Imagine having a go-to checklist for every question about gift giving in business. From knowing who to include to figuring out how to strike the perfect chord with clients or employees, thoughtful corporate gifting can push professional relationships in the right direction.
Let’s break down the who, what, when, and why to help you make the most of your business gifting strategy.
Need to Skim? Key Takeaways:
- Personalized business gifts are normal, mind you, but you need to be intentional about who you’re giving to and why.
- Appropriate gifts are thoughtful, useful, and appreciated, especially when given at the opportune moment.
- Writing down a corporate gifting policy and working with a professional branding company can transform your gifting from an afterthought to a strategic master playbook.
Table of Contents
To Who And When?
Gift giving in business is kind of like bringing valentines to school as a kid. You can’t just bring one, you need to have enough to pass around. Luckily, the standards are pretty consistent across different professional industries. Let’s take a look:
- Employees: You can plan gifts for staff around commonly celebrated holidays or as a way to celebrate professional milestones.
- Bosses: The rule of thumb is that you should gift down, not up. Group gifts from a team on Boss’s Day or birthdays are acceptable, but it’s never an expectation.
- Contractors: If your business has a long-term relationship with an independent contractor, you can treat them like an employee for gifts, but you don’t need to send beautifully wrapped presents to every one-off contractor you work with.
- Clients: Giving gifts to clients is normal in most industries and often appreciated, as long as you work within their corporate gifting policies and ethical gifting standards.
Don’t worry — it sounds more complicated than it is! When in doubt, get a second opinion. We can help you sort through complex professional relationships to nail down what’s appropriate for your business.
Why Gift?
Like learning the steps in a complicated dance, gift giving in business requires following a few rules to see results. When you do it right — and think about what people actually want — gifts can supercharge client relationships and boost employee morale.
Strengthen Relationships
Have you ever gotten a gift and thought “wow, this person really knows me”? It’s a good feeling! Gifting provides a unique opportunity to tie relationships closer, but only if you pick gifts that feel personal. You don’t want people to feel like you raided the dollar store sale rack just to say you got them a gift.
Improve Morale
Thoughtful gifts are a great way to show appreciation to employees or contractors. Personalized gifts for hybrid or remote team members help them feel seen and valued — bridging the distance and making a personal connection.
Stand Out
What comes to mind when you think of brand merchandise? Maybe it’s the same old stuff that gets tossed aside or re-gifted. But what if it wasn’t? The secret to memorable gift giving in business lies in starting with a standout product—and pairing it with a thoughtful logo design that enhances its appeal.
Now, imagine your logo on a product people genuinely love and use every day. Suddenly, your brand becomes part of their routine, creating positive connections with every use. A simple gift, a lasting impression. Nice!
How To Do It Right
Good intentions don’t guarantee good results. After working with everyone from vendors and printers to businesses both large and small, we’ve uncovered a few key principles of corporate gifting to help you get it right the first time.
Don’t Be That Person, Avoid Bribes
Bribes are gifts with strings attached—given with the intention of getting something in return, usually something you shouldn’t. Think of it as the “you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours” cliché nobody wants to be a part of.
Here’s the thing: gifting in business isn’t always black and white. It lives in a bit of a gray zone. But you can cut through the confusion by sticking to transparent, straightforward practices. Think clear intentions, no funny business.
To avoid any bribery vibes, follow these guidelines:
- Don’t gift government employees (they can’t accept them anyway).
- Skip anything over-the-top—especially for decision-makers.
- Be crystal clear about why you’re giving the gift.
- Keep it consistent—no playing favorites.
- Respect your client’s company gifting policy.
When in doubt, transparency wins every time. A good gift should build trust, not raise eyebrows—and when done right, it’s a small gesture that leaves a lasting impression.
Don’t Go Overboard
Remember as a kid when you got a skateboard for Christmas, and your friend got the latest gaming system? It’s not a great feeling. The same applies to gifting in business—you don’t want clients, employees, or anyone else feeling slighted by comparisons.
Set clear limits on how much to spend for different occasions. Gifting should feel thoughtful, not competitive—or worse, like a budget buster. The good news? With the right approach, you can send gifts that feel personal and valuable without overspending.
Keep It Simple
One way to end up on the “worst company gifts” list is by giving out a $5 gift card to your own store. Keep it simple, but make sure your gifts are relevant and useful. You don’t get this from guessing—it comes from understanding their likes and interests and playing into that.
Go back to the basics: simple gifts are things people use regularly, like water bottles or similar items. For a more luxurious option, opt for group-shared gifts (gourmet food baskets, anyone?) that feel thoughtful and inclusive.
So, What’s Appropriate?
Before you buy anything, ask yourself: Would I give this gift to a stranger? Would I be comfortable if they opened this gift in front of their co-workers or family?
Appropriate corporate gifts are thoughtful and personal, but they’re not too expensive or unprofessional. Here are a few tried and true gift examples we’ve seen work over and over again in business settings.
- Shareable gifts like gourmet food baskets or festive holiday-themed snacks
- Daily use items with a personal touch – custom printed hoodie or a branded travel bag, with wellness accessories inside
- High-quality stationery sets (not a single cheap planner with a logo on it)
- Books for self-growth and introspection
- Indulgent treats like aromatic coffee and tea kits
- Door Bell Cameras, Bluetooth headphones, and speakers
What Are Corporate Gift-Giving Laws? Do I Need a Policy?
Maybe this is your first dance — most companies can avoid the awkwardness around gifts by having a corporate gift policy. These policies lay down the law on business gift-giving, both for what’s okay to give and what they can receive. Essentially, it’s writing down everything we’ve been talking about here, like who to gift to, what’s appropriate, and how much you can spend on gifts.
Instead of leaving it up to chance (which almost never works), develop your own corporate gifting policy. With that reference, you can get all the benefits of gifting without having to figure it out from scratch every time.
Give Gifts They’ll Actually Use
Gifting is easy! All you gotta do is juggle the cost, quality, professionalism, sourcing, personalization… Okay, maybe it’s not THAT easy. But you know what makes it easier? Hiring a professional juggler.
While we can’t guarantee anyone on our team actually knows how to juggle, we can take your business gift giving from a vague idea to a solid plan. Imprint Engine walks you through every part of the corporate gifting process step by step, helping you realize your vision within your budget.
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