Corporate gift ideas

As a small business owner, you may know the importance of recognizing your clients’ ongoing patronage—but you may not have a large budget to support high end gift giving.

Your clients will love these four simple and unique gift ideas. The best part? They can be personalized to suit the recipient’s tastes, and customized to fit any budget.

Subscription memberships

Designed to surprise and delight, box subscriptions are the gift that keeps on giving. You can find a subscription membership for nearly any service these days; candy, gourmet snacks, coffee, or tea boxes are all great choices for corporate gifting. Of course, you can always fall back on a magazine subscription or membership to an exclusive industry-related website. The beauty of this gift is you can set your budget and choose the length of your subscription accordingly—and some companies offer low-cost trial memberships.

Charitable donations

Most everyone appreciates a donation made in their name for a good cause. Dig a little, if you can, to find out whether there’s a charity near and dear to the recipient’s heart. Some companies share corporate giving information right on their website—or call and ask. If in doubt, it’s a safe bet to make your donation to a local community organization, hospital, school, or children’s charity. And as a final tip, keep those tax receipts. Most registered charities issue them when a minimum donation is made so donors can claim the amount back at tax time.

Personalized gifts

There’s nothing quite like the personal touch when it comes to gift giving—and there are a host of affordable options available online to choose from. Some websites that ship personalized gifts worldwide include eBay, etsy, and Amazon. You might also search the web for small businesses specializing in personalized gifts right in your area.

Consider these personalized gifts, appropriate for client giving:

  • Stationery (paper, pens, etc.)
  • Water bottles
  • Coffee mugs
  • Candles and home items
  • Art and collectibles
  • Keychains

Although generally speaking, jewelry and clothing may be a bit too personal for client giving, it really depends on how well you know each other. For some business-client relationships, a personalized bracelet or t-shirt may be just the right choice. It’s a judgement call you’ll have to make, using caution and good judgement.

Gift cards

The great thing about gift cards is that you can choose the amount, and the recipient can choose how to spend it. With gift cards, there are so many excellent options for gifting, including fine dining, outdoor experiences, movie tickets, fuel cards, and your favorite retailers. Of course, you can also purchase gift cards for online retailers; Amazon allows online shoppers to buy just about anything that appeals to them, from books, music, and entertainment, to clothing, games, and items for the home.

Final thoughts

When it comes to corporate gift giving, what you spend matters less than the thoughtfulness and appropriateness of your gift. Whatever you choose to give, be sure to send along a personal note. Nothing conveys gratitude and goodwill better than a simple and sincere handwritten card—a gesture that costs little more than time, and will always be well-received.