Corporate gifting should be fun! It also serves a valuable purpose to your business, from contributing to your client retention strategy to augmenting your employee awareness program. During holidays, anniversaries and major events, company gifts have become an essential feature of business. But how do you choose among all the corporate gift ideas?
It’s tricky because corporate gifting can be complex. For instance, giving wine or spirits were once the norm. Yet, such gifts send a mixed message to your health and well-being programs. Not to mention, many you know may see the value in cutting back on alcohol. Plus, you want your gift to be unique, reflect your values and offend no one while also delighting everyone. The situation gets complex fast, and you have work to do!
Don’t worry. We’ve curated some great business gift ideas to get you started. But first, let’s run down just a few essential considerations to keep you on track.
Corporate Christmas gift ideas do’s and don’ts
Do
- Run your corporate gift ideas by human resources
- Consider gifts that reflect your environmental values of sustainability
- Include a personal accent, such as a signed card
Don’t
- Give only company swag
- Provide alcohol except in familiar cases with absolute certainty
- Cut costs with poor quality—that will reflect on your company
Give work-friendly gift bundles with comfort in mind
Whether working at the office or from home, we all like to feel comfortable. We don’t mind feeling a bit pampered, too! Avoiding back and neck pain, reducing distractions and staying warm in the winter months all make our work experience more enjoyable.
So, consider these corporate Christmas gift ideas: office bundles with one or more of the following items, all packaged nicely in a reusable tote bag:
- Noise-canceling earbuds
- Wireless, ergonomic mouse
- Bluetooth speaker
- Neck pillow
- Cozy house shoes/slippers
- Hot and cold beverage tumbler
And don’t forget, everyone appreciates some added snacks!
Corporate gift ideas: Give a gift box with impact
Speaking of gift bundles and snacks, prepared corporate gift boxes have become wildly popular as office Christmas gift ideas. In fact, there’s almost too many to choose from! We looked for something truly memorable that also speaks to corporate values of environmental sustainability, social equality and equity.
Packed with Purpose gift boxes hit the target! This woman-owned business offers gift boxes brimming with delicious, small batch produced treats. Packed with Purpose carefully chose its Impact Partners from U.S. companies—eco-friendly, diversely owned and of the highest quality. Starting at only $50, these memorable gift boxes come in a wide variety, are simple to order and will delight any associate or client.
Well-being packages speak to your values, too
A growing number of companies provide health and wellness programs to avoid unhappy employees—and high-cost turnover. And acknowledging an associate’s need for self-care is one of the best ways to show that you care, too. A well-being package tells employees and clients that individual strength and resilience are paramount to your philosophy of work-life balance. Some items you might consider bundling include:
- Self-care journal
- Sleep meditation app subscription
- Meditation pillow or yoga mat
- Epsom salt and other home spa self-care treats
- Essential oils and diffuser
- Cozy weighted blanket
Gift your client with game or event tickets
A good leader knows the importance of listening to employees. In that process, leaders can pick up on client and employee passions. Take mental notes. Keep a file. Does someone rabidly follow a local or national team? Do they love the theater? Or maybe that person is an absolute film buff?
Event tickets will be appreciated. More than that, they show that you’ve been paying attention! And if your client doesn’t express an interest in film or sports events, you’ll discover some other opportunities. For instance, a niche book club membership for an avid reader or an annual pass to a nearby wildlife area for an eager hiker. For some, a night of home-chefery might be a big event, so consider an organic meal kit subscription. The possibilities are as endless as the people you know.
Creative office Christmas gift ideas: Have fun with adult puzzles and kits
Wood and metal construction kits, plastic modeling sets and even coloring books have all entered the adult market. That is due to their increasing complexity, but also our increasing awareness that we need self-care to avoid burnout.
The risk in gifting such items is that you don’t want to come across as demeaning. That is, you want to present a gift that makes your star employees or clients feel valued, not like you regard them as childish. With that in mind, we’ve curated a few of our favorite creative assembly, art and hobbyist gifts across price points to get you started:
- Recycled materials coloring kits and other corporate gifting ideas from Eco Promotional Products
- 3D and other jigsaw puzzles from Puzzle Warehouse
- Working metal engine and related kits from EngineDIY
This article was updated November 2023. Photo by Tsuguliev/Shutterstock.com
