Holiday Gifting: Delivering a Memorable Holiday Experience

The mad dash of the holiday season can be chaotic. Between the year-end pressure of work deadlines, making holiday plans with family, and last-minute shopping, some things can fall by the wayside. Keeping employees and clients high on the holiday season priority list can make a world of difference for a brand and how it’s remembered. Sending gifts is one thing, but delivering a memorable and engaging experience is another. That’s why, when it comes to delivering meaningful holiday gifts on time, it’s never too early to start your holiday planning.

Showing employees and clients how much they’re appreciated is a core principle of good business, and the holidays are the perfect time to demonstrate it. Thoughtful holiday gifting doesn’t just show that their hard work and loyalty are recognized and appreciated; it helps to grow relationships and keeps your brand top of mind.

Given the current workforce landscape, much has been said about employee retention and how to mitigate the effects of ”The Great Resignation” and “Quiet Quitting.” At the end of the day, employees want to know that they are valued. Being intentional about sharing unique holiday gifts accomplishes exactly that. Whether it’s a hybrid employee, longtime client, or a brand-new account, including them in the magic of the holiday season strengthens their connection to you and your brand.

So, what are the best holiday gifts for employees and clients? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but different approaches have their respective advantages based on your budget and the size of your company. A great starting point is to explore holiday gifting options to see what kind of products will best resonate with your recipients. Then think about how you want to personalize the experience. Including a personalized message to the recipient on an insert card can mean just as much as the gift itself and will connect on a deeper and more personal level.

There’s a reason why the unboxing subculture is so popular: people love the excitement of opening gifts! Holiday kits are a creative way to give employees and clients a dash of seasonal magic. But a memorable holiday kit is more than a collection of swag with a logo; it should highlight brand values and reinforce your message.

Questions to consider when creating holiday kits:

Once a holiday kit is designed, logistics enter the fold. Tools for data collection, shipping, and fulfillment are pivotal to making sure the process is handled securely and that everything arrives on time.

Branded merchandise can also make lasting holiday memories and can be a more budget-friendly option for larger gifting projects. Whether the gift is food, drinkware, apparel, etc., it’s important to make sure the gift has a strong perceived value and is something people will actually enjoy and use. They say it’s the little things in life that matter most, and a meaningful individual gift can make that true for someone during the holiday season.

We all have our loyalties to certain brands, and the name attached to a product can often play a significant role in whether it’s the right gift for someone. Personalizing brand-name products is an effective way to gift something that’s truly one of a kind. By etching a company logo or embossing some of your branding onto an employee or client’s favorite brand name product, you can offer the best of both worlds.

Another option for higher-end brand-name gifts is offering the gift of choice. Consider setting up an online holiday gifting catalog that offers employees and clients the ability to select their own gifts. This will almost guarantee that they receive something meaningful that they will value for years to come.

Though the holidays may seem like they’re far off, logistically speaking, they’re right around the corner. Working with the right partner is crucial, and though there may appear to be a lot of gifting companies to choose from, very few can actually deliver on all of the details and nuances of a holiday gifting campaign. Make sure your gifting partner has the right mix of creative services, product merchandising, personalization options, data collection tools and shipping/fulfillment capabilities, and it will go a long way in ensuring that you deliver joy to employees and clients this holiday season and beyond.