Non-naff xmas gifts for clients?

[TheTrish]

Okay, it's that time of the year again and I start searching for what I am going to give my clients as an appreciation gift for being such great clients.

• movie ticket - naff
• Hamper - more naff
• Grog - not memorable
• Customised Keep cup - good idea, possible
• Flowers - naff
• Calendars - naff
• xmas cards - you may as well blow yourself up now naff
• ecard - welcome to the 90's naff

So can any think of a reasonably priced, unique, possibly branded, quirky, latest thing gift?

I guess I am looking for a slew of suggestions that do NOT include any of the above so I can customise a unique gift for each customer based on who they are. Not a general swipe with the same brush approach.

So no Brand USB sticks or Calendars either.

[Life Coach]

Hand written thank you note never goes out of style...then again I'm old school with some things. Otherwise...good luck with it all.
Regards
David

[abacus]

Have a look at zazzle.com.au

All sorts of stuff that can be personalised.

[bridiej]

I'm surprised at "grog - not memorable" - many years when I was a buyer I certainly remember who gave me bottles of wine (esp the ones that were cheapskates and gave out Blue Nun! lol)

Still, I guess things have probably change since then....

[yourvirtualboard]

One person’s definition of naff may be totally different to another’s and because someone feels it's naff doesn't mean potential recipients would feel the same way. I've also been taught (and taught) that it's not so much the gift but the thought; are we trying to blow them away (on a limited budget) or are we trying to say thank you and we appreciate the past year's support with a token of appreciation?

Depending on level of support over the year usually dictates value and based on that there are traditional or tried and true gifts that never go out of style.

[bridiej]

I agree, it really is "the thought that counts" rather than what you're giving...

How about doing something for people who are less fortunate than ourselves, you could buy a donkey on behalf of your client, it's what I'm going to do instead of buying Christmas cards...

[The Copy Chick]

I find I always consider what I might like to receive as a gift. That's usually a good place to start.

A design agency I worked with years ago had some great Christmas gifts which they custom-made for a relatively low cost. I still have two of these some 10-12 years later!

One was a clock which consisted of a thin sheet of metal with a design engraved into it. This was thin enough for it to bend under the strain of two thin steel wires on which the clock face was suspended (so it had the illusion of "floating" in front of the curved back piece). They bought inexpensive mechanisms and attached a metal disc to the front with the company name printed very subtly on the front.

The other is a small tin which originally housed paneforte made by monks at a local monastery. All the staff signed their name onto a sheet of paper and these were then printed onto the tins (white ink onto gold tins). On the base of the tin a sticker was placed which told the story of the monastery.

The tin now sits on my desk and houses my push-pins. Sadly one of the wires on my clock broke in one of my many moves, but I hope to replace it and have it again sitting proudly on my desk.

Anyway - long story, but I guess the point I'm trying to make is you can take something that may be seen as "ordinary" and make it something special with a little thought and personalisation. While these gifts may sound expensive, I think they cost no more than a reasonable bottle of wine. It just took a little time to source the parts.

Perhaps you could look at funky wireless mouse, stylish drink coasters, a compendium for people to carry their pen, business cards and pad when attending a meeting, a beautiful glass paperweight.... Functional items that both look beautiful but find their way into people's every day lives, with screaming "corporate merchandise!".

I guess it depends on your budget and how imaginative you can be.

[TheTrish]

Thanks so much for your great ideas. I do want to do something personal and I was so caught up in the "corporate gift" mindset I totally forgot about charity gifts.

I love the clock idea as well, something personal and creative.

Keep the ideas coming as I am starting for form some great xmas gifts unique to each client.

[chancelm]

Corporate gift giving can be a wonderful opportunity to thank your clients and also support a complimentary Business.

I would consider establishing a Strategic Alliance for your gift giving, in the sense of approaching another business with whom your clients can benefit from through form of a gift voucher or product sample etc, and in turn you offer something to the complimentary Business in which they can give to their clients for Christmas.

Together with this Voucher/Sample etc I would bundle it with a product locally produced in vicinity to your business or from your own client list be it, wine, cheese, jam etc with a card that says something along the lines of; Thank you for the opportunity to work with you Business this year, we love assisting Small Business to grow and hence are taking the opportunity to give you something from our local region along with..."

Christmas is a warm and fuzzy, gift giving and receiving season, make it a win-win for everyone.

To Your Success,
Chance

[victorng]

Not sure if this qualifies as a Christmas gift, but I reckon it's a low price non-naff promotional product.

Was given a Seedsticks 'Growpack' a couple of weeks ago. Basically it's a little pot and bunch of seeds in a plastic container. Hard to explain but it's a really clever idea (a million times more engaging and memorable than a branded usb key!) - the Seedsticks website is here and I did a little write up here (slightly more coherent than this post).

Cheers
Victor