Business Owners’ Gift Guide

In Project Management by KathrineF3 Comments

Need help getting motivated, organized, and planning your corporate gift giving? Well, we’ve got some action items and gift ideas all lined up to help you out! Because, if you haven’t planned your gift giving for this holiday season, then you’re running out of time…

Make your List – list everyone that you need to recognize, thank, and connect with during the holiday season; this includes clients, colleagues, employees, partners, and prospects. Your goal should be to have your list completed before December 5th.

Create your Budget – begin with your total budget. Determine the per person budget which can be based on a percentage of your total budget, and should probably be weighted according to the type of relationship you have with the individual. Your goal should be to have your budget completed before December 10th.

Get Organized – in order to simplify the process, try to order as much as possible from the same source.  If ordering online, have gifts shipped directly to the recipient. Try to choose retailers and distributors who will still be around next year, in order to simplify reorders. Your goal should be to have all of your gift orders placed by December 15th.

Need help finding appropriate gifts and giving inspiration?

Clients – be sure to acknowledge your clients this holiday season. This could be as simple as a card, as nice as a bottle of wine or box of chocolates, or a personalized gift that you hand pick. Consider Send Out Cards, Tasting Room, Harry & David, or Kiva.

Colleagues and Partners – it’s a good time to show your appreciation for the partners and co-workers who help to make your business a success. Consider useful gifts for the office or thoughtful gifts personalized for the individual. Consider Uncommon Goods, Think Geek, or Cell Phone Shop.

Employees and contractors – while appreciation should not be limited to the holidays, this is certainly a time of year that warrants your expression of gratitude for the people who help support you throughout the year. Consider fun gifts that will allow them to enjoy their down time or experience something new. Consider The Wine Buyer, Haven’s , or Send Out Cards.

Here are some suggestions of where you might find such items at reasonable prices:

  • Send Out Cards – an easy way to send personalized holiday cards, gift cards, and small gifts for any occasion
  • Harry & David – various gift baskets of fruit, chocolate, cheese, and more
  • Tasting Room – wine by the bottle, the glass, or a sampling set
  • The Wine Buyer – mix and match cases of wine with free shipping
  • Uncommon Goods – many unique gift ideas
  • Think Geek – fun gift ideas for the geeks in your life
  • Cell Phone Shop – very affordable electronic accessories (not just for cell phones)

For those in Maine who want to shop local, there are some fantastic options:

  • L.L. Bean – lots of quality gift ideas from a Maine icon
  • Haven’s – handcrafted Maine candy, chocolates, and fresh roasted nuts. They also offer corporate branding.
  • Len Libby – Maine made chocolates, taffy, and fudge
  • Wine Wise – unique wine events and education in the Portland area

Consider some philanthropic options this year to really share the spirit of the season:

Consider using a service like charity navigator to review an organization before making a donation

If you have any additional tips that you have found helpful, or gift ideas that have been well received, please share with a comment!

 

In the spirit of full disclosure, please be aware that there may be affiliate links within this article. However, we never promote products or services based on any financial gain, only on our experience and the value that we believe you may gain.
 
 
 

Comments

    1. Author

      Catherine, Thank you for your comment! Yes, I highly recommend Wilbur’s and am sorry that I forgot to include you in my original post. Wilbur’s is another great local Maine company with fantastic gifts for any occasion. As a self diagnosed chocoholic, I frequent your Brunswick location. 🙂

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