Unique & Best Corporate Gifts
Whether its the end-of-year celebrations or a colleague leaving the office as a business owner or a work colleague, you are probably need options for corporate gifts for employees, staff, suppliers, clients and all those people who contribute to the success of your business. You need something to accompany that thank you card, or that funny farewell message for your work colleagues.
I always felt that the holiday season in particular was a time to give back, so I ensured that no one was left off my list, including our valued customers.
Trying to find unique corporate gifts is always a challenge. Personally, I was not too fond of the standard wines or hampers that everyone was doing unless they were different or unique. If there were people who loved to travel then i would buy them the best gift for a traveller. I wanted our gifts to have some thought to them.
So, if you are struggling with some corporate gift ideas, the following are some of the best corporate gifts I gave our Team over the years. It should give you some ideas.
What are the best corporate gifts for employees?
1. Cash Bonus
I will start by saying that the below gifts for our employees were in addition to a cash bonus. In my opinion, it is the best way to show your employees how grateful you are for all the work they have put in throughout the year, which has contributed to your business’s success. Reward them for their hard work and rejuvenate them for the following year that is to come. If you are heading off on vacation over the holiday season, it is so essential that your team leave on a high note. Ensure they leave feeling valued and important and that their hard work has paid off.
A cash bonus can be on its own or with other gifts, depending on your budget.
There is no better way to do this than to treat them to some fine lunch or dinner with a personally written thank you card and cash inside. Cash is King. Give them equal amounts. If you have stand-out staff that you feel deserve more, save it to last. You should arrange an independent meeting away from everyone else to execute this. Tell them why you think they deserve a little extra and ensure they are discreet, as you don’t want to inadvertently offend or deflate anyone else.
2. An Event just for your team
Arrange an end-of-year event gathering so your staff can have the opportunity to let their hair down and enjoy the company of everyone in a social setting.
Invite them together with their ‘plus one’ person, so they have the opportunity to bring someone whom they enjoy being with. For example, this can be their partner, sibling, or best friend. It’s the best setting for team building.
Some companies throw end-of-year parties, while others take their staff to lunch or dinner.
I have done it all! End-of-year parties, lunches, dinners – it all works, and it is just a matter of preference and budget.
You should also take into consideration the demographics of your employees and ensure they won’t be looking at their watch the whole night. Ensure you are sensitive when dealing with these sorts of events. For example, if you have vegetarians in your team, it would be a good idea to cater for them. Cultural sensitivity is also a must. Getting to know your team is key to running a successful business. You should, by now, understand what they value, like and don’t like.
What is the best gift from a company?
Here is my top list of unique corporate gifts I gave my staff over the years. These are also good client gifts. It should give you some ideas.
1. Cosmetics
AHAVA Products
A great gift both for men and women. We opted for their gift sets which were immaculately wrapped and featured a variety of hand and face creams. Anyone looking for a corporate gift under $50 will find something here.
The love yourself range is priced at $44 and includes three classic lotions.
2. Tools
Leatherman (engraving available for personalisation)
I was surprised by how much everyone enjoyed their Leatherman. This little gadget captured the heart of both males & females – so much that I bought a few more extra to hand out. This multi-tool folds like a swiss knife and is placed inside a leather pouch when not used. There is a vast range of them, and the price increases or decreases depending on how many tools you want and what materials they are made from. Their Micra, ten tools packed into its adorable design, is priced around $80, whilst their top-of-the-range models can reach $400. We opted for the 18-tool stainless at $249.95. If you want to personalise them, order through their site and opt-in for engraving. It adds a nice personal touch.
3. Gadgets
Space Pen (Fisher)
I am a bit of a gadget nerd, so I thought this one was quite special and is another great gift that can also be personalised. It was first introduced to me back in 2008 as the zero-gravity pen. No matter which way you angle it – it always writes. We opted for the bullet space pen at around $35, which came in a gift box—a great corporate gift under $50. You can easily find these on eBay or amazon.
4. Fashion
Ugg Boots (Australian Made) + (branded corporate gift)
I can’t think of any Australian who doesn’t own a pair of Ugg boots. This popular item can be found in many winter wardrobes worldwide. Ensure you get Australian Made. It makes all the difference. Most Aussie manufacturers will personalise them for you with your corporate branding.
Australian Ugg Boots manufactures them in Australia, brands them to suit your needs and can send them internationally. This is quickly becoming a popular corporate gift. I treated my staff to a pair of ugg boots each, and they loved them. Stick to the standard classic short boot in a neutral colour. It is the most popular, and you can’t go wrong.
5. Experience
Give them an experience they will never forget.
