Another year has finally come. Another year of building client relationships, impressing new customers, and promoting your business to the people that matter the most. Even though we are still in a global health crisis, now is not the time to slack off on client relations. In fact, establishing and nurturing your relationships with clients has become even more important during these difficult times.

You already know what it takes to solidify great client relationships. Excellent products or services with unparalleled customer support. But what can you do to go above and beyond, and retain clients for the long haul? In the past, the answer was simple - meet up with clients, take them out to dinner, and get to know them on a personal level. Thanks to COVID-19, though, in-person meetings have become far and few between.

But, the ancient art of gift giving is still in play! As we enter the third year of the pandemic with little to no physical interactions with our clients, now is the best time to upgrade your gift-giving game.

In this article, we will talk about the benefits of giving gifts to clients. We'll also share the guidelines to follow when choosing gifts for clients. And at the end--some of the best client gift ideas that you should definitely consider for 2022 and the years ahead.

Why Should You Give Gifts to Clients?

Giving out client gifts has been a long-standing tradition in the world of business. But why exactly do companies give gifts to each other? And why should you do the same? Here are the most noteworthy benefits of giving gifts to clients:

Standing Out

In a highly competitive world, you want to do everything you can to stand out from the competition. Giving corporate gifts to clients can help you do just that. When clients receive gifts from you, your brand is more likely to remain at the back of their heads. And when they are finally in need of your products or services, you'll be the first company that they have in mind.

Sign of Gratitude

Clients gravitate toward businesses that value and appreciate them. Giving corporate gifts is an excellent way to show your gratitude and make clients feel that they are not just another business transaction. They're important to you. And when clients feel that your brand is willing to go the extra mile without expecting anything in return, they are more likely to stick around and remain loyal customers.

Promotion

While self-promotion is not the main goal of giving client gifts, it still comes as a nice secondary benefit. Giving business gifts to clients is an effective way to promote your brand, even though that is not the effect you are going for. You can put a small logo on the gifts you give for an added touch of promotion.

Positive Impressions

For a new client, receiving a corporate gift will help them form a positive first impression of your business. It also helps eliminate any sort of buyers remorse. A thoughtful client gift can help erase any doubts and cement a good image of you in their mind.

Free Marketing

Certain marketing swag ideas can help provide free marketing for your brand. How? Well, when a client walks around wearing your branded T-shirt, they are essentially helping you increase brand awareness. They receive an awesome gift, and you get free marketing. Everyone wins.

Improved Customer Relationships

The main goal of giving corporate gifts is to improve client relationships. When you give a client a thoughtful gift, you are saying "We appreciate you, we thank you for your business, and we value our business relationship."

Things to Remember When Giving Client Gifts

Before you start looking for the best corporate gifts for your clients, let's talk about some things to keep in mind when choosing gifts for clients, first. Remember that everyone has different tastes, lifestyles, and beliefs. With that in mind, not every type of gift will work for every client. And not every type of gift will be appropriate for everyone.

That said, here are some client gift guidelines that you need to keep in mind when you send clients corporate gifts:

Consult HR

Some of your clients' companies may have certain policies about the gifts that their employees receive. For instance, some HR departments disallow gifts that are overly expensive. They may set limits on how much a gift can cost, and gifts that go beyond that limit must be reported to HR. To be safe, consult with your client's HR department to see if they have rules in place around gifts.

Be Careful With Humorous Gifts

Gifts that tickle the funny bone may be memorable, but they can often be a hit or miss. If you know a client well enough that you are familiar with their sense of humor, go ahead and give them that gag gift. But when in doubt, stick to safer gift ideas. It may not be worth the risk of offending an important client and losing them for good.

Don't Use The Gift To Advertise

Blatantly advertising your brand is not the point of corporate gifts. So, stick to company swag ideas that don't come off too sales-y. The gift itself is a way to self-promote. So, there is really no need to stick your logo everywhere. A subtle, small logo on a water bottle or t-shirt is fine. But if you overdo it, the client won't really enjoy the gift - defeating the purpose.

Be Sensitive

Always be mindful of your clients' religions, dietary restrictions, and lifestyles when picking out gifts. The last thing you want is to give an insensitive gift to a valuable client. For instance, some clients may not eat meat while some may abstain from alcohol. When in doubt, go for a safer gift that cannot possibly offend. There are tons of options - as you'll soon discover.

Avoid Expensive and Cheap Gifts

Most people consider overly expensive gifts as inappropriate and sometimes even embarrassing. Avoid giving gifts that feel burdensome to the recipient. There is no specific threshold to follow, so you have to play it by ear. At the same time, you don't want to give out overly inexpensive gifts. This could make your company look cheap.

Find an appropriate price point and stick to it. Similarly, consider your budget. The goal is to give high-quality client gifts, but you don't want to break the bank in doing so.

Give VIP Gifts in Private

VIP gifts are special, but it can be inappropriate to hand them to your recipients in front of their colleagues unless you are giving everyone the same gift. As much as possible, hand gifts to your VIPs in a private setting to avoid any negative impressions from others.

