yourself and the ideas will flow.

References

Alex F. Osborn: Father of the Brainstorm

IDEO-Brainstorming – Rules & Techniques for Idea Generation

IDEO-5 Brainstorming Exercises for Introverts

9 Simple Tips For Leading Brilliant Brainstorms

Obstacles

Before we can get started on developing your creativity, we need to clear the path. You need to understand that you are creative. Failure is necessary and judging yourself will get you no where.

1. Fear of failure Failure isn’t always bad. Making mistakes shouldn’t scare you. How many times did Edison fail before he made the lightbulb? 10,000. Failure is actually part of the process. You can’t make an omelette without breaking some eggs.
2. Thinking you are not creative This is a common problem. People align creativity and execution and imagine they can’t do it. Creativity is nothing more than idea generation. Steve Jobs didn’t physically build the iPhone himself, he had a creative idea. Everyone can have creative ideas. The more you practice, the better you get.
3. Don’t judge yourself Being overly critical of your ideas hampers your creativity. Thinking an idea is stupid crushes potential before it has a chance to develop. So go easy on yourself.

Exercise Your Creativity

Time to flex those muscles. By taking some simple steps you can go a long way towards improving your ability to quickly develop unique, innovative solutions to complex problems. Let’s dive in.

1. Develop an eye for quality In general you should train yourself to know whats good. You go to the gym to get physically fit right? So why not exercise your mental muscles too? Use books, social media, museums, nature. Find out whats popular and why. Then start developing your own palette.
2. Frame the problem Always start with a problem to be solved. Henry Ford solved a transportation problem. If he had been trying to make a faster horse we might not have cars. Make sure you understand what your problem is, who you are solving it for and why. Just make sure it’s actually a problem to be solved and not a solution to be vetted.
3. Creativity is a team sport Great ideas can come from anyone. Everybody should be able to talk to anybody. Build off the ideas of others and be supportive. Give good feedback, and receive it well. You can build off of ideas from people in the room, or from people you’ve never met. Without Galileo, there would be no Newton. Without Newton there would be no Einstein… you get the point.
4. Don’t focus on negative opinions In a good early brainstorm there is no judgement. But if you are bouncing ideas off people and getting negative reactions, take it in and shake it off. Innovation never comes from a herd mentality. You need to be able to step out side your comfort zone. Newton, Picasso, Einstein… they did not follow the crowd. Listen to feedback, just don’t let it stop you.
5. Be curious Inspiration can come from anywhere. Keep learning. Go to museums, read books, go to concerts, go to great restaurants, climb a mountain, think about why amazing things are amazing. Put in the work. Don’t expect inspiration to be a lightning bolt. Creativity is a process.
6. Don’t Censor your ideas Go for volume at first, you never know if a branch of some idea you think is completely crazy will turn out to be a winner. So practice divergent thought at first, then go for convergent thought after a given period of time.
7. Look for connections Find patterns. Find connections between disparate concepts. Connections like a camera and a phone seem universal now, but in 1999 most people couldn’t see the need to always have a camera on hand. The first camera phone was cordless not a cellular mobile phone, but who knew it would usher in the age of the selfie?
8. Unplug Go for a walk. Meditate. Give your mind time to work. Seek out natural beauty. Let your mind do what it’s supposed to, away from the onslaught of technology and media. In the words of Stephen Gates, “Find time to be bored”.
9. Live the problem Find empathy, make observations, find insight, explore solutions from the inside out. Learn more about Empathy here.

Creativity in a Crisis

We find ourselves in a difficult time, we have to adjust, adapt and keep moving forward. During a crisis creativity is very important. It can help you in several ways.

