Most go right into the trash basket. Sometimes the motion is even accompanied with a huff -- I get irked at the corny joke about molar and, frankly, I’m peeved that the only mail I get is from the dentist.

But is sending holiday cards to customers or fruit baskets to clients a good business practice?

For small businesses, does it help keep you in the good graces of a valued customer?

If so, is not sending something equivalent to snubbing?

The issue is important enough for the Wall Street Journal, which in a story you can read here said sometimes a more unusual gift will help keep you in mind.