Corporate Gift Boxes Guide: What to Put In and What Occasions to Give Them Out

While corporate gifting is a worthy investment, you’ll need to be smart about it.

Corporate gifting is a long-held practice to show appreciation and foster goodwill. The giving and receiving are transparent and may be reciprocated. A corporate gift box is a tastefully curated collection of several gits of nominal value. Generally, the gifts will bear the logo of the business or organisation responsible for sending the box. These boxes can be given to associates, clients, supporting businesses, employees, and customers.

Why You Need to Send Corporate Gift Boxes to Employees and Clients

In business, you will see the most meaningful results when your plans and actions are intentional. This includes corporate gift-giving. Putting thought into gifts will produce enhanced results. While offering gifts to employees and clients is kind, the underlying psychological impact is where the actual value of the gesture is seen.

Employees

The impact of receiving gifts from employers can manifest in numerous ways. Generally, employees will carry their positive feelings of belonging and appreciation into job performance. All levels of employees will improve your organisation as a whole with positive attitudes. Work ethics, customer service, and employee loyalty improve under such circumstances. Additionally, when the gifts are personalised to some degree, workers appreciate the gifts to a greater extent and transfer more meaning than to generic offerings.

Clients

It is not unusual to hear business owners discounting corporate gifts for clients. The argument against the practice usually comes down to where money will have the best impact. However, numerous studies show that corporate gifting is an investment that pays off. Three specific payoffs come from giving clients gifts.

  1. Shows Sincere Gratitude – Most companies can speak the traditional platitudes of, “We appreciate your business.” Or “Thank you so much for your business.” Taking the time to arrange a small gift makes a significant positive impact.
  2. Builds Loyalty – If all things are equal, customers simply prefer to do business with someone who makes them feel valued and cared for over a company where they feel like they are just another number.
  3. Strengthens Business Relationships – Showing a customer that your connection with them is more than exchanging goods for cash will create a lasting favourable impression.

Gift-giving helps humanize companies and sends a powerful message to gift recipients: “We care about you.”

When to Send Corporate Gifts

While the year-end celebrations are traditionally times of gift-giving, you would be remiss if you neglected to acknowledge other occasions for giving corporate gifts.

  • Milestone Recognition – Whether it is the number of years with the company or closing the 100th sale of the week, acknowledging milestones is a great way to show that you pay attention to people and that they are not merely cog in the machine.
  • Personal Events – This category covers a great deal of territory. So, to avoid offending anyone, be sure that whatever you establish carries through for everyone. Some examples of personal events include,
    • Marriage
    • New baby
    • Graduation or completion of certification
    • Sympathy for personal loss
    • Purchase of a new home
  • Company Milestones – If your business has a reason to celebrate, do it the best way possible and include the people who have helped you reach this point.
    • Founder’s Day
    • Anniversary of joining the company
    • Opening a new branch or division
    • Recognition of the company by others
  • Traditional Celebrations – There is no harm in enjoying specific yearly celebrations. Ensure that you choose occasions that are inclusive and gifts that follow suit.

What You Need to Put in a Corporate Gift Box

While there is no set formula for the best gifts you can put in a corporate gift box, there is a particular type of gift that you should always include in your gift boxes.

The must-have items in your corporate gift box should include one or more promotional gifts.

Studies show that people will keep practical promotional gifts for approximately eight months. In some cases, useful items are kept longer. Promotional gifts will also add positivity not attainable from an advertisement or an email.

A corporate gift box with well-placed promotional products translates into an act of kindness that goes further than many belief. You will also benefit from brand recognition and client retention when you give promotional gift items. So, whether your gift box includes a desk pad, compendium, or a tablet sleeve with your logo, you will make a lasting favourable impression on your recipients.

Selecting your gift box contents is probably the most obvious part of corporate gifting.

Tips and Best Practices for Corporate Gift Giving

Once you have compiled a top-notch corporate gift, there are several guidelines you should consider before you hit send.

1. Policies Within Your Company

The best time to check your company’s rules about gifting is likely before you have taken the time to choose gifts. However, a last-minute check of what is permissible and what is not is essential.

2. Check Compliance Laws

Depending on your industry, specific laws may guide gift-giving. You will want to ensure that your gifts are acceptable in the eyes of those watching. You can reference these lists as a general guideline, but individual industry compliance may include additional information.

Generally Acceptable Gifts:

  • Perishable products
  • Gifts of nominal value featuring the company logo
  • Gifts a supervisor has approved
  • Meals where the recipient and gift giver are present
  • Gifts that are within the bounds of company policies

Generally Unacceptable Gifts:

  • Multiple gifts to the same person
  • Gifts to government officials
  • Gifts that exceed nominal value
  • Gifts that request a charitable donation

Definitely Unacceptable Gifts:

  • Solicited gifts
  • Lavish gifts that greatly exceed nominal value
  • Gifts to government officials to expedite services
  • Gifts are given to influence business decisions
  • Gifts that may be seen as bribes

3. Gifts for Those Outside the Company

Presenting gifts to those outside of your company, such as clients, prospective clients, service providers, and business partners is an excellent policy. You can foster relationships that will benefit your business and the recipient.

    • Branded gifts are ideal for this situation
    • Gifts should be small but not cheap
    • Keep gifts neutral to avoid any unintentional offence

4. Gifts for People Within Your Company

Gift-giving for those who are a part of your company is a bit more challenging than for those outside. Be sure that you check to ensure the practice is acceptable. Additionally, remember,

  • If your gift is for the entire company, purchase something that will be useful and give the same gift to all employees
  • If you are purchasing gifts for teammates, follow the same practice
  • Gifts for superiors or your boss should be small tokens of appreciation
  • If you buy a gift for only one or two coworkers, you should present it to them outside of work

5. Final Checks

If you have worked your way through the guidelines, there are still a few quick questions to ask yourself before offering gifts.

  • Is the gift workplace appropriate?
  • Will the gift make the recipient or others uncomfortable?
  • Could the gift be seen as a way to get a favour or as a bribe?

If you have any doubts, you may want to reconsider the gift.

Whether you need gift boxes for long-term colleagues, new clients, or staff members, making a choice does not need to be a struggle. Reach out to us at Cody Group for expert assistance and a selection of gift choices that will show your refined taste while fostering goodwill.