Corporate Holiday Gift Ideas
The holiday season will soon be upon us, which means that, if you own a small or independent company, it’s probably time to start thinking about corporate holiday gifts. While there’s no law on the books REQUIRING you to give your employees, clients, or customers holiday gifts, doing so is an amazing way to show folks that you value their business and/or their hard work. It’s also a good way to help ensure a continued relationship in the coming year!
Finding the perfect corporate holiday gifts for clients, employees, or customers can be tricky; you’ve got to be sophisticated but not ostentatious, appropriately formal but not stodgy, and stay within your budget without coming across as cheap. If you’re struggling to come up with ideas, here are our three suggestions to suit almost any business relationship:
High-End Beverage Mugs
Let’s be clear: we’re not talking about the cheap ceramic or glass mugs that you can buy at any department store for under $10, with or without cliché slogans (“#1 EMPLOYEE”, “ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS NOG!”, etc.) printed on one side. Instead, we mean serious, heavy-duty copper mugs that are perfect for cocktails, “mocktails,” and other potables . Copper is the ideal cup material for cold AND hot beverages alike because it’s a superior thermal conductor—in other words, chilled drinks in copper cups stay chilled, and steamy drinks in copper cups stay steamy. On top of that, they’re absolutely gorgeous to behold; it’s hard NOT to feel classy when you’re sipping a Moscow Mule (or hard seltzer, or lemonade) out of a copper mug!
Copper mugs come in a wide array of shapes and styles, so it’s easy to find a look (industrial ridges? Traditional hammering? Smooth and reflective polish? ) that both you and your associates will love. You can even have the item engraved with your company name, the date, or a special message.
Limited Edition Merchandise
Speaking of special: most folks are intrigued by the idea of having an item that’s not available for sale to the general public. Whether it’s as simple as a t-shirt or a water bottle, or as bold as an oversized “ party mug ,” owning an item that’s only for a select group—or was made in limited quantities—often inspires feelings of comradery and pride. That’s why so many collectibles come with ID numbers; once the object is in your possession, you can always revel in the fact that it’s one of only a small number in existence!
What does this concept have to do with choosing corporate holiday gifts for employees, customers, or clients? Everything! And by that, we mean that anything can be a neat gift if it’s specially-made or limited edition. Mega bonus points if it’s something related to your particular industry; the item will then double as an eye-catching, tangible advertisement for your company whenever someone uses it.
So be creative and choose something that speaks to you AND will speak to the intended recipient. For example, if you own a pet supply store or grooming salon, a handsome, artisan food/water dish will almost certainly delight your employees. If you own a clothing store, shirts with your company logo professionally embroidered somewhere on the garment can be a great freebie for your top customers. And if you’re the proprietor of a bar or restaurant, fancy mugs or glasses engraved with your business’ name may keep you at the forefront of your suppliers’ minds.
Gift Sets
Having trouble choosing between multiple gift options? Worried that whatever you pick, you’ll wind up disappointing someone? Gift sets and gift baskets alleviate the pressure of selecting one perfect gift by letting you choose a handful of great gifts! Popular choices include gift cards to local businesses, gourmet food (e.g., high-quality chocolate, cookies, fruit, or coffee), alcohol and cocktail mixers (ONLY IF THE RECIPIENT IS OVER THE AGE OF 21!), and office supplies. When you give a variety pack, the recipient can keep what they like and—if there’s stuff in the basket that they know they won’t eat or use—share the rest of their bounty with others. This means that your generosity can actually extend further than you’d ever expect!
If you want to make an extra-special impression, when it comes time to select a vessel for the items, don’t opt for flimsy wicker baskets or plastic containers. Doing so will make the container itself part of—or even the crown jewel of—the gift.
Have you ever received a corporate holiday gift that made a true, honest-to-goodness impression on you? If your answer to the above question was “yes,” then chances are, the item was NOT a cheap trinket, a lousy novelty, or something that’s been done a million times by a million different companies since the idea of corporate holiday gifts for customers, clients, and employees was first conceived of way-back-when. No, folks tend to remember imaginative, extraordinary gifts. That doesn’t mean that you have to break the bank while buying presents this year, of course. It just means that you may need to throw out your preconceived notions of what a business gift “should” be.
We hope you found our list of gift ideas enlightening! As we said before, shopping for business associates or employees CAN be tricky. But if you put some real thought (and genuine goodwill) into your selections, then we’re sure that you’ll be able to pull it off. And remember: at Moscow Copper Co., we’re always happy to help people bring their visions for unique gifts to life!
