‍

When it comes to corporate gifting, it’s not one size fits all. There are many things to consider to ensure that the message you are trying to convey is received. It’s important to remember that no matter your angle with corporate gifting, it is a direct reflection of your brand. There are many common mistakes that we have seen over the years so we’ve put together a list of the do’s and don’ts that one should keep in mind when gifting.

‍

The Do’s

Tell a Cohesive Story

Let the items in your gift box play off each other to communicate your message in a fun and engaging way. Whether it’s an onboarding kit or a holiday gift, each item should align with the overarching message or theme of your gift to help create an experience.

‍

Add a Personal Touch

Tie your gift together with a custom thank you note. The more personalized, the better, as this will show your recipients that you see and appreciate them. Something as simple as adding their name to a thank you card can really help to establish a connection. You can even get creative here and include a unique QR code that leads to a video of your company CEO saying thanks or sharing the message behind the gift.

‍

Include Something Edible

Everyone loves a good treat, no matter what industry they’re in. When you opt for gifting food or drink, you are appealing to your recipient’s different senses — this is a sure way to create positive and lasting impressions for your brand. When your recipient takes a bite of their tasty treat, they will associate those good feelings with your brand.

‍

Add a Forever Item

Be sure to include something they can enjoy forever — think mugs, tumblers, cutting boards, etc. Gifting a forever item that your recipients will actually want to use means more impressions for you over time.

‍

Additionally, you could opt for items that will make their everyday life easier, and generate positive impressions for your brand each time they reach for it. Wireless chargers, cord organizers, mug warmers, or cozy apparel are all good options.

‍

Opt for Tasteful Branding

When it comes to branding, opt for a retail look and feel to avoid your merch looking like a promotional product. Try adding subtle branding in unconventional imprint areas such as on the bottom of a mug or on a microfiber cleaning cloth rather than on the glasses themselves.

‍

Make It Memorable

Get creative with QR codes, scents, sounds, and more to spice up your gift and help it to stand out from the rest. Try including scents that tie in with the overarching theme of your gift to create a full experience — fresh baked cookies for a holiday gift or lavender scents for a self-care kit are great options.

‍

You could also incorporate music or unique QR codes (maybe even both). Try including a QR code that leads to a Spotify playlist full of songs that tie into the theme of your gift. Are you gifting for the holidays? Include some classic holiday tunes or a video of a crackling fire. Are you gifting for wellness and self-care? Use your QR code to lead your recipients to a 5-minute guided meditation.

‍

Incorporate a Retail Item

Incorporating a retail item is an easy and effective way to elevate the perceived value of your gift. The retail item doesn’t have to be grand to have this effect either, even something as small as a bundle of sage or a candle can help to ensure your gift is mistaken for a marketing piece.

‍

The Don'ts

‍

Repurpose Old Merch

Are you guilty of repurposing old merch? There are a few things to consider. Repurposing old merch such as branded totes or tees from a company event is a sustainable and cost-effective way to get your brand out there. That being said, it’s important to be conscious of who has received the merch to ensure that the products are not being re-gifted. Failure to do so could end up having a negative effect on your brand image. An example of this would be taking the remaining merch from a customer-facing event and repurposing it for an internal raffle.

‍

Skimp on Quality

One of the biggest mistakes of corporate gifting is skimping on quality. Anything you hand out is a direct reflection of your brand and could lead your recipients to believe that your work is of the same sub-par quality. Trying to save a few bucks could end up costing you in the long run by harming your brand image. When it comes to gifting, be sure to invest in quality pieces and avoid gifting tchotchkes at all costs.

‍

Assume One-Size-Fits All

There are some items that you need to take extra precautions with when it comes to gifting as one size does not fit all. Opt for gender-neutral options to ensure you cater to all your recipients or use an online portal to allow them to select their own preferences. Online portals can be a huge help when it comes to sending the correct sizes and making sure that you aren’t purchasing more than you need.

‍

Send Without Doing Your Research

Be sure to do some research on what’s trending in the market beforehand to ensure you aren’t sending outdated items that could end up reflecting your brand image in a negative way. Additionally, you might want to do a little research on your recipients to help create a personalized gift that shows you know who they are and that you value them.

‍

Overlook Presentation

When it comes to gifting (or anything for that matter) presentation is key. You could have the most thoughtful and curated gift inside that box, but your gift can come off as underwhelming if the presentation isn’t there. Spend a little extra time designing packaging that gets your recipients excited to open their gifts. They may even snap a photo to share online. Whatever the case, you want to be sure you are prepared and that your presentation reflects your brand image in a positive way.

‍

Temperature Check

Be sure to avoid shipping temperature-sensitive items without first properly preparing for weather conditions. For example, extreme heat in the summertime can melt items like chocolates, wax melts, etc. You might also just be looking to ensure that your items such as beverages arrive cold. Whatever the case, talk to your packaging specialist to create a custom solution based on your unique needs.

‍

Our CAD team here at Lahlouh has designed custom boxes with compartments that hold condensation-free ice packs to ensure an ice-cold delivery for our clients. Using the ice packs ensured that our box would remain structurally sound and intact upon delivery.

‍

Interested in learning more? Get in touch with one of our specialists today and see what unique packaging solutions we can create for you.

‍