Client Gifts for the Holidays

With the holidays rapidly approaching, many companies are turning their plans to finding great client gifts for the holidays. Here is a fun roundup of my favorite gift ideas and resources:

The Gift of Art
Art can be a highly personalized choice but giving a beautiful print or installment can be a wonderful gift for a company in a new office or to brighten the walls of your client’s home.

For some of the most stunning HDR photography I’ve seen I visit AB Pan and tour the world. With an emphasis on state parks, the capitol and stunning sunrises, Angela’s work allows me to share the images I’m not getting out of bed at 4am to capture myself. (Bonus, she has free screen savers and backdrops which are amazing).

If you’re more of a 3D art aficionado, then check out the flowers from the studio of Philadelphia artist Michele Tremblay. Big or small, these pieces are hand crafted, unique, and designed to be showcased in museums, store displays, or on your client’s wall.

Give an Experience
I don’t mean you take your clients skydiving unless they’re into that sort of thing. But deliver an experience to remember. Everyone gives gift cards to Starbucks, what if you delivered coffee? A client of mine was looking for a way to give a unique thank you to an office and we decided to contact a local independent coffee shop and hire out their barista for a few hours. For the cost of the coffee, muffins, a few hours of time and some coordinating with the office manager, the client had a totally unique experience. What stands out is the simplicity (we bring the coffee to you), the community (introducing a coffee shop owner to 20-40 potential new clients), and the uniqueness (better than drip coffee in the break room and an excuse to take an extended break).

This can be adapted for any office – bring in a photo booth, send the office to a reserved movie theater and spring for the popcorn, host a ‘while the cats are away the mice will play’ wine and cheese mixer when the board is gone. The possibilities are endless but you’ll want to create an event to remember.

Personalize the Gift
One of the best corporate events I’ve ever attended was Hollywood themed and half the fun was finding co-workers in the display artwork – all movie posters with Photoshopped heads! People love to find something personalized so whether that’s a set of headphones or a messenger bag, find a way to show that you picked this gift for just this client.

Give to Charity
The holidays are a time when everyone is inundated with cookies, wine and fruitcake. It’s not a bad thing, especially because the wine will keep! But when you’re trying to stand out and worry that your Harry & David gift basket will get lost in the shuffle, give back instead. Donate generously to a charity that your clients are aligned with or run in their name. If you can, show the impact of those gifts by taking your staff to serve dinner at the homeless shelter or handing out the new shoes to children in need.

Giving the gift of money might be seen as a cop out, so focus on giving your time and attention to the worthy causes you choose to support.

Give a Raincheck
As I mentioned, the holidays can be a hectic time of year. Instead of trying to cram your gift into an already packed month, plan ahead. Announce or present your gift now and make it redeemable in the Spring. Giving lift tickets? Make them a season pass so the gift can be enjoyed longer. Comping a spa package? Ensure the gift certificate can be redeemed for a year.

Just don’t…
It should go without saying, but one of the cheapest “gifts” you can give is your own product or discounts. If you’re going to have a holiday sale, just do a sale. But the gift of giving you money for something clients can buy at any time is just tacky.