3 Ways to Rock Your Corporate Gift Program

Gift ideas

Branded gift boxes and branded greeting cards showing examples from corporate gift programs

3 Ways to Rock Your Corporate Gift Program

Creating a corporate gift program can seem daunting. However, with some planning and preparation, you can craft a corporate gift box experience that's memorable and meaningful for your recipients.

With customer acquisition and employee retention becoming more challenging each year, a rock-solid corporate gift program can cement lasting relationships that affect your bottom line or build on your existing team morale.

As your gift partner, we've put together three tips to simplify corporate gift box delivery.

1. Prepare your list early, check it twice and plan ahead

Over the past 18 years, we've noticed that gift programs run smoothest when recipient lists are organized early. The final quarter of the year is often a hectic time for most businesses, and planning ahead can save you a mountain of headaches and mishaps that can easily be avoided with extra time, care and consideration.

We recommend starting early –as early as September– to get ahead of your competitors, build a meaningful strategy, perfect your gifting list, customize your gift boxes and make time for possible delays.

Here at Saul Good Gift Co, we're all about telling good stories through corporate gift boxes, and the holiday season is a perfect time to do so. Here are five questions to keep in mind when embarking on this part of the gifting journey:

What are your gifting goals?
Who will be part of your corporate gifting program?
What kind of story do you want to tell with your corporate gift boxes?
What gifting elements will help you communicate that story?
How can you create a lasting impression?

If you need help launching your holiday gifting strategy, contact us. We'll help you start on the right foot.

2. Corporate gifts for groups vs. individuals

Whether you're gifting for groups or individuals, your goal is to make the gift experience all about the recipient. Here's how gifting for an individual may differ from gifting to a group.

Individual corporate gift boxes

Gifting to an individual? Make this gift experience all about the recipient.

You likely got to know this individual and picked up on critical elements of their likes, dislikes, values, and overall personality. If this is the case, choosing a gift that aligns with these personal elements will significantly affect the final impact of your gift.

When it's time to deliver the gift, be sure to explain the reasons behind the specific choice. This gesture can be an excellent opportunity to recall a touching conversation between you both or pick up on a small detail they may have mentioned in passing. In either case, acknowledging this in your card shows how much you care about the relationship.

Want to go the extra mile? Thank the recipient publicly and be specific about why you are recognizing them: it's a surefire way to make your gesture more memorable than the rest.

Corporate gift boxes for employees and clients

The same rules apply when you appreciate your hard-working team or thank your clients. Focus on the specifics and celebrate how this created value for you throughout the year.

Gifts for groups must be easy to share. And by sharing, we don't mean dividing up the unopened goodies. You want to avoid the "Who wants the tapenade? I'm taking the crackers" scenario. The ideal group gift experience involves your recipients gathering around, enjoying their treats, and discussing how great it's been working with your team.

When you appreciate a team of people, it's best to do so publicly. The golden rule we like to follow is 'appreciate publicly, criticize privately.' Public displays of appreciation have incredible inertia, and by creating a culture of appreciation, your team is more likely to echo gratitude amongst themselves. If this is all a bit touchy-feely for you, consider this: appreciation can dissolve office politics and prevent employee turnover.

3. Send your corporate gift boxes early

We cannot stress this enough: timing is essential!

Holiday gift programs are best delivered early in December. It can be a busy time of year, so getting your order in early allows you to relax, enjoy the season, and make a lasting impression.

The weeks before the holidays can get pretty hectic. So why share the stage with your competition? Being first is a great way to be memorable.

We encourage clients to avoid sending holiday gifts in the last week of December. Not only do many people sneak away on holiday, but a late December delivery is less impactful unless you make a splash.