Client Gifts: How, What, When, Where & Why to Send Them
I often get a ton of questions when I start talking about processes, especially when it comes to client gifting. People always ask, "What do you do? Where do you shop? What should you buy? How much should you spend? When do you send it?" and all those good things. Well, that's exactly what we're diving into in this post!
The Importance of Strategic Gifting
The general idea for client gifts is to say ‘thank you’ when a client books a big package with you. A thoughtful gift isn’t just a nice gesture—it can help strengthen your relationships and keep clients coming back year after year. In a study conducted by Coresight Research, 80% of client gift buyers said gifts have improved relationships with employees and clients. It’s an investment of time and money well worth your time as a small business.
Sometimes the first thing clients think when they hear corporate gifts is oh no. The truth is, corporate gifts sometimes suck. The good thing though? It doesn’t have to be that way. Corporate gifts are quite easy to get right. They just have to make sense.
Gifting Strategies and Budgeting
When determining a budget for your client gifts, you have to balance the significance of showing clients your appreciation and staying within your means. By allocating your budget the right way, you ensure the monetary value of your gifts are balanced with the thoughtfulness behind the gesture. If you want to send gifts, there are a couple ways you can do this:
- Lump Sum Gift: Send a single, larger gift at the beginning of a project to get them excited about the process & show them you’re happy to work with them.
- Split Budget: Divide your budget to send smaller gifts at different stages, such as 75% of your budget at the start for a welcome gift, and 25% at launch for the farewell gift.
Choosing the best corporate gifts requires understanding the client’s preferences and aligning them with your brand image. The following table summarizes the primary approaches to customizing your gifts:
| Gift Type | Purpose | Impact on Client Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| Generic Gifts | Show excitement and appreciation before the project starts. | Helps relax any fears or concerns about the money they just spent. |
| Client-Specific Gifts | Customized based on the client's interests and preferences. | Builds trust and camaraderie even more to start on positive footing. |
When to Send Your Gifts
Recognizing the length of your partnerships will ultimately help you establish your gifting budget. New clients deserve acknowledgment for deciding to entrust your company with their business, encouraging meaningful connections from the outset. Meanwhile, long-term clients are the backbone of any successful business. With loyalty in mind, consider commemorating significant milestones, such as the anniversary of a client’s contract signing date.
Traditional holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s offer ample opportunities to be creative and fun in your gift-giving. These are perfect times to send corporate holiday gifts for clients that feel thoughtful and personalized.
Gift Ideas That They'll Actually Like
Discover the ultimate guide to the best corporate holiday gifts for clients and find gift ideas they’ll actually like, while simultaneously building professional bonds. Here is a list of items often used in gift boxes:
- Nice Every-Day Pens: Different colors & styles to match the client's branding.
- Candles: Small, easily packaged sizes with relaxing scents, and either pretty or unexpectedly funny packaging.
- Notebooks: Small & portable, but stylish notebooks with motivational quotes or unique designs.
- Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Gifts: Reusable products like branded insulated water bottles, eco-friendly tote bags, or bamboo desk organizers.
- Digital Subscriptions: Gifting an industry-specific e-magazine or wellness app subscription to provide value professionally and personally.
- Experience Gifts: Virtual experiences like a wine-tasting or cooking class are an exciting way to engage and connect with your clients.
Creating Custom Gift Boxes
What I usually do is send a welcome gift, spending most or all of my budget at the beginning of the project. Making these boxes isn't too difficult, especially since I buy items in bulk. Customizing the gifts is an unexpected touch that’s likely to surprise them, and really helps build trust and camaraderie. Supporting local artisans shows you care about quality and community while giving your clients a taste of something unique and special.
Specialized Gifting Platforms
There are several options for those looking to streamline the process:
- Giftsenda Gifting Platform: Use international gifting platform features to let them choose gifts, use address-collection & automate your sends.
- California Crafted: Specializes in gift bags filled with products that are local to California, such as artisanal chocolates and snacks.
- Magzter: A great vendor for gifting industry magazine subscriptions across various sectors.
- S'well: Known for producing high-quality, reusable products like insulated water bottles that are both stylish and eco-friendly.
