It’s hard to believe, but 2019 is drawing to a close and it’s time to show some love to the employees and clients who have contributed to your success this year.
Holiday gifting can be tricky to navigate, and a poorly executed program or plan can end up turning a positive into a negative. Long lead times, incorrect orders, poor quality gifts, and gifts that just don’t seem to match the expectations of the recipient are all pitfalls of holiday gifting. We’ve compiled this useful 2019 Holiday Gifting Guide to help navigate the perils of holiday gifting and ensure your plan hits with maximum impact, delivering the ROI you should expect from something that is truly an investment in your business.
Who – Identify who you’re giving gifts to. Be thoughtful about your list, being cognizant of relationships between potential recipients so that one client doesn’t receive something when another client is overlooked entirely. We’ve seen this happen many times, and it’s important to be intentional about putting together your list so that no one feels slighted. No need to go overboard here, but this is an important part of the process, and one that is often overlooked.
What – What someone does or doesn’t receive can send a powerful message, so make sure you are sending the right message. Make sure that clients of same size receive equivalent gifts, and that employees feel equally valued by their gift based on factors such as time with the company, specific contributions this year, etc. Many people get in the mindset of “people should be happy they receive anything, and it’s the thought that counts.” While this may be true, if that is your mentality to holiday gifting, you’re not going to maximize your ROI, and may be better off not gifting at all. We’ve heard too many stories of people feeling slighted by a $5 coffee gift card, cheap water bottle, or inedible arrangement, so just know that what you are giving is really important to people and is considered a reflection of how much you value them.
Where – The delivery of your gift can be an important part of the decision making process. Are you planning to mail your gifts? If so, what is the packaging like? The presentation can be as impactful as the gift itself, so make sure that you have considered and budgeted for packaging to maximize the impact of your gift. If you’re planning to hand deliver gifts, that’s a great way to get some important facetime with the recipient and really ups the personalization and perceived value of the gift. Another great option is to create a holiday gifting online portal where you can provide recipients with a specific amount of “points” they can spend in the online store. Points can be awarded based on number of years (as a client or employee), annual spend, or any other number of factors you can determine to give each recipient a value that ladders up to your desired budget. The online store is a great way to provide customization and ensure everyone receives something they love, because they got to pick it!
When – It’s important to stay somewhere between the October-January timeline if it’s truly being given as a “holiday” or “year end” gift. If you get much past January it starts to feel like an afterthought and not very well organized. If you feel your timeline slipping for one reason or another, it’s a good idea to send out a nice note to let the recipient know that a special gift is headed their way in the coming months. Even the nicest gift can turn into an afterthought if it’s received months after the occasion, so try your best to get your gifts out by end of January, and if you can, get in front of the crowd and stand out by landing your gift between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Why – giving a gift is great, but including a personalized note to the recipient is critical to maximizing the impact. Let them know how valuable they have been to you, and how much you appreciate their contributions as an employee, vendor, client, or cheerleader for your organization. Try to include specific examples to make it feel personal, and don’t be shy about tying the message to the gift itself. It’s always great to tie the gift to a fun theme or message so the recipient knows you picked that gift for a particular reason. Again, the thought you put into the gift can be as important as the gift itself, and your recipient will appreciate these personal touches.
We’ve put together a variety of catalogs from some of our favorite vendors to help make selecting your holiday gifts a breeze! Check out the catalogs below with accompanying descriptions, and contact your Imprint Engine sales rep to get you mocks and pricing based on your selections. Options to fit every style, occasion, and price point. If you don’t see it below, just ask…we can customize pretty much anything you can think of!
Home goods, electronics, gift sets, and more
This well rounded catalog contains a variety of high end kitchen wares, home goods, electronics, gift sets and more from a wide variety of brands at a wide variety of price points.
Stormtech
Top quality outerwear brand that is sure to impress the most discerning recipient on your list.
High end electronics and office tech
Cool electronics, office tech, travel gear, and more.
Value and Variety – price points for everyone
Great variety of bags, drinkware, outdoor gear, household goods, custom food products, and more.
Name Brand Apparel
Awesome name brand apparel from top trending brands like Nike, Carhartt, Ogio and more.
The North Face
This legendary brand speaks for itself. Check out a variety of collections and decoration methods.
Patagonia
Everyone’s favorite environmentally friendly, top quality, love it for life brand.
Name Brand Electronics
The ultimate high end gift for anyone on your list. Explore highly coveted brands and products like Beats noise canceling headphones, Apple Airpods, and more.
High End Drinkware
See the hottest brands in drinkware including Yeti, Arctic, Miir, and more.
Gifts for Millenials
Modern brands for your younger recipients. Choose from a selection of drinkware, outerwear, and general gifts for your millennial employees and clients.
Food Gifts
Your ultimate source for food related gifts, most of which include fun reusable packaging.
Kanata Blankets
Some of the cosiest most customizable blankets out there. Seasonally appropriate and very high end feel.
Origaudio – High end electronics, bags, and more.
This awesome brand has the latest and greatest in technology, bags, and accessories. Available with no Minimum Order, experience total customization at a reasonable price for even your smallest list of recipients.
Outdoor Gear and Travel Accessories
Great value driven gifts for outdoor enthusiasts including a variety of backpacks, drinkware, and smaller items like pens. If you have a lot of gifts to give on a limited budget, this is a good resource.
Woodchuck – Made In The USA, Buy one, plant one!
Check out this awesome selection of wood products and accessories made in the USA. Woodchuck plants a tree for every product they sell, so your gift also includes a message that you care about the environment.
Thank you for exploring our 2019 Holiday Gift Guide! Contact your Imprint Engine rep, or email [email protected] to get started on your order today.