25 Client Gifts that Keep Your Company Top of Mind All Year

How do you combat churn and show your customers just how much you care about their business? Besides a fantastic product and excellent customer service, the answer is gifts, of course.

If you're feeling stumped when it comes to gift ideas, here are a few no-fail client gifts to keep you in your clients’ minds all year.

Corporate Gifts for Clients

1. A Terrarium or Succulent Garden
2. Professional Notebooks
3. Coffee or Tea Blends
4. Calendars
5. Coffee Table Book
6. Toiletry Bag
7. Gourmet Food Basket
8. Portable Phone Charger
9. K-Cup Coffee Sampler
10. Kindle
11. Custom Water Bottle
12. Online Classes
13. BarkBox
14. Better Swag
15. A Charity Donation
16. Beer Brewing Kit
17. Restaurant Gift Card
18. Bakery Delivery
19. Cook's Basket
20. Catered Lunch
21. Custom Golf Balls & Tees
22. Headphones
23. A Handwritten Note
24. Self-Heating Mug
25. Custom Photo Books

1. Terrarium or succulent garden

• Terrarium desk kit: $20.00
• Succulent arrangement: $27.99

Source: Hayneedle

These trendy desk accessories brighten your client’s day and remind them of the growth you can achieve together. Plus, succulents and air plants don’t require much water or maintenance, keeping things easy for years to come. Want to make it even easier? Order a realistic artificial arrangement like the one pictured above.

2. Notebook

• Moleskine Professional Notebook: $22.95; add $5.00 to $7.00 for personalization

Source: Moleskine

I’m not suggesting you send clients a stack of the company-branded Post-its heaped five feet high in your supply closet. Have nice leather-bound notebooks created in your company colors or with a subtle logo printed on the front cover.

3. Coffee or tea blends

• Flavored tea selection: $46.99
• Coffee selection gift box: $43.04

Source: Cost Plus World Market

Does anyone love break room coffee? That five-year-old gallon of Folgers might get the job done in a pinch, but you’ll be an office hero if you send a deluxe basket of gourmet coffees or flavored teas. Want to give this gift some local flavor? Create your own box of beans roasted nearby and source tea blends from the best tea house in town.

4. Calendar

• SmartPress custom calendars: Prices vary

Source: SmartPress

Have company-branded calendars created by corporate experts like SmartPress, or source independent artists on Etsy for unique calendars clients won’t find at their next industry conference. If you’re downloading a calendar design, take the file to a local printer and have them copied on high-quality paper for an impressive effect.

5. Coffee table book

• Humans of New York: $16.00

Source: Amazon

Look for books that refer to your client’s city, state, industry, or personal interests. A book they’ll proudly display on their desk or in the office sitting area will serve as a conversation piece for years to come — and so will your name if you include a personalized message inside.

6. Toiletry bag

• High Line Three Leather Pouch: $60.64

Source: Clove & Twine

Have a client who travels frequently? Send them a toiletry bag they can use immediately. Monogramming is always a nice choice, especially on travel items. And select canvas, leather, or waterproof options for a bag they’ll love forever.

7. Gourmet food basket

• Food basket with a modern twist: $74.00 to $178.00

Source: Teak & Twine

Don’t want to send another basket weighed down with cheese logs and vacuum-sealed sausages? Bless you. There are several companies breathing new life into the traditional gourmet food basket. Remember to ask about client food allergies to ensure you send gluten-free and vegan options when appropriate.

8. Portable phone charger or charging dock

• Anker PowerCore+ mini portable charger: $19.99

Source: Amazon

Portable phone chargers or charging docks make crowd-pleasing gifts for on-the-go clients.

9. K-Cup coffee sampler

• Sampler Pack for K-Cup Brewers (40 Count): $24.61

Source: Amazon

Know your client has a Keurig machine at home or the office? Send them a K-Cup sampler they can enjoy for weeks. They’re sure to think of you fondly each time they enjoy a freshly brewed cup.

10. Kindle

• Kindle e-reader: $79.99

Source: Amazon

Whether your client spends weeks on the road or simply has a long daily commute, a Kindle or other e-reader will be a welcome way to pass the time.

11. A water bottle they won’t throw away

• Custom CamelBak water bottles: Prices vary

Source: Camelbak

Let’s face it, we all have more leaky water bottles and superfluous fruit infusers than we know what to do with. But there’s nothing better than receiving a water bottle you’ll actually use. Consider a high-quality S’well or Camelbak option with your company’s branding.