1. Desire to help others It’s heart warming to hear all the stories of compassion and empathy out there today. Empathy is spurring creativity all around us. In Haddon Heights, NJ, a local Cub Master is organizing people to donate in a very creative way. He has organized a page where people can donate time and/or money to simultaneously help frontline medical workers and local restaurants. Donations support local businesses by purchasing meals, that are hand delivered to frontline medical workers at the local hospitals. This is a great example of creativity in a crisis. You can help the cause here.
2. Revaluate your skill set In a crisis, people think about how their skills and resources could be applied to the problem. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit it’s peak there was a fear of a ventilator shortage for patients. Dyson, designer and manufacturer of vacuum cleaners answered the call. Within 10 days of the request from the British government, Dyson had designed and built the “CoVent”. They creatively applied their skills to attack a crisis head-on.
3. Use creativity as a shield Fear can bring focus and energy, and creativity can be used as a defense against feelings of helplessness. This worldwide pandemic is certainly causing its share of fear, but the fear is being met with creativity. DIY face masks are all over the internet. Now people can focus their fear into making decorative masks to protect themselves, their family and frontline workers. Some are even using home 3D printers to make face shields. Creativity is literally shielding them from fear and a deadly virus.
4. Sink or swim The mental barriers that prevent people from being creative disappear in a crisis. When forced into action, when our ways of doing things are disrupted, creativity comes shining through. A creative doctor from the University of Mississippi Medical Center, “…built an in-house ventilator as a potential last resort to treat COVID-19 patients, the ventilator is made from items commonly found at hardware stores like a garden hose and a lamp timer.” Simply amazing. That is true creativity in crisis.
5. New problems, new solutions Sometimes a problem presents issues that have never been dealt with in the past. Our current situation finds us in such place. COVID-19 is creating workplace issues that endanger the safety of all employees. According to Amazon CEO, Jeff Bezos, regular testing for every industry is needed to “both help keep people safe and help get the economy back up and running”. So instead of waiting around, Amazon put together a team of employees from different units to create new tools to test for COVID-19. In the face of a new threat, they are working with Internal teams, innovating and trying to move forward.

Use a Framework

A blank canvas is a frustrating thing. I’m an artist and a designer and starting from scratch is never easy. How do you think outside the box when there is no box? There are tons of frameworks out there, some specific and some general. I like Design Thinking, it’s a methodology that can be applied to any kind of creative problem solving. Learn more about Design Thinking here. Hopefully you can use some of these ideas to help you the next time you’re stuck on a creative problem, or if you just want to be prepared for an impromptu brainstorm. Now you can go get your hands dirty and come up with some great ideas.

References, Links & Exercises

10 Exercises to Build Your Creative Confidence, By IDEO

https://www.ideo.com/blog/10-exercises-to-build-your-creative-confidence

10 Tips to Cultivate Your Creativity

By Margarita Tarakovsky, M.S., Associate Editor at Psych Central

https://psychcentral.com/blog/10-tips-to-cultivate-your-creativity/

3 Ways Boredom Can Unlock Your Creativity, By IDEO

https://www.ideo.com/blog/3-ways-boredom-can-help-you-unlock-your-creativity

Creativity is a Blue Collar Profession, By Stephen Gates

http://thecrazy1.com/episode-26-creativity-creativity-is-a-blue-collar-profession/

About Buttonwood

We are the company behind the world’s most beautiful awards, deal toys, mementos, and corporate gifts. For over 10 years, Buttonwood has designed iconic awards for the most storied names on Wall Street. Our custom deal toys and mementos are designed in our studio in New York and can be shipped anywhere in the world. We are a women owned business and we have been at this for a while. 

Bad Feedback

Bad feedback can be worse than no feedback. If delivered in the wrong way or at the wrong time, it can be highly damaging to projects and relationships.

1. Feedback is Bad When it’s Personal Feedback should be objective and directed at projects or processes not individuals. (Unless behavior is an issue)
2. Feedback is Bad When it’s Poorly Timed Feedback needs to come after the current iteration is finished, but before the next phase starts. It’s not helpful to offer feedback whenever the mood strikes you. There is a time and a place for everything.
3. Feedback is Bad When it’s Overly Specific Being a manager does not mean having to control absolutely everything. By all means be specific. Point out qualities, issues, and concerns. But don’t over do it. You have to show your team that you trust them to do their job.
4. Feedback is Bad When it’s a Compliment Sandwich You know this one. Say something positive. Offer feedback. Say something else positive. I’ve tried this and it comes up short. People tend to focus on the 2 positives and pay less attention to the actual feedback. It’s better to be direct. Be honest and then be supportive. The sugar coating isn’t helping anyone.
5. Bad Feedback is Confusing “Make it pretty.” We all now that’s not good feedback. Have a point and make sure it is understood. Make sure the individual or the team knows the goal and knows the next steps to take.

Good Feedback

Good feedback is useful in so many ways. It improves outcomes, processes, individuals and relationships. Try to see feedback as an essential tool to making your individual contributors, your team, your projects and your company better. Be thoughtful.

