You've got a list. You're checking it twice.
But when it comes to holiday gifts for customers, it's not just the thought that counts—it's also the strategy behind it.
If you’re looking to skip the holiday headaches and nail your gift-giving this year, we have 10 tips that will save you time, money, and stress.
Tip 1: Don't Stress Over the 1% Rule for Gifting
Forget the myth about spending 1% of your annual revenue on client holiday gifts. This “statistic” has been popping up in holiday blogs recently (thanks, ChatGPT), but there's no source, study, or actual data for this rule.
Don’t feel like Scrooge if you can't allocate 1% of your revenue for holiday gifts.
Here's the real deal: most companies cap customer holiday gifts at around $300, even for their VIPs.
Remember, holiday gifting is about thanking your customers and making an impact, not breaking the bank.
Tip 2: Set Budget Tiers
Before you start shopping, go through your customer list and determine if you have the budget to give gifts to all customers. If your business has varying levels of customers, it’s often a good idea to establish tiers or price points.
For example:
- $25-50 budget for general business contacts.
- $50-100 budget for key clients.
- $100+ budget for VIP clients.
If it’s not possible to send all customers a gift, consider sending holiday cards to a broader list and focus your gift budget on top-tier clients. If you go this route, be sure to personalize the cards (this is easy with a digital printing technology called variable data printing).
Keep in mind, you can always plan for off-season gifting.
“I like to spread gift-giving across the next year rather than during the holidays. Some folks get New Year’s gifts in January, others get 'Love Working with You Gifts' in February, and others get spring surprises in April; I mix it up every year,” said Ruksana Hussain, Founder, RH Media Consulting. “It helps to not have a big business expense to bear at the end of the year or worry about shipping issues.”
Tip 3: Bundle Power
Why settle for one gift when you can create a power package? Combine smaller items into gift bundles that pack a punch. A high-end mug + premium coffee + artisanal chocolate isn't just a gift—it's a thoughtful gift.
“For our coffee-loving clients, a curated selection of high-quality coffee beans from different regions has been a big hit. We partnered with a local roaster and included a brief story behind each coffee’s origin, which made it feel special,” said Josh Qian, the COO and Co-Founder of Best Online Cabinets.
The best part? You can adjust the contents based on each customer’s preferences or purchase history.
Pro Tip: Invest in custom packaging or custom-printed gift wrap for that extra “wow” factor. Custom packaging can help reduce shipping costs and better protect gifts during transit, too.
Tip 4: Buy Smart, Buy Bulk
Found the perfect gift? Time to think big. Often, the more you buy, the better the price. If your budget permits, consider buying the next price point up to get a price break. As long as the gift isn't perishable, you're stocking up on universal backup gifts for unexpected situations. Plus, you're set for new clients next year.
Tip 5: Make Gifting Stress-Free with a Fulfillment Partner
Want to up the ante on your gifting game without the headache? Work with a marketing fulfillment partner.
They can suggest, source, produce, assemble, package, customize, and ship your gifts, allowing you to create personalized gift experiences at scale.
It's like having a Santa's workshop without the elf management.
Tip 6: Order by November 27th
Why order before Thanksgiving? Because more than 50% of companies wait until December to place their orders for client gifts.
Even if you order your gifts on November 27th, you'll be just fine. It's two days before the biggest shopping day of the year: Black Friday.
Most retailers are fully staffed, stocked, and ready to rock for the big day. If you can squeeze your order in a few days before, you'll score a better selection and have zero shipping stress.
Tip 7: Choose Smart Selections (What People Really Want)
When B2B folks were asked about the gifts they'd most like to receive from a business, the top five answers were:
- Gift cards to online retailers.
- Food or candy.
- Gift baskets.
- Local specialties.
- Tech items like portable speakers, headphones, and premium charging accessories.
Let's pause to hit on food gifts done right. Everyone eats. But not everyone eats everything.
If you're sending any type of food that doesn't have universal brand recognition and/or doesn't have clear labels–such as cookies from a local bakery–be sure to include ingredient lists like they're going out of style. If possible, try and offer alternative options (such as dairy-free alternatives). When in doubt, stick to crowd-pleasers like chocolates or snacks that are easy to share with the whole office.
Tip 8: Go Local with Gift Baskets
One of the easiest ways to come up with a thoughtful and unique holiday gift for customers is to go local.
Local businesses offer unique items you won't find at big box stores. Plus, you support your community while giving something genuinely special.
This is another scenario where a marketing fulfillment partner comes in handy. Reach out to local businesses, and have them send their goods to the fulfillment partner.
They will receive, assemble, package, and ship your custom gift baskets to all your clients without you having to do any of the work.
Tip 9: Charitable Gifts That Give Back
Consider gifts that have a social or environmental impact.
“It helps create goodwill from the company giving the gifts, as they get to help make an impact in their communities while gift-giving,” shared Kelly Belknap, co-founder of Adventurist Backpack Co, a retailer that designs minimalist backpacks and travel essentials. “For every bag sold, we provide 25 meals to families in need across the U.S. (through our partnership with non-profit Feeding America), and have been able to provide 450,000 meals since our launch. We have a goal of donating a half-million meals by the end of this year.”
Tip 10: Make Next Year Even Easier
Make your future self thank you by setting up a system now:
- Track everything: Recipient names, gifts selected, price points, shipping dates, and tracking numbers.
- Create a "gift ideas" note on your phone. When a client mentions a hobby or interest, jot it down.
- Follow up in January with a quick note asking how they're enjoying their gift. It shows you care beyond the holiday rush.
Remember, thoughtful gifting is a year-round strategy. Did a client mention loving mystery novels in your last Zoom call? Make a note for next year’s gift.
Ultimately, holiday gifting isn't just about checking a box on your end-of-year to-do list. It's a powerful tool for strengthening relationships, boosting brand loyalty, and setting yourself apart from the competition.
How Artisan Colour Makes Corporate Gifting a Breeze
At Artisan Colour, we're not just elves in Santa's workshop – we're the whole North Pole operation. We can handle everything from selecting the perfect gift to delivering it straight to your clients.
But we're more than just your holiday helpers. As a full-service promotional product supplier, our brand magic doesn't take a holiday—we're here to make your business shine 365 days a year.
From sourcing and design to production, storage, and distribution, we handle the complete lifecycle of your promotional materials and branded assets.
Our offerings include thousands of customizable promotional items that sparkle in every season—whether it's New Year's champagne flutes, summer beach totes, or holiday stocking stuffers.
And that's just the beginning of what we can do for your business.
As a full-service commercial printer, digital marketing agency, and fulfillment hub, Artisan Colour offers an extensive menu of customizable services, including:
- Print Services: Marketing collateral, catalogs, branded packaging, vehicle wraps, personalized printing, and specialty printing.
- Signage and Branding: Business signage, wall and window graphics, indoor and outdoor banners, trade shows and events, retail displays, and wall wraps.
- Direct Mail Marketing: Direct mail campaigns, personalized direct mail, mailing lists, Informed Delivery, and web to mailbox.
- Marketing Fulfillment: Web-to-print, warehousing and storage, inventory management, kitting and assembly, and promotional products.
- Digital Services: Prepress, premedia, online image libraries, photography, graphic design, image retouching, and color management.
- Digital Marketing: Digital marketing strategy, graphic design, website design, content marketing, SEO, social media, software integrations, and Hubspot ecosystem management.
Contact our team of experts today to get started.
