It’s time to talk about the C word – yes, it’s August, which means we’re already talking all things branded Christmas merchandise in M&M HQ! Yes, fir real (sorry) – the festive season is one of the busiest times of year for promotional merchandise.
Putting the puns to one side though, now is the perfect time to start making your list, whether it’s for corporate Christmas gifts or festive office favours.
But why is it this such a popular time for promotional products? What are the benefits of surprising or thanking your teams or clients at this time of year – and what are the things you should be thinking about?
Christmas is a traditional time for celebration and gift giving, but as the end of the year approaches, it’s also a great time to say a big ‘thank you’ to your valued clients or teams. As December ramps up, people are generally in a positive mood, it’s a time of anticipation, maybe work starts to slow down a little, perhaps there’s time off with family or friends to look forward to, as well as a festive energy in the office.
Seasonal gifts can be a great opportunity to connect and engage with your clients and thank them for their loyalty or show your teams how much you appreciate them. And a carefully chosen, useful or relevant gift can surprise and delight the lucky recipient and make them feel valued.
So how do you pick that elusive product that’s every bit as good to give as to receive?
You may well already have some ideas in mind (quite possibly something you’d love to receive yourself) but before you click buy or place that order, let’s go back a few steps and think about the who, what and why.
What are you trying to achieve? Is it simply a ‘thank you’, for custom or a job well done? Do you want to spread some festive fun? What emotions are you hoping to invoke in the recipient? How do you want them to feel?
Take some time to think about your own brand and values too – and those of your target audience. Are you giving a client a lovely gift, but it’s something they are already likely to have? Is it something they will want to use and tell everyone about too? If you have distinct segments, you might want to consider different merchandise for each of them. And your internal teams may not appreciate the same gifts that you choose for your clients, so think about them as a separate project.
Allied to this is budget. When it comes to finding the ideal branded merchandise, big isn’t always better and more is not always, well more! Expensive or luxury gifts aren’t necessarily the ones that will make that lasting impression and really resonate or reflect your brand. Again, something thoughtful, unusual, personal or with an interesting backstory could well deliver a far better response and ROI.
Ideas and inspiration – let’s start with internal teams
If your employees are getting ready for a well-earned break, then what about some wellness gifts or items to help them make the most of their time off? That could be a gift box, stocking or branded bag of goodies for them to enjoy over the holidays. But it doesn’t need to just be food or drink related.
What about adding in a fleece blanket or some socks, for cosying up to a favourite film or the latest must-see box set? Or perhaps include some relaxation products, such as natural and sustainable aromatherapy balms, bath salts, sleep sprays or candles, to help bring some calm to the Christmas season.
Staying with a wellness theme, how about bespoke branded journals. Or even desktop gardens or seeded products. Brighten up the office with some new branded mugs, but personalise them with names, then add in a few luxury hot chocolate block sticks and candy canes.
If you have a diverse audience and are struggling with something to appeal to everyone, a gift card in a bespoke cracker with a personalised message from the leadership team means they can pick something themselves. It’s sure to be a winner.
Moving on to clients, partners or prospects
If you are looking for a simple gesture and brand reinforcement, then consider postal presents. Who doesn’t love an unexpected treat on their desk or doormat.
Branded advent calendars (especially the chocolate ones) are always a popular option with our clients, their teams and customers. They are the awareness gift that keeps on giving – or for 24 days anyway. There’s a wide range available to suit all tastes and budgets, from traditional, eco, sustainable or vegan to luxury options, but don’t forget to order early. And when we say early, now is not too soon!
You could always send your clients a Christmas tree. Or one that they can grow themselves anyway. Our eco-friendly alternative to traditional cards contains seeded matchsticks embedded with a Christmas Tree seed for lasting brand engagement.
If you are looking for something a little more substantial to say thank you, then hampers are often a go to item, but how many times are you left with a random box or packet of something that is still hanging around in the cupboard next Christmas?
Instead, we recommend that you create and curate your own (with our help of course). The benefit being that you can mix and match – maybe some food or drink items (branded cake jars or tubes for example) then add in any non-edible items you choose, whether it’s tech, stationery, leisure, luxury goods or even some socks (it is Christmas after all).
Interesting products and interesting backstories make great talking points. Whether it’s giving waste products a second lease of life (even things like coffee grounds, milk bottles, yoghurt pots, old fridges or seashells from restaurants) in everything from clothing to pens, or bags to umbrellas, or products supporting circular ecosystems or economies and even conservation initiatives, with innovation driving sustainable options, there is lots to choose from. Not forgetting our favourite ‘everlasting’ eternity pencil, that never needs sharpening.
And finally, it’s a wrapper’s delight
The team are not just on hand to help with sourcing the perfect gift.
From making up and sending out hampers, gift boxes or stockings to packing up and posting advent calendars, our fulfilment service can save you time, meaning that’s one more job you can tick off your Christmas to do list.
For help, advice or inspiration for all your branded Christmas merchandise and gifts, then get in touch with the team, book a meeting with us or pop in for a coffee at M&M HQ in Cheltenham to see a wide range of sample products (we might also have cake!).
