Do’s and don’t’s of corporate gifting

Formerly a nice-to-have, pleasant surprise from the most thoughtful of business owners, nowadays, corporate gifting to clients during the festive season is arguably an expectation. Don’t underestimate the value that a special little ‘thank you’ can have on clients with wandering eyes, or even better, for those who have been loyal to you for years.

A holder of the Royal Warrant of Appointment to Her Majesty The Queen, high-end independent corporate gifting specialists, Veritas Gifts, have shared their dos and don’ts of corporate gifting:

Don’t over spend

While you might feel inclined to splash out and show your client how valuable they are to you, over spending with lavish gifts serves no purpose. First and foremost, this is a gesture of kindness and ‘thank-you’ for a flourishing working relationship, not kickback for their business. The last thing you want is for your gift to look is over-the-top or desperate, raising concerns about the motivations for present.

Do make it personal

Don’t send the exact same gift to everyone. Though it’s unlikely your clients would ever find out, making personal touches can make a big difference in how they view the gift. During the year try to remember something distinctive about your client, like their children’s names and ages or a special interest and keep this in mind when selecting a gift. Tailored presents are worth their weight in gold.

Don’t give promotional product with logos

Remember, this is a gift for them and not an opportunity for self-promotion. Don’t kid yourself into thinking that a branded item is something that your client will use, let alone cherish. Some business owners express worry that clients might forget who gave them the gift and that branding solves this issue, but if you receive a genuine gift that is something you appreciate, you always remember who sent the gift. Especially compared to a gift with a distasteful logo that never is likely to end up in the trash.

Do triple check spelling

Seems like a no-brainer but nothing can ruin a sentimental gift like a misspelled name. Names can be difficult, even though you’re likely to have said, seen and written it many times, costly mistakes still happen. This also applies to mailing addresses, an error in this can cause a gift to be returned to sender or worse, go missing. If you’re going to get anything right, make it the name and address of your client.

Don’t talk about business

This gift is ultimately about business, but this is not the time to talk about it. Sending gifts during the festive period is a great idea as it is linked to a special occasion and clearly not associated with a business negotiation or upcoming deal. As every great business owner knows, personal relationships are power, having an exchange that is entirely about your relationship with no mention of work shows your real interest in your client as a person.

Do professional gift wrap

This is a small touch that can go a long way. After all, you are representing your business, so expressing an exceptional level of care and attention to detail in your gift presentation makes a statement about how you handle every endeavour. Most high-quality corporate gift services will offer a gift-wrapping option, so with the simple tick of a box and most likely a small additional fee, this final, cherry-on-top can be easily achieved.