Thank You Gifts: Complete Buyer’s Guide

Thank you gifts are tangible expressions of gratitude, contributing to employee engagement, client loyalty, and enhanced business relationships. Whether you’re sending a gift after closing an important deal or want to show appreciation for an employee’s efforts, Corporate Gift has options for every occasion. Follow our guide to learn how to master giving corporate thank you gifts.

A simple thank you note may be the most classic way of demonstrating gratitude in the workplace, but a well-chosen thank you gift can have a lasting impact, creating a memorable experience for your recipient. 

Expressing gratitude improves your employee’s well-being beyond the workplace. In fact, a report by Gallup-Workhuman found that 74% of employees who receive recognition in the workplace categorized their overall well-being as thriving.  Employers focused on employee appreciation experience elevated levels of employee engagement and retention.

We recommend gift budgets between $50 to $100 per gift for small companies and $75 to $150 per gift for enterprises. This range may vary depending on the nature of your relationship with the recipient and the occasion's significance. It’s important to think of thank you gifts as an investment in the health and longevity of your professional relationships. Cheap gifts may get the job done but they don’t deliver the wow factor that you want, nor are they an appropriate way to demonstrate sincere gratitude. Quality gifts are more likely to leave a lasting impression and be cherished by the recipient. 

Thank you gifts make the biggest impact when delivered at the right time. A study found that recognition is most impactful when given at key temporal landmarks. A thank you gift sent at the start of a new quarter or at the conclusion of a major project can serve as an aspirational boost for future collaborations. Here are some of the most common occasions to give a thank you gift: 

• Employee reaches a milestone or performance achievement
• Closing a deal or after an important meeting
• Receiving a strong referral that leads to a valuable lead
• Completing a partnership or collaboration
• Following a conference to thank speakers or attendees

Read on to see gift examples for each of these occasions. 

The fun part of gifting is coming up with the perfect gift. But if you’re new to thank you gifts, we’ve created a list of recommendations on how to choose the right gifts. 

Tailor the gifts to the recipients whenever possible. Thank you gifts should be about the recipient, not the giver. A survey found that gifts with company logos are least preferred as business partner gifts. Skip customizing the gift with your company logo and opt for adding a personal video message or personalizing the gift by adding their name on it instead. Think engraved accessories, a debossed journal, or embroidered apparel. Corporate Gift offers personalized gift options that give a lasting impression:

If gifting to clients, take note of their gift acceptance policies. Media, financial, nonprofit, or government-related industries may adhere to anti-bribery laws. It’s important to familiarize yourself with each company’s guidelines before gifting to avoid potential fines. When in doubt, don’t be afraid to ask. A good rule of thumb is to be cautious and frugal. You can opt for generally acceptable gifts like perishable items, shareable meals, or low-value branded items.

Determining the occasion for a corporate thank you gift is a good first step in choosing your gift. Consider the recipient’s interests, personality, and position when deciding what they might like. Here are some ideas:

Recognizing employees for their outstanding performance or going above and beyond their responsibilities are suitable occasions for a corporate thank you gift.

Sending a thank you gift after closing a deal or after a particularly important meeting can increase the likelihood of your client doing business with you again.

When someone refers your business or provides valuable leads, a corporate thank you gift can express appreciation and encourage future referrals.

Thank you gifts are a nice way to thank partners or collaborators for their contributions to joint ventures, successful partnerships, or collaborative projects.

Thank attendees, speakers, or sponsors of events or conferences by providing thoughtful gifts that reflect the occasion. This helps create a positive impression and encourages continued engagement.

If you have a specific gift in mind, like a budget-friendly snack box or a new gadget for your IT team, Corporate Gift has plenty of gift categories to help you pick.

Food gifts are often well-received and cost-effective. Just remember dietary restrictions or preferences.

Thank you gifts are often given after reaching a milestone or achievement, meaning that they are a call for celebration. Cheers to employee and client appreciation!

Give your recipient a truly unique experience by allowing them to select their own thank you gift. At Corporate Gift, we have made it easier to show thanks with our curated collections for every occasion – including thank you gifts for business milestones, client referrals, VIP clients, new clients, and everyday thank you gifts. Simply select your budget and send the gift to your recipient with just an email address. They will receive an email notification to choose their gift and send the physical gift to the address of their choice.

When you make it easier to say thank you, everyone reaps the rewards. Expressing gratitude not only benefits your employees, but research shows that gifting actually can make you happier too. Shared gratitude improves workplace culture and builds stronger relationships. With Corporate Gift’s curated collections, it has never been easier to take your business to the next level by sending a thank you gift.