10 frequently asked questions about corporate gifts (A buyers guide)

In this blog post I answer 10 questions about corporate gifting by showcasing the gifts I have created, how they have been used, what impact these gifts have had and why you might want to consider building corporate gifts into your marketing strategy. 

Before we begin I have a word of caution about the kind of gifts that you give to your clients and staff, as not every corporate gift has the desired impact. Let me take you back to when I was a kid, I remember I was about 10 years old and my uncle would bring back freebies from the hotels he stayed at and he would also give me the corporate gifts he would receive when he travelled for work. You might wonder why I am telling you this in a blog post which is all about the positive impact that corporate gifts can have, well it brings me to the importance of creating the right corporate gifts. If you just buy an off the shelf gift with your logo on it, be prepared for your gift to go in the bin or end up in the hands of a 10 year old. If that 10 year old is your target market then you are doing a great job. If however you want your clients to remember you the next time they need your service, or you want them to recommend you, or you want your clients to shout about you on social media, then you must create more thoughtful gifts than the standard mass produced items that will most likely end up in landfill. 

This blog post is for anyone who has clients and staff they value, the smallest thoughtful gesture goes a long way, and it can make you stand out from the crowd. From large companies to sole traders if your business or organisation depends on good working relationships then corporate gifts are the perfect tool to help you maintain quality relationship with clients and staff. 

1. What are corporate gifts used for?

Corporate gifts & awards are used as a tool to reward, thank or recognise clients and staff that companies value. They tend to be a reflection of a companies brand values, and they echo the level at which a company operates. They are usually commissioned by marketing departments and they are budgeted for as part of a marketing strategy. 

Imagine you had a dream client, they are great to work with, they pay on time, they value what you do, they can't wait to work with you on the next project, they tell all of their contacts about what you do, and they are a super fan. Sounds amazing doesn't it!? Well a thoughtful, carefully chosen corporate gift can be a brilliant way of demonstrating your appreciation for your clients. And it can help you retain their business, and if the gift is high quality and desirable then other people will notice it and that might inspire them to become a new client. Creating gifts that keep on giving is the key component to creating successful corporate gift strategies. 

After such an uncertain time globally corporate gifts for staff and your supply chain are also more important than ever before. Do you have staff that have gone the extra mile? Do you have a supply chain that make your business extra special and without them you wouldn't have a business? Are your team working remotely and need to feel more connected? Do you want to encourage your team to prioritise their well being and you want to send them a gift that encourages that? Corporate gifts aren't just about promoting your company, they are about building connections and making the people that you value feel special.

2. Why should I invest in corporate gifts?

Everyone likes to feel special, valued and truly appreciated. And in business sometimes it isn't enough to just deliver the job that you have been paid to do. It is important to make sure that you stand out from your competitors and have the edge over them. Carefully chosen gifts not only help make your customers feel valued, they also can represent your companies brand values, and they can be there as a permanent reminder of the work you have done for your client. This means that when they need to commission your particular service you will be at the forefront of their mind. 

And as a company that might be working with a team remotely corporate gifts can help you re-connect, boost morale, encourage staff retention and loyalty. The right corporate gift can connect to people on emotional level and brighten their day, and during tough times we all need a boost more than ever.

3. When should I give corporate gifts?

This is a great question and my advice would be that the perfect corporate gift is given at the end of a contract or a project. I would also suggest that if you are trying to attract new clients or re-connect with clients, January is a great month to give a corporate gift. January is notoriously one of the toughest months of the year. All the festivities are over, it can be a long and cold month to get through, you might be thinking about the year ahead with trepidation, and making plans for your health and well being. What better time to connect with your client after all of the festivities of Christmas and New Year are over and perhaps they are planning their year ahead. Your competitors will be giving their gifts throughout the festive season in December and you will stand out from the crowd if you send it during January.

It might also be worth thinking about when your customers have a big event coming up, or a company landmark anniversary, or perhaps an end of tax year date that they have to spend a budget by. These are potentially times of the year that they might think about investing in your services. And a timely corporate gift could be just the thing to remind them that you are available. 

Corporate gifts are great for your clients, but awards can also be used to recognise staff for their outstanding achievements and they can be a way of thanking and motivating staff to continue to be loyal and hardworking team members. 

4. What makes Powder Butterfly's corporate gifts so different?

Here at Powder Butterfly our approach is to think about how we can unlock the uniqueness of our clients' business or organisation and deliver high quality British made gifts that represent our clients brand values.

