Corporate Christmas gifts: what lasts, and what ends up at the bottom of a drawer

Every office has a drawer. Pens, power banks, notebooks, a thermos or two, all with logos. Nobody throws them away, but nobody uses them either. This is the true measure of corporate gifting: not how much we spent, but how many items ended up in that drawer.

The three recurring mistakes

The first: the logo is too big. A gift is a gift because it belongs to the person receiving it. If at first glance the item is an advertising vehicle, we have not given a gift – we have handed out ad space. The right approach is usually for the brand to be present without being the most conspicuous thing about it – on an accompanying card, inside the box, on the packaging.

The second: everyone gets the same thing. A partner, a supplier and our own colleague each have a different relationship with the company. The same package for all three says that we did not give it any thought.

The third: starting too late. This is the most expensive mistake, because by then we are no longer choosing – we are buying whatever is left.

What recipients really look at

Three things, in this order. First, is this meant for me, or was it sent out in bulk. Second, can I take it home – because something the family will use or eat at home will not become a superfluous object. And third, what does it say about me if I put it on display.

This third point is why most corporate gifts fail. A logo mug on a desk tells visitors that its owner is holding another company’s advertisement. A beautiful box with something handmade inside sends no such message.

The question is not how much we spent. The question is how many items ended up at the back of the drawer.

Quantity and timing

Most companies hand out their corporate Christmas gifts in December – but the decision has to be made in October. With handmade products this is not a courtesy request: hand-packing a hundred boxes cannot be rushed, and neither can the maturing of the biscuits.

A schedule that works:

September–October: settle headcount and budget, request a sample.

End of October: decide and place the order, plus the wording of any custom accompanying card.

November: production and packing.

First half of December: handover – in person or by delivery.

Those who keep to this can choose. Those who start in November choose from whatever is left.

The budget

In practice, three tiers tend to emerge. The wide circle – every colleague, every partner – usually at a lower unit price, in larger quantities. The inner circle – key partners, long-standing clients – at a higher unit price. And the select few, where a bespoke solution comes in.

The GALAMBOM box costs €4.20, or €4.00 from ten boxes. For larger quantities we make a separate offer, and the accompanying card can carry the company’s own message. Our table blessing placemat is also coming soon – a good choice wherever people share a meal.

The tax treatment of gifts – entertainment, business gifts, fringe benefits – differs from company to company and by legal category. It is worth checking this with your accountant before you finalise the budget.

What you can ask us for

A sample before you decide. A custom accompanying card with your company’s own message. A counter display if the gifts are to be handed out at reception or at an event. And delivery to one address or to several, whichever is simpler.

Our corporate gifts page describes the options in detail, and you can read more about working with us as a reseller on our resellers page. If you would like a quote for a specific headcount, write to us – we reply within one working day.

One last thought

A corporate gift is not good because it reminds people of the company. It is good because the recipient is glad to take it home. If that happens, they will remember the company too – just not because its name was written on it.