1. Good Feedback Focuses on Coaching Help your team / individual solve a problem without giving them the solution. Most of the time you can guide people to find a great solution on their own. Ask good questions. Sometimes you do have to take over, but make that a last case scenario.
2. Good Feedback is Direct Direct, but not personal. Focus on the project not the individual. Be honest then be supportive. Be there for them as a leader. Help them find the solution.
3. Good Feedback is Honest It might be difficult. It might be a tough conversation. But ultimately the only way to improve is to be honest and direct. Get to the point. Offer support. Build trust. Solve the problem together.
4. Good Feedback is Meaningful Take the time to understand why the person made the decisions that led up to this point. Offer insight. Leave the person or team with a clear path to solving the problem. Help them move forward.
5. Good Feedback is Collaborative Offer insight. Offer support. Explain the issue and work together to find a solution. Don’t just point out faults. Set people up for success.
6. Good Feedback Builds Trust and Rapport When you are honest, direct and offer help, you build trust and rapport. Walk the talk. Do what you say and be there when help is needed. Giving people big problems to solve is a sign of trust.

Types of Feedback

Feedback comes in two main types, constructive and destructive. If you are looking to lead a successful team or project, constructive feedback is your only option.

Destructive Only points out problems and issues. No support or advice is offered. Often a direct attack on an individual. Doesn’t contribute to a solution Destroys trust and rapport. Crushes creativity.

Constructive Focuses on the problem. Objective. Offers useful advice and leads toward discovering a solid solution. Contributes to a positive outcome. Good for building support for people and teams. The following are all forms of constructive feedback:

1. Objective Performance based. Consists of clear expectations and data to measure success or failure. Allows you to offer guidance on how to reach the ultimate goal. This type of feedback is very important for holding people accountable.
2. Subjective Influenced by a persons opinions, tastes or feelings. Subjective feedback is usually based on experience and thus, very valuable. But it shouldn’t be a stand alone form of feedback.
3. Positive This is what people want to hear. It reinforces behavior that you want more of.
4. Negative Something has gone wrong and must be addressed. Does not have to be destructive. Use it as an opportunity to learn and move forward.
5. Coaching Intended to inspire individuals and teams. Taps into strengths, provides support and leads down a path of growth and improvement.
6. Appreciation Directed at individuals and teams to let them know you are grateful for their performance and contribution.

How to Give Feedback

Delivery is important. For feedback to be useful its has to be heard. It has to be received with intent to act upon it. Be clear and make sure you are understood. Think of it as a mentoring moment. Be patient. Guide and support. Be open to discussion and use the time to facilitate improvement.

1. Start with a Recap Frame the problem you are trying to solve. Pick up where you left off. Make sure you are on the same page.
2. Be Timely Even the best feedback can fall flat if it’s delivered at the wrong time. It prevents miscommunications. It makes improvement easier. It builds rapport. Recognize, appreciate, propose. Let them know what success looks like.
3. Be Direct Be specific but be passive Instead of saying “Your projects need to be stronger.”, say “This project would have been more effective if had a more contextual basis.” This way you are singling out the work and not the individual. At the same time you are offering direct feedback and leaving room for the person to make good decisions and do their best work.
4. Collaborate Understand the process and the thinking behind the work being reviewed. Take the time to find out why decisions were made that resulted in the current outcome. Be empathetic. Work together to find the best way to move forward.
5. Use Multiple Styles of Feedback There are plenty of styles, just use one that’s constructive. Use the different types of feedback to support each other. Find what works and be clear about the path ahead.
6. Make Sure the Message is Received as Delivered. People can be defensive when receiving feedback. This can lead to misinterpretations. Make sure the feedback is clear and understood.
7. Ask for Feedback on Your Feedback Make sure you are giving quality feedback. Make sure you are as helpful and supportive as possible. Ask for ways you could improve. Listen.

How to Receive Feedback

Receiving feedback is just as important giving it. Pay attention. Learn something. Feedback is only as valuable as the actions you take to improve after you receive it.