Personalize

Personalize your gifts as much as possible. Consider your clients' interests when deciding what to give them. For example, if your client is an avid golfer, golf gloves will make a great gift. Or if your client always has a coffee in their hand during meetings, perhaps an insulated coffee mug will be best. Pick up on clues, be it from conversations, social media, or the information you can get from their associates.

At the very least, include a thoughtful handwritten note with your gift. Make sure that it has your client's name on it so that they know that the gift was specially prepared for them. Adding a personalized message inside goes a long way in showing that you didn't just send the same gift to multiple clients - even if you did!

Best Client Gift Ideas For 2022

If you're stumped on what kind of gift to give to your clients this year, we don't blame you. There are just so many to choose from. That's why we've come up with a list of some of the best corporate gifts that your clients are sure to appreciate:

COVID-19 Hygiene Kits

As the virus continues to mutate, proper protection is a must--now more than ever. A COVID-19 hygiene kit is a highly practical gift whether your client works from home or on-site. Here's what your kit should include:

• Hand sanitizer
• Disinfectant wipes
• Masks
• Disinfectant spray
• Hand soap

Work-From-Home Kits

More than half of the workforce is still working from home, and we might not be going back to the office just yet. Why not give your clients something to make their work-from-home days a little brighter?

Here are some great products to include in a work-from-home kit:

• A neck pillow
• Hygiene essentials (hand sanitizer, surface wipes, etc.)
• Office supplies
• A desk plant
• Noise-canceling earbuds
• A custom coffee mug
• Gourmet snacks
• Scented candles
• And so on!

If you want to customize your own work-from-home kit, check out our customizable client gift baskets!

Office Supplies

While they are not exactly unique corporate gifts, office supplies are always "safe" and practical options. Most people appreciate something that they can use on a daily basis, especially when they don't have to buy it for themselves. Consider supplies like:

• Banded journal or notepad
• High-quality pen
• Durable stapler or tape dispenser
• Calculator
• 2022 desk calendar

Apparel

Shirts, hoodies, caps, and other types of branded apparel make great client gifts. For one, most people won't throw away a good piece of clothing. Moreover, you get free advertising when clients walk around wearing your branded apparel!

• T-shirts
• Hoodies or jackets
• Baseball caps or beanies
• Shoes
• Socks
• Bags

Tech Accessories

The best thing about tech accessories as corporate gifts is that people perceive them as high-value--even if they aren't expensive. Here are some of the best tech accessories that you can give as client gifts:

• Flash drives
• Portable chargers
• Wireless earbuds
• Noise-canceling headphones
• Computer mice
• Webcams
• Wireless speakers

Better yet, gift your clients with our Tech Lover Swag Pack, containing everything that a tech lover needs to get ahead of the game.

Green Thumb Kits

A green thumb kit is one of the most unique client gift ideas out there. Have your clients have fun with gardening by giving them a kit that includes:

• Seeds (choose plants that are easy to grow and are low-maintenance)
• Soil infused with nutrients
• Small plant pots
• Gardening gloves
• A trowel or spade
• A small watering can or spray container

Gourmet Food Baskets

What's better than a gift basket full of food? A gift basket full of gourmet food! Treat your clients with special gift baskets that contain:

• Gourmet snacks
• Gourmet cheeses
• Fresh fruits or jams
• Good-quality wine
• Pastries
• Deli meats
• High-quality chocolate

Luxury Gifts

If you want to give something special to your VIP clients, here are some high-end gifts that you might want to consider:

• A leather journal
• Cuff links
• A high-quality coffee maker
• Designer perfume or cologne
• A wooden chessboard
• Fancy liquor or wine glasses
• A wireless charging pad
• Truffle
• Tickets to a game or gift certificates to a fancy restaurant or hotel

Travel Gear

Help your clients get ready for their next business trip by gifting them with travel gear. Not only is this type of gift practical, but your clients will remember you every time they pack their suitcase. And, let's face it - these make for an incredibly thoughtful gift for clients. Here are some examples of travel gear you can give to your clients:

• A neck pillow
• Noise-canceling headphones
• A portable charger
• A passport holder
• Bag tags
• Tracker tags
• A travel blanket
• A sleeping mask
• Travel organizers
• A durable phone case

Strengthen Your Business Relationships With Client Gift Boxes From Swag Bar

Picking out the best client gifts is not easy, especially if you have a lot of clients on your gift list. Luckily, Swag Bar is here to make corporate gifting a hundred times easier for you with our on-point custom swag gifts.

Choose from our extensive list of corporate gift boxes with various themes like Keep it Green and Child From the 80s-90s. On our site, you'll find the perfect gift basket without issue. We're a quick and easy solution to finding great gifts for clients.

Don't see a theme that you like? Customize your own! Simply pick out a design, choose your products, and we'll take care of the rest. Here at Swag Bar, we make corporate gifting a breeze. Contact us today and let our talented team help you create the best business gift.