Corporate gift giving is a long-standing tradition and gift options run the gamut from greeting cards to custom imprinted laptop bags. But it can be challenging to decide what to give and to whom. Most businesses give the same gift to everyone on the list, while others give individually chosen items. So, as an advisory services firm, what should you do? Here are a few things to consider:
Think marketing, but carefully.
It’s okay to give a gift as a gesture of friendship, acknowledging the relationship you’ve built with your client (or vendor), but if you can make your gift serve a marketing purpose, that’s all the better. But there is a caution to consider. Make sure your gift is a gesture of good will and appreciation first, not a blatant marketing ploy.
Your gift should communicate appreciation and thoughtfulness primarily, and market your company name secondarily. So if you send an imprinted specialty item, make sure your logo or name is understated and small. Don’t emblazon it on an item. Whether your item is a mug, fleece blanket, or thumb drive, make sure it’s one your recipient will like first, and want to use. If you include your company name, make it small as just type, or imprint only the symbol from your logo, not your full logo. You’d be surprised how much more effective an item is when its something someone wants to use. By giving a more tasteful, understated item, your gesture will be remembered more fondly and with greater appreciation than one given as an obvious and garish marketing ploy.
Setting your budget.
You don’t have to spend large sums on gifts. In fact, if you include a well-designed and printed gift tag with your gift, you may not need to imprint or embroider your gift at all. You can make your gift tag the focal point of your gift, and put all your messaging on it. It’s one way to be a little more heavy handed with marketing without being in poor taste.
But, really, how much, you ask… Well, the amount spent on a gift should be determined by what you feel comfortable with. Many consulting and service firms base the amount of business associated with the recipient of the gift. If you are engaged at a high level, certainly a holiday party or a private client lunch or dinner may be in order so that you and your team can show your appreciation and continue to nurture that relationship. But be aware of your client’s company policies — they may not be allowed to receive gifts. With that said, most businesses try to spend $25 or less on each gift. If you’re giving a large number of gifts, it sometimes has to be less. But if you keep your focus on the uniqueness and creativity of the gift, you can usually draw attention away from the actual monetary value of it. It really is the thought that counts.
But WHAT do we give?!
Coming up with the right thing that fits everyone on your list and meets your budget can be more challenging than finding out what your non-communicattive teenager wants. So we’ll try to help. Here are some less predictable ideas to throw into the ring. Some of them could be creatively personalized, but most would be great to give with just a personalized gift tag with your name and logo.
1. FOOD
Food is always appreciated. But if you consider food, make it something unusual like giant cookies, a lolly pop or candy. Some of the prepackaged food baskets are lovely, but a custom basket with food and gifts showing that you really know your client’s preference is especially nice. With design as part of our slate of services, we’ve had the opportunity to design wine and beer labels and some food packaging, so that is one way to provide a great gift, promote another client and show off some of our work.
2. MUGS
Give a nice but not imprinted mug. Package it in tissue paper sealed with an adhesive round sticker with your logo and fill it with candy. (Print the stickers at Kinkos or order them online at moo.com)
3. USB HUBS
Give a specialty USB hub. This is particularly nice for IT consultants or other tech related companies. Imprinted or not — just package in a tissue paper with a round sticker as suggested above for a mug.
4. NOTEBOOK(S)
A bag or basket of colorful empty notebooks and pens can be a wonderful gift and they can be shared throughout the office. Custom printed datebooks, notebooks with favorite quotes or special organizational features pertaining to your market, can be extra special.
5. SPECIALTY PAPER CLIPS
Reindeer, snowman or tree paper clips can be fun and useful. To package them, just attach them to a note or letter of appreciation.
6. DESKTOP BOX
Small silver or decorative boxes can be used to hold paperclips, candy or business cards on someone’s desk. You can even fill them with the paperclips or candy when you give the gift to make it more obvious what your suggestion for use is.
7. DVD(s)
A copy of “Its a Wonderful Life” of “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas” on DVD is a nice nostalgic gift. And your client can share it with the whole family. Package the gift with a letter or card that wishes them a wonderful holiday with their loved ones and family.
8. STAMPS
Personalized postage stamps, like these samples from Zazzle, are an unusal idea that can be used all year long. A sheet of 20 stamps is $5 to $10, plus postage. You can put a message to your clients on the stamp like a motivational quote, a message of appreciation or your logo.
9. CAUSES OR CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS
More and more we see clients, and we count ourselves in this group as well, give to either their favorite cause or a client’s favorite cause. It’s a lovely way to honor your clientele while doing good, particularly when that cause is related to your industry or business mission. As a company involved in the printing industry, we recommend recycled papers and a greener print processes, and have often contributed to the PlantABillion.org reforestation project from The Nature Conservancy. It’s related to our mission and industry, and a wonderful cause.
Hope that helps get the ideas flowing! We wish you a very, very happy holiday and an easy shopping list!
— Chris Quinn, principal and brand strategist
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