Our Founder and Managing Director Corinne Lewis-Ward will personally design your corporate gifts. Corinne comes from an arts commissioning background so she will apply her years of experience within the arts to create a design that is totally unique to your company. just take a look at the products she has created to give you some idea of her style and versatility. You will have a one to one consolation with her where you will discuss your individual requirements for your bespoke designs. Alternatively Corinne has designed a range of gifts that are location-themed that you can buy from our online shop at anytime should you need a quick solution. All of our 'off the shelf' products can also be bought in bulk should you require larger quantities. 

It is important to us that the gifts we produce would be something that the recipient would use or buy anyway and that while your logo is important it is not the central focus of the gift. Telling a story about your company or organisation through the gift is also a way in which we can create something that really speaks to your clients, ad they will remember your company for all of the right reasons. 

Demonstrating how your gifts are made is an added feature that we can provide you with. All of our suppliers and artisan makers are based in Britain so our gifts are made to the high standards and we are more than happy to help you promote your commitment to buying British design and made goods.

5. What is the bespoke commissioning process like for this type of product?

Firstly there is a free consultation process that we go through in order to understand your aims, who the gift is for, your budget, your timeline, and what thoughts you might have regarding the type of gift and its theme. Once the consultation has been completed then we will come up with a proposal for your gifts, we will share previous commissions and processes and establish what it is that you are looking for. 

I should add that although our current retail collections are location themed, you are not limited to this as a theme, Corinne can design whatever artwork you need for your chosen theme. If you have artwork held within the archives of your business that she can use that can be the perfect starting point for a new commission. However it is not necessary if you don't have this type of content.

After this stage we will then create a unique design for you. The design will then be sent to you as a proof, there will be up to three amendments available to you should you need to make changes as part of our standard fee. 

Once a design has been agreed we will then produce a proof which you will sign off and then we will give you your estimated delivery date and your gifts will be put into production. After this your gifts will be delivered either direct to the recipient or to your dedicated company address.

6. Can you give me some examples of work you have done for other clients?

We have a dedicated Corporate Gift and bespoke products page where you can see some of the work we have created for our amazing clients. We hope it helps you to see the variety of what we can do. 

Who have your previous clients given their gifts or awards to?

Our previous clients have given their gifts to new clients, existing clients, staff or team members, staff who are retiring or who have a big birthday coming up, visiting dignitaries and keynote speakers at conferences or events.  

7. What new gift ideas do you have coming up?

We recently worked with an award winning winery and I am thrilled to announce that we can now offer bespoke wine boxes and award winning wine as part of our corporate gift package. We are building relationships with some of the very best unique and high quality food and drinks businesses so that we can expand our current corporate gift offers, so watch this space for further developments. 

Our current range of gifts include the following:

• Gold plated cuff links and brooches
• Fine bone china
• Tote bags
• Beauty and toiletry bags
• Greetings cards
• Crystal awards
• Wine & box gift set
• Gift sets of your choice

8. If I want to work with you how do I do this?

If you would like to work with us on a corporate gift or award please get in touch via our contact page in the first instance.

If you are a British based supplier that would like to work with us the contact page is the best way of getting in touch, and if you are a British food and drinks manufacturer please get in touch too. We are always looking to develop a wide network fo high quality suppliers so that we can offer our clients a wide variety of choice. 

9. What do you need from me as a client to create a really special gift?

It is always helpful to have as much information from a client about what they would like their corporate gifts to be like. Creating a mood board of inspiration for your gifts is very helpful, here are some of the things that you might want to consider including:

• Colour scheme - do you want this to align with your brand colours
• Do you require bespoke packaging or gift wrap for your gifts
• What is your budget - it is important to think about how much you want to spend per gift and then we can advise on what will be the most appropriate route to fit your budget
• Have you seen other gifts that you love? These can provide us with an understanding of your expectation for the gifts
• Your logo
• Artwork from your own archives that can be adapted for your design - this will help make your gift truly unique. But don't worry if you don't have this we can create something for you.
• And finally a collaborative mindset, creating the perfect design for you is about working together to come up with a solution that works for you as a company and this is successfully achieved when we work as part of your team

10. How much would it cost for me to work with you?

The cost of our corporate gift service varies however it isn't as expensive as you might think, and it isn't necessarily just for large organisations or companies. As a small business you can buy from our existing range of retail products to send a special gift to a client or staff member. We can also gift wrap it and send a handwritten note to your recipient to make it extra special. You can find our current collection of products here. 

If however you would like to buy a larger quantity of bespoke corporate gifts then we have a range of solutions for you that we can quote for on an individual basis. And you should get in touch with us via our contact page.

If you have any other questions please pop them in the comments below and we will add them to this blog post.

If you would like to start a conversation about your corporate gift and awards requirements then please get in touch with us today and we will book you in for a free consultation.