Last Updated on September 6, 2024
Giving clients gifts is a great way to say thank you, to remind the client to send business your way, and to show your thoughtfulness. Here is a list of the 10 client gifts to say thank you.
Gifts That Highlight Your Services
If you’re in the services industry, consider saying thank you in a way that highlights your services. If you’re a graphic designer, create a thank-you card that shows off your design skills or send personalized stationery that you designed just for them. Web developers could design an online site to say thanks while implementing the newest techniques in website design.
If your company produces a product like wine, candies, or nuts that lend well to gifts, consider sending a sample along with a thank-you card, especially if you have a new product you want to familiarize your clients with.
Local Specialties
Since you’re familiar with products produced in your local area, choose something from a local store that is well-loved. This could be a popular local wine or a truffle from a local chocolatier. If a local shop or store has been highlighted nationally, such as a doughnut shop featured on the travel channel or a cupcakery that won the big prize on Cupcake Wars, then it’ll make a great choice, especially if the client has heard of it.
Handmade Gifts
Nowadays, you can find pretty much anything online. One great choice is a handmade gift from sites like Etsy, which includes gifts like customized plates, porcelain birds, handmade soaps, and many other unique items. Over at She Knows, you’ll find a list of products on Etsy that are perfect for the business sector. This list includes hand painted business card holders, wooden pens, and leather day planners.
Items That Promote Your Business
Practical gifts are a great way to ensure that the gift will be used. Slap on your logo and it’s suddenly a marketing tool, too. There are many promotional products that you can choose from. Promotional items could be as simple as a pen or useful like an umbrella, a canvas bag, calendar, or key chain. If you give out a lot of gifts, these items are great because you can buy them in bulk and get a great deal. Have a bunch of business swag on hand to give out to clients along with a thank-you card.
Thoughtful Gifts
If you really want to be thoughtful in your gifts, you’ll need to know more about your clients. Whenever you communicate, whether in person, via email, or over the phone, take notes. Have they mentioned a favorite brand of coffee? What do they like to do when they’re not at work? If you need more help, social media is a great way to get to know them better. Using your investigative skills, you can pick the right gift for them.
Monthly Gift Boxes
Keep your business in your client’s mind with a monthly subscription. There are many monthly subscription gift boxes available including beauty or grooming products, snacks, skin care products, exotic coffee or tea samples, sunglasses, and pet products. Figure out something your client is interested in and send them a box. Choose subscriptions for either a month or a year. Check out Mysubscriptionaddiction.com for reviews, coupons, and various subscription services.
Donations to Charities
For clients who are philanthropists, a donation to a favorite charity is a great way to win favor. If possible, find out if there’s a charity the client or the company supports (maybe a quick call to the client’s administrative assistant could get you the information or check out the corporate website). Find a creative way to let them know that you donated, such as a personalized card that includes you holding the check made out to the charity.
Delectables
Let’s face it, we all love receiving unexpected treats. If possible, try to discover any food allergies or preferences. For example, if you’re having a casual conversation with the client, bring up your favorite food vices or any food allergies you have (if you have any). Then see if they mention anything they strongly dislike or anything they’re allergic to. This will help you avoid the faux pas of sending something that they can’t eat. There are lots of yummy treats that you can send, from chocolate covered berries to gourmet vanilla extract to fruit and cheese baskets.
Plants
Flowers and specialized plants are a great way to cheer up an office. Freshly cut flowers are a nice touch. Potted plants are even better because they last longer. Choose a gorgeous juniper bonsai tree, a kaleidoscope orchid, bamboo stalks, or a tropical bromeliad. Plants make great gifts because they’re easy to care for and help cleanse the air.
For long-lasting gifts, choose one that works well in an office, such as ones that don’t need to be near a window. Include care instructions with the thank-you note. Many plants only need to be watered a couple of times a week.
Personalized Gifts
Names are important. According to Dale Carnegie in the book “How to Win Friends and Influence People,” “Names are the sweetest and most important sound in any language.” So doesn’t it make sense to choose gifts that are personalized with your client’s name? You’ll find many personalized gifts to choose from such as pens, letter openers, clocks, or USB flash drives.
How you thank your clients will have a big impact on your business. Sometimes, even sending a gift to a client that you haven’t worked with in a while may help them think of you the next time they’re in need of the services or products you offer. In fact, consider sending more than just thank-you gifts.
Consider sending gifts at Christmas or when the client has a major life event (marriage, birth of a child, etc.). It really lets them know you’re thinking of them and that they’re important. What’s your favorite gift from a business partner or vendor?
