We’re just weeks…days away from the busiest shopping and gift giving days of the year. Now is a good time to start thinking of what you might give your clients this holiday season. If you’re not sure what to do and where to look for corporate holiday gifts, here are a few tips to help you get through the holiday maze with not just your reputation but your budget intact.
First and Foremost – The Answer Is Yes
If you’re wondering whether or not you should give your clients gifts, let us help clear things up; yes you should. It’s always good practice to show clients your gratitude. Yes, you’ve provided great value to them, but a nice token of appreciation can really help demonstrate that you care. It’s a win win for both parties.
Make It Personal
In some cases, your best intentions may backfire. For one thing, you don’t want your gifts to land in a wastebasket or sitting on a break table among other gifts because they appear to be generic and impersonal. You also don’t want your gifts to scream desperate or gauche. You want your gesture to be thoughtful and personal. If sending to an individual, try something custom. Say, wine glasses or maybe even a personalized door mat. The key here is not to promote YOUR company with YOUR logo. But rather put their name or their company name on them. Now that’s making it personal!
Don’t Make It Promotional
Do Be Creative
If you have a client who is big into golf, you might send a dozen golf balls which they will promptly lose (not with your logo). Another thought is something they can use for a long time. A golf themed gift basket with not just a myriad of golfing essentials they’ll need and can use on the golf course but a few tasty snacks to sweeten their holiday.
Show Appreciation Year-Round
Timing your client gifts is just as important as quality. It’s natural to think of sending a gift for the holidays. It’s hard not to. But, you may want to reconsider. Think of it like your spouse. They expect a gift for birthdays, anniversary’s and the holidays. But sometimes a gift on a Monday for no reason or no occasion makes the best impression not to mention it becomes even more memorable. If you take the time to appreciate your clients when they least expect it, you’ll stand out. This goes for employees too!
Make It Fun
We get it, holiday gift giving can be daunting, stressful and most of all expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. You don’t have to break the bank or drive yourself crazy searching for the perfect gift. With a little bit of planning and creativity you can give a gift that creates a lasting impression. So have fun with it!
