Corporate gifting: make your employees and clients feel appreciated

Have you ever felt a rush of satisfaction and contentment after giving someone a gift? Scientists have a name for this feeling: warm glow. This very real sensation is linked to a lighting-up of pleasure centers in the brain after we do a good deed. The receiver also gets more than a gift: they also experience a natural rush of dopamine. 

Together, these phenomena make gift-giving a powerful tool for building relationships. If you want to strengthen the bond between you and your employees and clients, giving gifts is the way to go.

In this guide, you’ll learn some best practices for corporate gifting. Whether you want to surprise your employees during the holidays or deliver a congratulatory gift to clients after a major business milestone, we’ve got you covered.

The value of corporate gifting 

A meaningful gift goes a long way, but the exact benefits depend on who your company is giving to. For employees, receiving a thoughtful and valuable gift can:

• Improve morale

• Drive job satisfaction

• Increase motivation and productivity

A gift sends the message that your employees are valued and their contributions matter. You see their hard work, and you’re grateful for it. 

For clients and partners, gifting helps nurture long-term relationships. When you give a well-chosen gift, you show your commitment to the partnership. You also show that you care enough to know your client's needs or preferences.

Beyond the personal benefits, corporate gifting has practical business advantages, too. It can:

• Improve brand perception among customers

• Encourage better retention rates among employees

• Drive referrals

• Increase revenue

• Open the door to new collaborations

The key to a meaningful gift is to avoid giving with the expectation of receiving anything in return. Put your heart into picking the perfect present, and let the journey take you where it will.

Types of corporate gifts

Corporate gifting isn’t the same as giving a holiday or performance-based bonus. It’s something you can do in addition to those things. The goal of a gift is to strengthen a relationship, whether that’s between you and your employees or you and your clients.

While the specifics depend on your audience and the message you want to convey, most corporate gifts fall into a few general categories:

• Personalized gifts. Items customized for the recipient, like engraved accessories, can make people feel seen and valued.

• Experience-based gifts: Tickets to meaningful experiences — like a spa voucher for a stressed coworker or a hard-to-find concert ticket for a client who loves a specific artist — show that you care about what your recipient needs and wants. As a bonus, they also create lasting memories for your recipients.

• Practical and tech gifts: Useful items like high-quality headphones, sleek notebooks, or wireless chargers are always a great choice to make the work day more enjoyable. 

• Food and beverages: While food and beverage preferences vary widely by individual, if you take the time to learn what your employees or clients enjoy, a thoughtful gift basket or special beverage can go a long way toward showing your appreciation.

• Gift cards: Who doesn't love gift cards? Flexible cash to spend at an employee or client’s favorite store or restaurant is always an excellent gift.

Use these corporate gift ideas as a starting point to find the ideal gift for your employees, clients, or partners. If you want some specific inspiration, check out our 12 employee appreciation gift ideas and our guide to client gift ideas. 

What are the rules for corporate gifting?

To keep your good intentions on track, it's smart to follow a few general rules for corporate gifting.

First, know your audience. Avoid gifts that are:

• Overly promotional. Corporate gifts should put your recipient front and center, not your brand. Most people don’t enjoy branded swag like mugs, pens, or notebooks.

• Generic, cookie-cutter, copy-paste items. A prepackaged fruit basket or a bouquet of flowers may not appeal to everyone. What if half your employees hate a specific fruit? What if a client is allergic to flowers?

• Misaligned with dietary preferences, lifestyle choices, and cultural norms. Avoid giving a Seventh-day Adventist employee a bottle of wine, or a person with a deadly peanut allergy a jar of fancy mixed nuts. Know and care enough to give gifts that navigate your recipients' nuanced lifestyle, religious, cultural, and dietary needs. 

Second, keep relevant company policies in mind — yours and your recipient's. Many organizations have rules about accepting gifts, especially in the healthcare, finance, and government sectors. Before giving, check if your recipient’s employer has a gift policy. Staying within the limits of these guidelines ensures your gesture doesn’t inadvertently cause issues.

Third, keep your gifts professional. While it’s great to infuse personality into your gift choices, avoid anything overly personal or extravagant that could be misinterpreted. 

Fourth, set a budget and stick to it. Over-the-top gifts can drain your budget and raise questions about your intent. On the flip side, super affordable items might not send the right message. Consider the occasion for the gift and the number of recipients to guide your choices.

Fifth, know the tax implications of your gift. If you’re giving gifts on behalf of your organization, for instance, get familiar with the tax rules. In the US, cash or gift cards given to employees are considered taxable income and must be reported accordingly.

Finally, no matter what gift you give, pair it with a thoughtful note that’s customized to your client or employee. A personal note, no matter how short, shows that you specifically thought about an individual recipient and took the time to thank them for their specific work (for employees) or business (clients and partners). 

Examples of company gifting that works

Need some inspiriation for your next round of gifts? Here are four examples of companies nailing the art of gifting.

1. Employee gift: wellness kits for remote teams

An e-commerce company with a global remote workforce decides to get creative. They put together personalized wellness kits to help their employees recharge. Each kit includes items like a cozy blanket, a journal, herbal teas, a voucher for a local spa, and a one-year subscription to a mindfulness app.

2. Employee gift: customized team-building kits

A hardware manufacturer surprises its employees with team-building kits customized to each team member's interests. Each kit includes things like puzzles, favorite snacks, gift cards, and fun DIY projects that align with the team's shared hobbies. 

3. Client gift: Local artisan box

A marketing agency sends their clients gift boxes filled with products from local artisan vendors and artists. The products vary based on what the account team knows about their key stakeholders. Each box includes a handwritten note thanking the clients for their business and congratulating them on their successful campaign launches.

4. Partner gift: Top-of-the-line tech gadgets

A software company gives their key business partners nice wireless chargers engraved with both their logos. With both utility and a light branding touch, the gift is memorable, useful, and reinforces their business relationship. 

Show your appreciation with thoughtful corporate gifts

Giving thoughtful gifts to your employees, clients, and partners can help your business show how much you appreciate the people who power your success. From physical products to special experiences to gift cards and prepaid cards, there are endless ways to celebrate big wins and say thank you. 

The best gifts are chosen with specific recipients in mind so they’re personal, meaningful, and appropriate. Including a customized note with each gift can make an even bigger impact. And of course, you’ll want to do your homework to make sure your gift complies with general tax guidelines and company-specific gift rules.

Up next: Employee incentive programs: 8 ways to incentivize your team

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