How To Give Promotional Gifts Externally And Internally This Holiday

It may seem a bit strange to start talking about the holiday season already – but when it comes to promotional gifts, it’s never too early to start conceptualizing.

We believe in being proactive – not reactive. High-quality gifts can take a while to produce, so it’s best to start planning early. In addition, if you put some thought into the process of creating specialized promotional internal and external gifts, the results will astonish you!

In this article, we’ll take a look at two of the most common recipients of promotional gifts – executives (external) and employees (internal), and discuss strategies for designing and creating the perfect gifts for both external and internal recipients.

Executive Gifts

The gifts you give to an executive are a reflection of your relationship – both with your clients and your brand. The holidays are a critical time in your business-client relationship – it’s often the last point of contact you’ll have with a client before the holidays and the New Year.  

Because of this, holiday gifts are a perfect opportunity to really impress executives, demonstrate thoughtfulness, and drive home your marketing campaign.

Naturally, this means that the gifts you give to executives should be quite a bit more thoughtful than your typical “leave-behinds” (pens, beer koozies, shirts, notebooks). You need to give them, a meaningful item that’s unique, useful, and personalized.

There are a variety of options available to you in the modern promotional gift space – things such as high-quality apparel, utility-type products, and travel items are popular. A branded leather Dopp kit, for example, is a useful and attractive product – and if you get it monogrammed with the executive’s initials, you’re sure to make an impression.

So put some thought into individual gifts for each important executive – and you’re sure to succeed.

Employee Gifts

Of course, executives aren’t your only valuable team members. Your employees need to be recognized, too – and everyone loves feeling valued and appreciated. Holiday “thank-you” gifts are a great way to spread cheer among employees, and thank them for another fantastic year.

There are two guidelines you should follow when selecting employee gifts:

1. Keep It Practical – The best gifts are things that are actually useful to employees – items they can incorporate into their everyday lives. For this reason, tech gadgets like branded Bluetooth speakers, phone docks and cases, duffel bags, and high-quality apparel like windbreakers and light jackets are popular. When in doubt, choose something that can be used by everyone – regardless of hobbies, interests, etc.

 2. Go Gender Neutral – Don’t select gifts based on gender. All your employees should receive similar gifts – don’t get things like perfume and jewelry for female employees, and tools/sports equipment for male employees. Choose gender-neutral, useful items like water bottles, mugs, jackets, and electronic accessories. Failing to do so will lead to discontent among your staff – nobody likes getting something they don’t want just because they’re of a certain gender.

Partner With Us For Expert Advice And High-Quality Products!

At The Forefront Group, we’re not “yes men or yes women.” We have years of experience in the gift-giving space – and we can provide you with excellent recommendations for both employee and executive gifts. 

So partner with us. We’ll help you create a strategy, buy and brand/personalize the right products, and ensure your success this holiday season. Contact us today!