Wondering where to start with planning your corporate Christmas gifts? These tips will make the festive season a breeze

Be it a small thank you or a lavish gesture, corporate Christmas gifts can gain you serious brownie points during the festive season. At Hotel Chocolat, we’d like to think we know a thing or two about making festive treats as lovely as can be.

So we’ll let you in on a few little secrets that make the whole process of buying and sending corporate Christmas gifts that bit easier.

Corporate Christmas gifts: why treating your clients is a good idea

The act of giving is all about showing appreciation for those around you, especially during the festive season – and that extends beyond family and friends. When your clients have facilitated your success throughout the year, recognising this support is a classy touch that won’t go unnoticed.

Whether it’s strengthening a new relationship or nurturing a long-standing partnership, people remember the little things. Your care and generosity are a reflection of how you do business.

Top tips for organising your corporate Christmas gifts

Start early

Even just deciding who you’re sending presents to can take some time. Then, when the gifting process is out of your hands, Christmas is the busiest time for postal services and retail as a whole.

The last thing you want is a panic over whether your corporate Christmas gifts will arrive in time. Get the wheels in motion early to prevent unneeded stress later down the line. Worst case scenario, your presents arrive early — and we’re not convinced there’s any such thing. Who doesn’t love a few presents waiting under the tree in the build-up to the big day?

Set a budget – and stick with it

Decide on your bigger-picture budget, then divide it up to see how much you can spend per person. In doing this, remember it’s the thought that counts, not the cost. There are plenty of affordable options out there, and at Hotel Chocolat we’ve made it easy to browse by individual or total budget with our carefully curated gift collections.

Whichever gifts you choose, leave a margin for delivery costs and gift wrapping so you don’t go over budget.

Make sure you have an up-to-date list of recipients and addresses

If there’s anything you need to get right, it’s your recipients’ names. It sounds obvious, but a misspelt name can distract from the best intentions. And unless you’ll be giving your gifts in person, make sure you have their addresses too.

It’d be worse still if they didn’t receive the present at all! See if your clients have moved location since you last updated your records, and double-check all of those names.

Choose a supplier with a corporate gifting service

Having your own dedicated team of elves certainly helps, especially if you’re sending out gifts to a large group of people. For the best selection of gifts, choose a supplier with a dedicated corporate gifting service. You can trust they know the ropes inside out when it comes to making everything run smoothly – from wrapping the gifts beautifully to guaranteeing they’re delivered in time.

Select gifts that reflect your company values

Ask yourself how you want your business to be perceived, and whether the gifts you’re eyeing up are a good reflection of your values. After all, you want your brand to be remembered for all the right reasons.

That doesn’t mean gifting promotional goods covered in your company name — just something that aligns with your brand in a subtle, sophisticated way. If you pride yourself on your sustainability credentials, for example, a novelty gift that will only be discarded in the following weeks simply won’t do. Instead, choose something a little more considered – like Hotel Chocolat’s gift collections, free from plastic wrapping and always made from sustainably sourced cacao.

Check any dietary requirements

If your gifts are edible, this is an important one to check. Your clients may be vegan, have allergies, or avoid alcohol, which are all key factors to consider. If you’re struggling to know for sure, perhaps consider an allergen-free option in case.

Our expanded vegan* range is by no means a compromise on elegance or flavour. (*Please just be aware that, as our vegan chocolate is prepared in the same environment as our milk chocolate, we can’t guarantee it’s free from dairy traces.)

Add a personal touch

The most thoughtful gifts are personal. Depending on how well you know your client (and how much time you have) handpicking gifts you know are on their wish lists may not be a realistic option, but you can still make corporate Christmas gifts extra special.

Be sure to add a personalised note, nodding to something distinctive about each client or your relationship for a heartfelt touch.

Consider the presentation

In the same way that the gift itself reflects how you do business, its presentation matters too. A gift wrapped with love, care and attention to detail? That’s an approach it definitely doesn’t hurt to be associated with! If your corporate gifting supplier of choice offers gift-wrapping, you can probably tick this box by… well, just ticking a box.

At Hotel Chocolat, we have gift-wrapping options fit for Santa’s workshop, including festive sleeves and ribbon-tied wicker chocolate hampers. Your corporate Christmas gifts are sure to stand out.

Luxury corporate Christmas gifts from Hotel Chocolat

If there’s a gift that’s certain to put a smile on someone’s face, it’s chocolate. Our corporate gifting collection is a treasure trove of mouthwatering delights, featuring the ever-popular Velvetiser Hamper, The Classic Christmas Luxe, the Chocolate Dipping Adventure and much, much more.

To recruit a helping hand in your festive endeavours, learn more about our corporate gifting service. Looking for further inspiration? Peruse our ultimate guide to corporate gifting.