Your clients are the lifeblood of your business. They’re a huge part of your sales and profits, and without them, you won’t be where you are now. And what better way to show them your gratitude than through thoughtful gifts. These tell them that they’re not just mere transactions, that you genuinely value their trust and loyalty.
But how do you ensure successful client gifting? Well, things don’t have to be complicated. Read on as we share with you some tips.
1. Know Your Recipient
An effective client gift is one that considers the recipient’s preferences. This gives the impression that you’re someone who goes out of their way to show their gratitude. Apart from that, it also helps avoid ethical and social blunders, such as giving out something that may be culturally unacceptable or offensive to the recipient.
But how do you get to know them? Recall past conversations where they might have shared about their favorite hobby or sports team. Get clues from things on display in their office. You may also look into their personal social media accounts or take note of the color they usually wear. In short, pay attention to them and send them a gift that reflects their passion or interests.
These highly personalized gifts can strengthen your business relationship with your clients, and that’s on top of the lasting positive impression you’ll be making.
2. Offer Food and Beverage
Consumables never go out of style when it comes to client gifting. Who doesn’t like receiving gift baskets packed with scrumptious goodies, anyway?
To be on the safe side, always know the recipient’s dietary preferences and restrictions. Thus, you won’t make the mistake of giving someone who’s vegan a package containing meat products or unintentionally handing some business partner a bag including items that could trigger their nut or dairy allergy. Again, it pays to know their cultural background as well to ensure you’re not giving them something they consider taboo.
For a client gift that won’t fail, you can hire a trusted expert that can curate a corporate gifts box for you. Simply tell them what you want, and they can easily come up with a gift basket that checks all your boxes.
3. Prioritize Quality Over Quantity
At times, giving more doesn’t mean better. Gifting just one well-thought-out item that’s of top-notch quality will always be miles ahead of a potpourri of mediocre whatnots that serve no long-term purpose.
Giving out your usual pens, keychains, and mugs that easily break is passe, not to mention unimpressive. Instead, you can opt for the likes of a portable charger or a wireless, noise-canceling earphone, a high-end French press with a selection of rare coffee beans, an insulated travel mug, a leather journal, or a weighted blanket. Basically, anything that seamlessly combines luxury and practicality.
Your client relationships will become much tighter with this gifting strategy. This is one proof that you only got and want the best for them at all times.
4. Find the Perfect Timing
Corporate gifting isn’t only exclusive to the holidays. You can give presents to your valued clients during other times of the year, particularly to celebrate specific milestones and special occasions. Talk about birthdays, weddings, or anniversaries. You can also offer gifts to mark events that mean something to you and your client, like after signing a new contract or completing a project.
Gifting can also mean absolutely nothing but genuine client appreciation. Imagine their joy upon receiving a surprise self-care kit from you! Or it can be the perfect opportunity to show them that you truly care. For instance, they’d be forever thankful to be receiving a food basket from you during stressful times, such as when they’re dealing with tight deadlines.
5. Add a Handwritten Personal Note
No one can deny the impact of your words in this whole gifting experience. Almost everything is already automated these days, including communication. It’s a breath of fresh air for your clients to receive a gift with a handwritten note from you, one that’s written from the heart.
Tell them how much you value their trust in doing business with you. Use simple words that convey your genuine appreciation. This isn’t a time to be all stiff and formal. It’s a chance to show your clients that behind all those business transactions, you’re making an effort to forge deeper connections.
6. Don’t Lose Your Branding
Make your branding felt in every client gift you send out. This doesn’t mean going overtly promotional, complete with your company name splattered all over the packaging and the present itself. Do things subtly.
Make the nature of your business known. If you’re running a tech company, it would be smart to give your clients practical gadgets. A luxury brand, on the one hand, can benefit from high-end goods like those made of premium leather. If your business is a sustainability advocate, recycled and reusable practical items are the perfect choice.
The packaging can reflect your branding too. You can use your company’s color palette. And if you’d want to incorporate your logo, keep it small. You can laser-engrave one onto a tumbler, for example, and that’s it.
Final Thoughts
Take heed of these pointers, and you’ll surely ace client gifting. Don’t overcomplicate things. Know your recipients and what they want or need, time things right, subtly incorporate your brand, and add a personal touch to every single present. Your clients will be more than pleased.