12. Online classes

• Lynda: Basic membership, $19.99/month; Premium membership, $29.99/month
• Bluprint: Individual classes from $7.99; Annual plan, $79.99/year

Source: Bluprint

Give the gift of learning! Instead of quickly consumed snacks or trinkets, give your client an experience they’ll always remember. Consider a gift card to an online classroom where they can spend a few hours honing their cooking, photography, or software development skills.

13. BarkBox

• BarkBox subscription: 12 months, $22/month; 6 months, $25/month; Monthly, $29

Source: BarkBox

If you have a client with a four-legged best friend, consider a BarkBox subscription. Choose from a variety of subscription lengths and this service will deliver goodie boxes for cats or dogs directly to their door.

14. Better swag

• Clove & Twine customizable company gifts: Prices vary

Source: Clove & Twine

Chances are, company t-shirts you send clients will end up at their local thrift shop. Instead, invest in fashionable clothing and accessories with subtle company branding customers will actually want to wear.

15. A charity donation

If a material gift isn’t appropriate, make a charity donation in your customer’s name and let them know what that money will achieve. It’s a meaningful gesture that communicates your company values and honors theirs.

16. Beer brewing kit

• Northern Brewer Homebrew Supply: Kits starting at $49.99

Source: Northern Brewer Homebrew Supply

Let the beer lovers in your client roster concoct their own brews. And up the ante by including a pair of company-branded pint glasses.

17. Restaurant gift cards

Research the hottest new restaurants in your customer's area, or ask for hotspots they’d like to try, and get them a gift card. It allows them to unwind over a nice meal — and your name is sure to come up before dessert.

18. Bakery delivery

Is there anything better than an unexpected office delivery of fresh-baked goodies? That was a rhetorical question. Send over local doughnuts or pastries the whole team will enjoy.

19. Cook’s basket

• Williams Sonoma Gift Baskets: Prices vary

Source: Williams Sonoma

If your client spends their weekends whipping up gourmet delights, pick out a cookbook and pair it with a few non-perishable ingredients for the star recipe. For a more showstopping variation on this gift, opt for a prepared basket from Gourmet Gift Baskets or Williams Sonoma.

20. Catered Lunch

Everyone loves a good burrito or sandwich bar. This doesn’t have to be an extravagant catered lunch — just make sure to throw in some cookies for good measure.

21. Custom golf balls & tees

• ParGolf Supply Inc: Prices vary

Source: ParGolf

If your clients conduct most of their business on the golf course, consider custom balls or tees branded with your logo. If you’re local, invite them for a round on you as well.

22. Headphones

• Audio-Technica Professional Monitor Headphones: $69.00

Source: Amazon

In today’s open workspace, the importance of a good pair of headphones cannot be overstated. Give your clients a pair and they’ll think of you gratefully every time they drown out that chatty desk mate.

23. A handwritten note

• MOO custom notecards: Prices vary

Source: MOO

When in doubt, send a card. Always include a handwritten or personalized message with your gift. After all, if a corporate gift box falls in the woods without a note, does anyone actually hear it?

24. Self-Heating Mug

• Ember Mug: Starting at $99.95

Source: Ember

This gift is perfect for the tea or coffee lover who works from home. This smart mug keeps beverages at the desired temperature so they're never too hot or too cold.

25. Custom photo books

• Mixbook's photo books: Starting at $9:99 for a 20-page book

If you’ve recently put on an event for a client or you both shared plenty of moments together, a customer photo book can be a thoughtful and personal gift. Photo books can be placed in someone's home and office, and always serves as a reminder of your connection.

Company Gift Best Practices

Not sure where to start? These best practices will help you select the perfect gift every time:

1. Personalize your gifts.

Don’t order 30 wine of the month subscriptions and send them to all your clients — even the two that don’t drink and the one who’s told you several times how much they like beer. Consider your champion’s likes and hobbies, and source a gift that will be meaningful to them.

2. Don’t overdo it.

If your client pays $200 a year for your product/service and you send them a $300 coffee maker — that’s overdoing it. Keep gifts in proportion to how much a client’s company spends with you to ensure no one feels uncomfortable about the gift.

3. Think outside the holidays.

Don’t relegate gifts to the holiday season. Send tokens of appreciation throughout the year. By sending presents outside of December, you’ll avoid disappearing into a crowd of break room gift baskets sitting sadly in their cellophane. Plus, gifts are meant to show your clients you care about their business all 12 months, not just when they're up for annual review.

Don’t wait for a special occasion or holiday to remind your clients how much their business means to you. Send an "off-season" gift today, and you might even get a referral or two from your efforts.