1. Listen Up Take it in. Don’t just wait for your turn to talk. Encourage the person to speak. Be an active listener. Now is a good time for empathy.
2. Take Notes Write it down. Be specific. This will help you take action later. It shows your intent to understand and your appreciation for the feedback.
3. Explain Know where you are coming from. Be able to explain your process. Explain how you came to this solution. Know why you made the decisions that led you here. Don’t take anything personally. Don’t be argumentative.
4. Ask Questions Make sure you are crystal clear on what you need to take away. Be sure you understand the next steps and the ultimate goal. Learn something. The whole point is to move forward.
5. Be Grateful Chances are you just learned something. Be thankful for the opportunity to grow and improve. Be sure to say thank you.
6. Take Action This is the critical part. You got some feedback. You know your next steps. Take the action to improve the project and yourself. Make an impact.
7. Start Asking for Advice Sometimes it’s easier to ask someone for advice. Advice is easier to give. It doesn’t feel as heavy as feedback. You can take it or leave it. No pressure. But still provides an opportunity to learn.

Group Feedback

Our team sets weekly goals on personal business related projects. On Fridays we discuss and give feedback as a group. It helps to move the projects along quickly and makes feedback an integral part of the process. However there are some things you need to consider when getting feedback from a group.

1. Group Feedback Needs an Agenda Understand where you are, what your goal is, and how to accomplish it. Stay on target.
2. Group Feedback Needs to Have Rules Have a moderator. Stick to the agenda and stay on target. Don’t let individuals take too much time. Set time limits if you have too.
3. Group Feedback Needs to be Timely As we said before, feedback needs to come at the right time. Have a schedule. After an iteration or after a customer provides feedback work best. It needs to be fresh. Not before the current step is finished. Not before the next step begins.

Feedback basically needs to be clear. It needs to point toward a solution. It should also be used to build relationships and trust. Feedback should have a common ground and an objective source to settle disputes. It should have a solid data source to refer to so opinion based arguments can be settled. Be patient, collaborate and make the most of feedback. It’s an essential and very useful tool.

References, Links & Resources

Crazy One Podcast, How to get and give better creative feedback

http://thecrazy1.com/episode85/.

Crazy One Podcast, How to give better design Feedback

http://thecrazy1.com/episode67/.

How to Make Hard Feedback Pay Off, Ashley Szukalski

https://www.ideo.com/blog/how-to-make-hard-feedback-pay-off

Why Employee Feedback is Important + How to Give and Receive it, Eric Robinson

https://www.hotjar.com/blog/employee-feedback/

How to Receive Feedback Effectively, AGU Career Center

About Buttonwood

We are the company behind the world’s most beautiful awards, deal toys, mementos, and corporate gifts. For over 10 years, Buttonwood has designed iconic awards for the most storied names on Wall Street. Our custom deal toys and mementos are designed in our studio in New York and can be shipped anywhere in the world. We are a women owned business and we have been at this for a while. 

What is customer experience? It basically describes all of the interactions your customers have with your business, every touch point, every aspect, every emotion. It has the potential to deliver true impact.

Customer experience is not customer service. For example, let’s say you call a restaurant for a reservation and the person on the phone is friendly and helpful. They even get you a great table on a Friday night. That’s good customer service. However, if you are seated with no delay, the staff provide seamless, intuitive service start to finish, the sommelier suggests the perfect wine to pair with your meal, and free dessert arrives because you casually mentioned it was your anniversary, that’s a great customer experience. You are going to tell your friends. That’s what we all aim to replicate in our business interactions. We aim to provide that extra something special. So how do you pull this off?

Start With Basic Customer Service

It may seem obvious, but certain things are expected. Most people don’t even notice if you get the basics right. But if you get the basics wrong, you run the risk of losing a customer.

1. Make the customer feel important Listen, pay attention, don’t keep them waiting, answer questions before they ask, be intuitive and attentive.
2. Be personable Get people’s names right, be efficient, and smile (even on the phone).
3. Be easy to get a hold of Answer the phone, and if you are unavailable, have a good message on your voicemail and be sure to return calls promptly.
4. Keep your promises Call back when you say you will. Do what you say you are going to do. Walk the talk.
5. Train your people Train your team on how to answer the phone, on how to use the right tone in emails, and everything else on this list. Try to replicate a certain kind of experience throughout the company and be consistent.
6. Keep customers informed Send updates before they are asked for, be transparent and keep your customers in the loop. Let them know the wheels are moving, and if not, let them know why.
7. Adapt to each customer Know what your customers like. How do they like to be contacted? Do they want a long conversation? Do they just want the facts? Do they want to be part of the process or just receive updates? In short, get to know them and try to be flexible.
8. Be consistent Make sure your team is on the same page and the experience is the same from employee to employee, even if the tactics have to change based on the customer.