We treated our whole team to a fully paid trip to Sydney. It was an absolute stand-out for our staff which was talked about for years. We arranged a limousine service and headed on all together to the airport for what was to be a weekend they will never forget. We travelled on Virgin from Melbourne to Sydney and checked in to the Shangri-La hotel, where we were greeted with canapes and champagne before heading off to our exquisite opera & Sydney harbour view rooms. We met up with them for an end-of-year dinner, and the rest of the weekend was theirs to roam free and enjoy their time independently or with whomever they so wished! A wonderful & relaxing getaway; they came back refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready to take on a new year.
6. Gift Cards – (Last resort)
If you do not have any ideas and time is running out, there are always gift cards. I would suggest trying to match a card based on your employees’ interests. If someone is known for their love of wine, get them a card to Dan Murphys. If another loves fishing, get them a card from BCF (Boat, camping & fishing). This way you still show them you care, you took the time to get to know them and their interests, and you are grateful for their work.
Corporate gifts for employees and corporate gifts for executives
Other ideas
Here is a list of some other ideas that we have also used in the past for our staff & VIPs.
- Bottle of Good Wine
- Tickets to music concerts
- Theatre & Entertainment tickets (Cirque du Soleil is magnificent & memorable)
- Winery Tours
- Cooking Lessons
- Flying Lessons
- Helicopter Rides
- Massage or Therapeutical / Beauty Vouchers
- Airport Lounge Vouchers – for use on their next trip. Alternatively take a look at this travel packing list. Now that travelling is back on the cards you will definitely find something here that is a great gift. In particular the gadgets.
Corporate gifts for Service Providers & Suppliers
Yes, I know, you are probably thinking your suppliers and service providers should be giving you a gift and not the other way around! You are partly right, but in the spirit of giving, you should not leave anyone off your list if the budget permits. More so, I always have as a rule of thumb and good business practice to do the smart thing, not the right thing.
Your suppliers are vital to keeping your business operating, and your relationship with them should be top-notch. Sending them something small at the end of the year can go a long way in keeping your relationship with them one step higher than your competition. Be smart, not right.
Here is the best place to visit that will wow them.
Edible Blooms (Creative Hampers & Arrangements)
Every time I have shopped here, I couldn’t help ordering for myself! Omg, the doughnuts!
Their presentation is immaculate – perfect for gifting. Same-day delivery is available; however, I encourage you to order ahead around Christmas.
Standout 1: Fruit and Donut Gifts are made fresh daily.
Standout 2: Bouquets of chocolate. Chocolates are beautifully presented as a colourful bouquet. I always opted for the Ferrero and Lindt versions.
Gifts for your Online Customers
In addition to shipping within one business day around the Christmas rush period, we used to place a small gift inside every parcel from December 1st through to December 24th for our online customers. It doesn’t have to be significant because anything that creates a surprise is always appreciated and welcomed. It will always be the difference between you and your competitor. Put some thought into it, and let your customer know why you have chosen what you have. Tell the story. People love to read the story behind the act.
Sure, we can all turn to small promotional products with our branding on them – but I always felt that was overdone and not suited to Christmas or a holiday season gift. Promotional items, whilst great for branding & work well throughout the year, should be avoided around Christmas. Giving means you give without wanting to take back. Promotional items are given to get something back.
A small, well-designed card should always accompany your gift. Vista Print was my go-to place for these sorts of ideas. They have a solution for everything, are quick to get it done and deal with small quantities.
Here are a few examples:
1. Christmas Bauble – La La Land
One of my all-time favourites around Christmas time was adding into our customer’s parcels unique christmas baubles that are hand painted by various artists. In particular, the koalas worked so well, with lots going overseas. It was a wonderful Aussie touch. They are not on the cheap side (approx. $20), so I would generally save these for customers who have purchased over a certain amount.
2. Something Sweet & Local
You cannot get more Australian than a pack of Tim Tams. I chose the 200g pack. This quintessential Aussie product will make anyone smile when you are out of ideas. Accompanied by a note of good wishes, your customers will be Instagramming your company from the moment they receive it. If this is not within your budget, you can consider buying the 18g individual packs. You simply buy them in bulk packs of 150. You can find these on places like Officeworks and Amazon.
3. Donations – Giving Back to the World
Pick a charity of your choice and let your customer know that in place of a gift, you have opted to donate a certain amount of their sale to a charity or current event that needs our help. I remember doing this during our bushfire appeal in 2019. Include a well-written and thought-out card in their parcel and let them know. They will be thrilled at the thought & you are making a difference. This is one of the most rewarding parts of owning your own business.
Before I let you go wild buying holiday gifts, remember to always:
- Give yourself time for ideas – plan
- Be personal – show that you care
Building your team and having happy staff is absolute key to the success of your business. I list it as the number one step in my guide on how to run a successful business.
It is the most wonderful time of the year. Make it wonderful for yourself and everyone around you.
