Gift ideas for clients and staff

A well chosen gift tells a client or a staff member that you noticed them. A careless one tells them the opposite. This guide brings together our older posts on gift ideas for clients, customers and staff: when a gift is the right move, what to check before you buy, ideas that suit most people, ideas for people you know well, and why many businesses now let the recipient choose.

Get the etiquette right first

Gifting clients is a skill worth learning. Done well, it strengthens a relationship that is already good. Done badly, it can look like an attempt to buy favour rather than a thank you. Before you choose anything, be clear on three things:

• The reason you are giving. A thank you for a year of work, a milestone in the relationship or a seasonal greeting each call for a different kind of gift.
• The relationship. A long standing client you know well can receive something personal. A new contact should receive something modest and professional.
• The gift policy, theirs and yours. Many organisations limit what their people may accept, and some ban gifts from suppliers altogether. Ask, or check their published policy, before you send anything.

Gifting must also be ethical. A gift should never arrive while a contract is being decided, and its value should never look like an inducement. Rules and customs differ between countries and industries, so check what applies where your client works. For the tax treatment of client and staff gifts, ask your accountant or tax adviser.

When not to give a gift

A gift is not always the right answer. Hold back when:

• You are only doing it because everyone else does. A gift given out of habit shows, and it rarely gets the thought it needs.
• You are unsure. If the timing or the relationship feels wrong, pause. A late gift is better than an awkward one.
• You plan to send everyone the same generic item. The same branded pen for every client says you ran down a list, not that you thought of them.
• Something simpler would mean more. A gift does not have to be a thing. An event where you spend time with your clients, or a short note that says thank you and means it, can do more than a parcel.

Why a gift is worth giving

When the reason is right, a gift does real work for the relationship:

• It says thank you in a way people remember.
• It reminds the client why they chose you, without a sales pitch.
• It keeps your business in mind between projects.
• For staff, it recognises effort in a way a line in an email does not.

Most business gifts are given at a milestone, at the end of the year or the financial year, or after a big piece of work. A gift that arrives at a natural moment reads as a thank you. One that arrives just before a renewal can read as pressure.

Ideas that suit most people

When you do not know the recipient well, choose something most people will use or enjoy:

• Gift cards. The safest choice for a wide list, because the recipient picks what they want. Add a handwritten note so it does not feel impersonal.
• Food and drink, with care. A hamper, good coffee or fresh fruit is welcome in most offices, but allergies and dietary needs are common. Keep food gifts for people whose preferences you know, and avoid alcohol unless you are sure it is appropriate.
• Experiences and outings. Tickets to an event, a meal out or a day out recognise hard work and give people a reason to relax.
• Practical desk items. A good charging cable, a wireless mouse or a quality notebook gets used every day. Choose current, well made items: a cheap gadget does more harm than good.
• Flowers. They suit a thank you or a celebration. Choose arrangements without romantic meaning: red roses send the wrong message.
• Awards and recognition. For long standing clients or staff, a certificate, a trophy or a public thank you can mean more than an object.
• A charity donation. A gift to the recipient’s chosen charity suits clients who cannot accept gifts, and people who would rather not receive one.

Ideas for people you know well

For clients and staff you have worked with for years, a little personal knowledge goes a long way:

• The sports fan or the runner. A gift card for a sports store lets them replace shoes or gear in their own size and style. A fitness tracker suits someone who already talks about their training.
• The reader. New books are always welcome, as long as you know the genres they enjoy. Choose something light rather than a title that could be read as a message. When in doubt, a local bookshop can help, or a bookshop gift card lets them choose.
• The food lover. A favourite restaurant voucher, a quality kitchen tool or a gourmet food selection they can enjoy more than once. Skip knives: cooks tend to be loyal to their own brands.

Presentation matters as much as the gift. Wrap it well, include a personal note, and give it in a professional setting. For clients overseas, check what colours and symbols mean in their culture before you choose the packaging.

Let them choose

The hardest part of gifting is guessing what someone wants. A gift card removes the guess: the recipient chooses something they will use, and you avoid sending the same item to everyone. It also suits mixed lists of clients and staff in different places and with different tastes.

On RewardCo, gift cards are sent through Rewards, with points people spend in a catalogue in your brand, and through Milestones, such as work anniversaries. Gift cards are available in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, the UK, the US, Canada and the Philippines. Our post Let them choose explains why choice works so well, and Gifting solutions and corporate gift ideas covers running gifting at a larger scale. For a program built around client and staff gifts, see corporate gifting. For budgets, timing, gift policies and sending gifts at scale, read our guide to corporate gifting in Australia.

A short checklist

Before you send a business gift:

1. Know why you are giving, and make sure the timing fits.
2. Check the recipient’s gift policy and any local rules.
3. Match the gift to the relationship: modest for new contacts, personal for people you know well.
4. Think about allergies, dietary needs and cultural meaning.
5. Add a personal note.
6. Keep a record of what you gave and to whom, so next year’s gifts do not repeat.

Want to send gift cards to clients and staff without the spreadsheet? Book a demo.