Popular Executive Christmas Gifts: 5 Of The Hottest Ideas Right Now
Finding the perfect executive holiday gift for important business partners, clients and employees is easier than ever. Since the options are limitless, here’s a list of five of the most popular executive gift ideas for the 2010 holiday season.
A night at a local comedy club. – This is the kind of business gift that can ease the stress of a cornered executive. Giving away free tickets to a local comedy club is a safe bet (most people are itching to get out of the house after hanging out with visiting in-laws). Lift your spirits again with the gift of laughter. You will be thanked in more ways than one.
The technicians will love you – While a bamboo USB flash drive isn’t an entirely unique corporate gift, the information you load onto it has the potential to make a statement. You can provide links to fun, holiday-themed home videos featured on YouTube, sales and marketing presentations from industry gurus, or family vacation photos (of course, you’ll need to go the extra mile by contacting your recipient’s secretary and convincing her to to email you the photos). Digital photo frames, iPhone-based clock radios, cool pen scanners, and all-important Bluetooth accessories are also popular business gift ideas for gadget connoisseurs this holiday season.
Delicious gift executive slippers – Personalized corporate gift baskets are a staple during the holidays. Put a holiday-themed message on the wrapper that shows your appreciation for your customer’s continued support. From chocolate dipped strawberries to chocolate covered pecans and pretzels to wine gift baskets, any quality selection will have your customers picking up the phone to thank you in person.
Support a local charity or important cause – Does a key business partner support a local charity or is this person working hard to eliminate a life-threatening disease? If so, find out what their emotional sweet spot is outside of work and make a donation in their name. Not only is this a thoughtful business gift idea, but you’re also extending your support for an important mission. Send a card thanking them for their support over the past year and elegantly mention the donation made in their name.
Tickets to the big game. – When most people think of getting a Christmas present for an important client or employee, they usually think of getting them some kind of inanimate object. Instead of spending money on a corporate promotional gift, like a designer watch or desk clock, try giving sports gifts. You can recognize a golfer with the gift of free green fees or balls with your company logo. You can put someone in the boxes or in the front row of a major sporting event. Let’s say this person is a fan of a team in a small market and only knows the outcome of a contest through highlights. Get him access to a seasonal TV package so he can follow his team with pride.
Help your clients market themselves: Instead of sending a luxury executive gift like a desk clock to a particular client, consider placing your client’s logo on a unique promotional product. The amount doesn’t have to be a large print run, but attractive enough to make an impact. Or you can buy a large quantity of a particular promotional item and change the logo according to each company. Make sure the promotional item you choose aligns with your brand. Depending on your budget for executive Christmas gifts, you may choose to go with luxury promotional items instead of a run-of-the-mill mass-produced item. The intent here is to thank your customers by helping them advertise, rather than giving them a gift that might collect dust on a shelf.