Economically, last year's winter season was a bit gloomier than usual.  Smart companies will take this opportunity to get themselves noticed and remembered with a thoughtful gesture or seasonal gift for their clients!

Rather than heading straight to your favorite promo company, give this one some thought.  What would you like to receive as a gift... a personal gesture of thanks may go further than a key chain with your logo on it?  Afterall, it is the thought that counts.  These are our picks for the Top 5 clients gifts for this season!  Remember: creativity will get you far.




1. The Client Gift Basket - A themed gift basket is always welcomed with open arms.  If you're looking to hit all of your clients with one general gift idea, a gift basket is usually the way to go.   Potential themes are as follows: Fall, Halloween, Environment (Green), Breast Cancer Awareness, Wine, New Years, Coffee, Sports, Animals, Winter Wonderland.  Consider implementing a theme that goes well with your brand and incorporate your corporate colors if possible.

Contents:

• Something permanent - Add something permanent that can potentially be kept in your client's office as a reminder of you. 
• Something handmade or baked - This will always pull on their heart strings. Adding your company colors into cookies or baked goods is a great way to bring your brand into the basket without being over the top.
  
• Something that reminds them of your company - As mentioned above, cookies with your brand colors work.  In addition, maybe you add a coffee mug or a planter with your logo for their desk (again, this is dependent upon theme).  Try to keep the logos to a minimum, but it's a good idea to have it in there somewhere.
• Thoughtful Card - Handwritten cards are few and far between in this digital world.  A handwritten note will always be noticed.
• Donation Certificate - In the case of a foundation or organization theme, a donation may be a necessary addition.  Organizations are usually able to print multiple certificates for use in client gifts or to provide you with a digital certificate that may be printed or reproduced.
  

2. Tickets To A Show or Sporting Event - Put your relationship building efforts to good use.  Have you learned over the years that your client loves the NY Giants or Broadway?  They're surely to be impressed that you were listening.

3. Baked Goods / Handwritten Card - If you're looking for a budget option that still gets you noticed, maybe your time is a good investment.  This may also depend upon where your clients are located in proximity to your office.  Keep in mind, some baked goods are shippable.  Try not to choose items which will melt or crumble easily when shaken around a bit.  As mentioned above, a handwritten card will get you noticed.  It adds that humanistic element that many companies are lacking today.

4. A Unique Must-Have - If you're better at shopping than baking, and you still want to be remembered, go with something unique.  There are always new innovations like travel mugs that plug into a car lighter.  If you find something that your clients don't already have and will want to use, that's a great gift.  At the sake of sounding repetitive, I have to mention... if you're purchasing a gift, you must put a handwritten card with it to be effective.  You need to lend a personal aspect to this gift.

5. Gift Certificates - If you're working with clients all over the country, consider checking Yelp.com for a highly rated wine bar or restaurant in your client's area.  Everyone loves to be taken out to dinner (and/or drinks), and they'll be thinking of your during (and in remeberance of) this experience.  Therefore, be sure to pick out a nice place, and send a note to let them know how much you appreciate them.  Also, gift certificates are a great way to save on shipping if you're dealing with numerous clients in multiple locations.