Corporate gift ideas

[Fishingforworkideas]

I need to source some gifts for corporate clients. Not a super formal industry, but VIPs nonetheless. If you've received a corporate gift you loved in the past, can you share what it was?

Can you otherwise share ideas of what's currently in or trendy (could be food, tech gadget, anything really).

Budget 50-100 pounds.

I think a lot depends on the industry you are in / buying for .
About 15 years ago my db was given a small but comprehensive tool kit ( he's a mechanic) which I know he still uses on his own car .

When DAB radios were brand new I was given a small kitchen one which up untill last week was used every day .
Unfortunately for some reason it has conked out but tbf it's about 18 yrs old !

As a leaving gift I was given a small but scary sharp pen knife which I still use 8 years later on a almost daily basis.

It's harder if you need to get the same gift for a group of people, but I would say spend the money on best quality rather than showy and fall apart stuff

Or local maybe - is the area you are based in known for anything?

A chilli bottle with the company name engraved on... still use it every day!

We did some very fancy tea with a china cup and saucer set, went down very well, but have also done laptop bags (decent brand), sound bars and a drinks cooler, bit of a mixed bag, but really does depend on your industry (UK?)

The best thing we've had was Apple Bluetooth ear phones and a swimming bag (waterproof) and towel. I think anything practical is always good. A picnic set would be handy or someone like that

Depends on context especially if guests are overseas, I once gave Fortnum and Mason tea and biscuits to some Japanese clients visiting our London office and they were besides themselves. I'd recommend thinking local or with some connection to either the company or the event they are being presented at.

Having said that the mini screwdriver set I got 20 years ago from IBM is still going strong!

Thank you, some great ideas here. The industry is tech where people unfortunately already tend to get quite a lot of stuff which makes it tricky.

It is an anniversary event in the UK and we'll be gifting to UK customers.

I was considering something from Fortnum and Mason, just because it's something they wouldn't necessarily buy for themselves but is still always nice. I was also considering the new s'wheat water bottles. Something new they may not yet have would be good but unfortunately I have no idea what's trendy.

One of our competitors gave engraved Stanley cups to all their employees when I had never even heard of a Stanley cup at that point!

I have given lots of free tech company gifts.

The most popular ones have been decent branded items that are fairly universally liked - a Chilli bottle, a Yeti tumbler, a KeepCup coffee cup, various Patagonia fleeces etc.

I tend to give away the non branded stuff as we’d otherwise have a cupboard full of blankets, picnic kits, various computer accessories, endless black rucksacks etc.

One thing I was given recently that I loved was an air plant. You literally never need to do anything with it.

Our team/boss got a hamper once which he shared amongst team. I think it was M&S and it was much appreciated. I think Fortnum & Mason would go down a treat.

I got given some mini Bluetooth speakers once that came in handy.

@Porridgeislife I forgot about coffee cups, I think I'll investigate that. Quite handy for the London crowd and I often despair how many people still use disposable cups for their daily coffee.

Never heard of an air plant so that's quite innovative, I'll look into this too.

I think if you are going to get a water bottle it would have to be something a bit different as I would imagine most people have already got at least one or two.

Something like this may be suitable,

https://www.amazon.co.uk/HANDYSPRING-Reminder-Tracker-Rechargeable-Hydration/dp/B0BJZZTRMF/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.SvITMBmpaL5FuHN46C4DDhSl7kBcekzGY5XIkKLLMeIusiBMQy8-VEbfFISemiqf08Tr0AXyPGZH4-rM-cOasEfJZ_bjhgfC-h-_DFWXs4MqWZS9ijVjhGshvjQ0T70wOEM7aOOpAoI9dpdW7y_Q67P5jDa4HuYiCobv7j_Za5VL7hUPdwlngXnbWMRbJCoVu5nAhZfO8Au3Kec1JIermQ.SIMhQfKjzOtEfFFtJd_Qnr3Wu7nQOEolWRhb2ya2DzQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=smart+water+bottle+with+app&qid=1725007774&sr=8-4

From a different perspective, I wouldn't say I like the giving of corporate gifts - so much waste - VIPs will have everything they want or need already - they are likely to have reached peek stuff! Water bottles - what VIPs want company branded freebies. Give them a bottle of champagne, they can at least give it away if they don't drink. Think about an experience you can give them - something of value that they will use and if they don't there's no waste involved.

Thanks!

@gottoget totally agree, I don't like it much either. At least my company is finally moving away from cheap branded giveaways at conferences and I'm seeing a real shift in the industry around those which is good.

In this case the gifts don't have to be branded so hopefully it's a bit better. And I'll make sure to include consumables as they're less likely to get wasted.

I do like the idea of an experience, I'll have a think around that.

If you want experiences rather than things, make it something that all can participate in, or easily pass on.

Theatre/cinema vouchers, or an afternoon tea voucher at a hotel chain are always a hit in my circle. Make sure the afternoon tea location offers a GF and vegan option and you ought to be covered.

My favourite ever gift was, believe it or not, a Parker roller ball pen with a few refills. It's the comfiest pen I've ever used and I'm still using it 25 years later. I know we're a generation of keyboard tappers now, but don't overlook the value of a really nice pen. Some of us still like to write!