Corporate Gifting Without the Corporate Feel

Most corporate gifts are forgotten within a week. They arrive with a logo, a generic note and no clear reason for existing. The good news is that avoiding this does not require a larger budget, only more thought.

Start with the person, not the company. A client or colleague is still a person with tastes and habits. Even a small amount of knowledge about them, from a remark in a meeting or a note in your records, can change what you choose.

Go easy on the branding. A gift that carries your logo prominently becomes an advertisement. A subtle mark, a tasteful card or simply well-considered presentation lets your name be present without shouting.

Choose quality over quantity. One well-made piece beats a bundle of trinkets. Recipients notice when something has been selected with care, and they associate that care with the sender.

Think about timing. A gift that arrives at the end of a project, after a milestone, or at a moment nobody expects will be remembered far longer than one that lands in the holiday rush alongside everyone else’s.

Finally, write the note yourself. A few sincere, specific lines about the relationship do more for a business connection than anything in the box. How a business gives says as much about it as anything else, so give the way you would want to be remembered.

We look after client and team gifting for the companies our members lead, with the same discretion as their private gifting.