Improving Customer Experience

Now that we have the basics, let’s move on to really improving the overall customer experience. Great CX comes from really understanding your customers and acting on that insight. Make changes that are good for your customers, your business, and your employees.

1. Have a plan Create a clear CX vision – you need to visualize where you want to go before you can get there. Set objectives, start small and work towards building scale.
2. Align your management teams Make sure everyone is on the same page and lead by example.
3. Know your customers They are all different and they all need to feel valued. Be ready to adapt, deliver the level of experience they expect, and then something more, delight. Create personas and journey maps to look for insights and pain points.
4. Create a connection Reach your customers on an emotional level. Be original, be honest and be helpful. This where delight comes in.
5. Train your people (more) You know your customers. Teach your team to interact on the level and with the quality your customers expect. Empower your team to make a difference. Turn them into ambassadors and your CX will improve organically and exponentially.
6. Use feedback Use feedback from your front line employees and your customers. Look for ways to improve based on real experiences and pain points.
7. Collect Data Set high goals so you are constantly motivated to improve, then check your progress against the data. Rinse and repeat.
8. Be Consistent, persistent and patient.

Customer Experience in a time of Crisis

We find ourselves in a difficult time, we have to adjust, adapt and keep moving forward. During a crisis certain aspects of the customer experience become paramount.

1. Come from empathy Be there for your customers, but come from a place of support. We are in a tough spot. Is now is a time for a sales or marketing push? Make sure you take care of your employees and vendors too. When this is all over people will remember how you made them feel. Be true to your company values. It’s simple just be who you are. More on empathy here.
2. Help your customers where they need you most Explore enhanced digital offerings, offer shipping alternatives, just be flexible and understand everyone is trying to adjust.
3. Innovate and adapt Start thinking of new ways to reach your customers and help them navigate after the crisis is over. This might be a good time to innovate and develop new and alternative products.

“At the end of the day people won’t remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel.” ― Maya Angelou

Leave people with a good feeling about your business. Make them feel important. Make them feel special, and if you can, bring them some delight. Better CX leads to more loyal customers and that’s just good business.

References & Links

7 Ways to Create a Great Customer Experience Strategy

by Steven MacDonald

Adapting customer experience in the time of coronavirus

By Rachel Diebner, Elizabeth Silliman, Kelly Ungerman, and Maxence Vancauwenberghe

Adapting CX in the time of coronavirus

Designing and starting up a customer-experience transformation

By Ewan Duncan and Harald Fanderl, and Katy Maffei

Designing and starting up a CX transformation

About Buttonwood

We are the company behind the world’s most beautiful awards, deal toys, mementos, and corporate gifts. For over 10 years, Buttonwood has designed iconic awards for the most storied names on Wall Street. Our custom deal toys and mementos are designed in our studio in New York and can be shipped anywhere in the world. We are a women owned business and we have been at this for a while. 

Basic Leadership

Being a leader comes from a desire to improve your company, your team, and yourself. You need to be willing and you need to understand some basic things about your position and yourself. Be curious. Learn everything you can from multiple resources. Don’t get comfortable.

1. Know Your Leadership Maturity From highly revered and respected, to the person who uses a title to lead. Leaders travel a path. Understand where you are. Understand where you are going. Make a plan to get there. It will take some time. Learn more about leadership maturity here.
2. Know Your Leadership Style Know your style and be conscious of which one is most impactful for your team. No one style is inherently better than another. Understand your strengths and weaknesses. Take in the signals, recognize the patterns and create new ones. Pay attention to what’s going on within your team and shift your style to be most effective. Learn more about leadership styles here.
3. Encourage Others to Lead You don’t need to be a manager to be a leader. Encourage your team to take initiative. Empower people to solve problems, take the lead on projects and suggest new things. Give them the ability to lead from any level. Help them understand how to do that. Help your people to develop in ways that benefit their growth, the growth of the team, and the company.
4. Develop People Skills Trust your team. Empower your team. Understand what kind of leader your team needs and shift your style to achieve the best results. Foster a sense of purpose and community. Advocate for the team. Be a conduit between the teams and senior leadership.
5. Develop Communication Skills Like leadership, communication is generally marked by a style. Whether it be analytical, intuitive, functional or personal. Every individual has a communication style. The goal is having all them in your toolkit and knowing when to use them. Learn more about communication styles here.
6. Build Relationships Having strong teams and strong organizations is key to success. The ability to build bridges between teams and executives is imperative. To communicate with executives and team members and be able to advocate for both, you must find a common language. Creatives speak creative. Project managers speak goals and deadlines. Executives speak business. You get the idea. The point is, you need to find a common language. Then translate it into goals and solutions that benefit the customer and the business.
7. Undestand Innovation Solid innovation is inclusive. Business, design and technology all have a part to play. Look for the sweet spot between viability, feasibility and consumer desirability. Look for places to improve the business and empower your people to do the same. Learn more about innovation here.
8. Understand Strategy Be able to look ahead. Know your next series of moves. Have a plan. But also be ready to throw your plan way as the landscape changes. It’s like chess: be creative, look ahead, be ready to adapt and make your move at the right time. Checkmate.

