Four unique corporate gift ideas

corporate gifts Peter Crocker If you struggle with Christmas present ideas for clients, here are four unique gifts that have worked well for me.

At the end of each year, I start making a list (and checking it twice) of those people who have been an important part of my business support crew throughout the year.

Typically it contains lucrative or super-nice clients, reliable suppliers, friendly competitors and supportive colleagues.

I prefer to select a small group and send a well thought-out gift and personal card rather than send out a generic card to everyone in my address book. If you’ve got a longer list, a simple hand-written card with meaningful message is well worth the time, and costs very little.

I want my gift selection to show my genuine appreciation, but every year I’m faced with the big question: what can I get that’s not cheap champagne, chocolates or a typically last minute ‘corporate gift’?

In the comments below I’ve listed four corporate gift ideas that I have given or received in the past.

But I’m fresh out of new ideas so I need your help! What memorable corporate gifts have you received? What clever ideas have you come across? Besides, are corporate gifts really worth all the effort?

I’ve shown you my ideas now you show me yours. Hopefully, we can get a great list together.

That way, all soloists can be the flavour of the month during the festive season.

Love your work!

Peter Crocker is a director of Flying Solo responsible for the areas of marketing and advertising. He is a business copywriter specialising in websites, videos and marketing communications.

17 Dec 08

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IDEA #1: Personalised beer from www.brewtopia.com.au. I didn’t get organised in time for Christmas one year so I decided to send out branded 6-packs the day before the Australia Day long weekend with a card along the lines of “kick back and relax this long weekend.”
IDEA #2: Mini health tonic bottles from www.elixirtonics.com Six of these cute bottles were neatly packaged in a little box with a recipe suggestion for a summer cocktail. I’m not sure how Vodka lines up with re-aligning your Chakra, but they went down well.
IDEA #3: My favourite dessert wine from the Hunter Valley in NSW. I sent out bottles with instructions to serve it over ice on a balmy evening.
IDEA #4: Mosquito nets from www.worldvision.com.au/Smiles. Here’s an idea that makes everyone feel good. Order a gift from World Vision’s Smiles Catalogue and you’ll also be helping some of the world’s poorest children. It’s a gift that gives twice! Peter Crocker from Flying Solo | Read my articles
I normally send out quality hand written cards, but I am definitely doing the buy a goat or dig a well through World Vision this year. Let's face it - we all have more than we NEED and all we do is create landfill most of the time :) Though I did receive a hand screen-printed tea towel once with little spiders all over it - the logo of the company. It was too cute and I love using it. I also received a bouque of really yummy biscuits in the shape of tulips arranged in a drinking mug, which I still use - I would say not a cheap option this one but really nice and yummy. Beverley from Brisbane, Australia
hi peter, i fully support the 'socially responsible' idea. i am currently planning to send a calendar to my 'important list' (my first ever client gift, in fact) but i plan to make a donation as well as i have done this for xmas presents for family two years running. they get one smaller 'real' gift and the rest that i would have spent goes to CARE or World Vision on their catalogue. i also suggest The Cancer Council Shop, for lots of wonderful summer gift ideas. proceeds go to supporting their work towards a world without cancer. (and you can shop online.) we have so much, and live in such a commercial world. why not give a little at xmas time? anne george from nailsworth, sa
In North Queensland boxes of mangoes are insanely cheap at Christmas time. I send a box to my colleagues, associates and clients in the southerly parts of Australia. Grab the yellow pages and call a mango farmer here and they'll arrange to have them sent for you. Nicky from Cairns
I second Beverley's comment. TEAR provide a similar gift catalogue to World Vision called 'Arguably, the World's Most Useful Gift Catalogue' - http://www.usefulgifts.org/
One of the new gifts this year is Bee-Keeping ($150 ):
"This new item is creating quite a buzz. With hives, a native bee colony and basic training, a community can start producing and selling honey - and making money. Bees also help pollinate families' crops." Scott Carpenter - www.invoiceplace.com from Brisbane
Hi Peter, a completely spontaneous response to your query about gifts.....there's already enough 'stuff' in the world how about planting a tree or contribution to planting one or a gift through Oxfam such as goat ( or part here of!) to a community in need. Serve the world with your gift! Alexandra Pope from Bondi Junction

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