Crisis Leadership

In a time of crisis good leadership is imperative. Your team will look to you for answers and you need to answer with confidence and calm. A crisis is no time to lose your head. It’s like swimming, when you find yourself in trouble, if you panic, you drown. Stay calm and find a solution, because there is always a solution.

1. Focus on Your Customers Focus on your customers’ needs and how they have changed based on the current environment. Engage with them to find pain points and opportunities for relief. Strive to improve relationships on every level and at every touch point.
2. Find the Advantages in Your Limitations. Be open minded. Nothing helps creative problem solving like constraints. Look to your company values and build from there. Stanford’s Bob Sutton says “Research on creativity and constraint demonstrates that, when options are limited, people generate more, rather than less, varied solutions — apparently because their attention is less scattered.” Learn more about creativity within constraints.
3. Be Flexible Be ready to adapt. Be ready to manage change. See the whole picture and look for ways get in front of it. Pivot, turn, bend. Look for new opportunities and be ready to re-set and gain momentum in new directions if necessary.
4. Find Ways to Pivot The business landscape is changing day by day. The business plan you used yesterday may not work tomorrow. We have seen some of our vendors pivot almost overnight. They went from manufacturing deal toys to producing PPD equipment to help front line health workers. Or making acrylic dividers to help essential workers do their jobs in a safer environment. They are redirecting their capabilities for immediate needs.
5. Be Innovative Your business may come out of this crisis in a different form than it went in. It’s time to investigate new ways to grow. It’s time to experiment. Maybe you need to update processes? Maybe it’s time to upend your entire industry? What would you change if you had to start from scratch? Bring your teams together. Do your research, brainstorm and find that elusive idea that is feasible, viable and desirable. Get everyone involved, great ideas can come from anywhere.
6. Build Trust Trust is always important. Build trust with your team, with your customers and with your vendors. Be transparent. Be direct. Break down barriers and strengthen relationships. Don’t discount competitors. In times of crisis having those relationships is key too. A good leader doesn’t limit possibilities. Maybe it’s time to start fresh. Maybe it’s time nourish deep bonds. Let people know you are there for them. Be dependable. Be present. Be available. Make the effort. It’s worth it.

Hone your leadership skills. Know yourself. Know your team. Know your industry and your business. Be curious and never stop learning. Leadership is a path. Keep moving forward and results will come. You can lead from anywhere. Remember to be positive. Your attitude is contagious.

References, Links & Resources

4 Strategies to Chart a Path Forward When There is No Map, By Alice Kogan & Sandeep Pahuja

https://www.ideo.com/journal/four-strategies-to-chart-a-path-forward-when-there-is-no-map

6 Leadership Principles To Guide You During Crisis, By Glenn Llopis

https://www.forbes.com/sites/glennllopis/2020/04/13/6-leadership-principles-to-guide-you-during-crisis/#539ef4d87823

How to Lead Through a Crisis, By Center for Creative Leadership

https://www.ccl.org/articles/leading-effectively-articles/how-to-lead-through-a-crisis/

About Buttonwood

We are the company behind the world’s most beautiful awards, deal toys, mementos, and corporate gifts. For over 10 years, Buttonwood has designed iconic awards for the most storied names on Wall Street. Our custom deal toys and mementos are designed in our studio in New York and can be shipped anywhere in the world. We are a women owned business and we have been at this for a while.