It used to be that corporate gifts were merely a nice thought. Today, with some companies working remotely and events in hybrid formats, gift-giving has become a business necessity. It bridges the physical gap and makes tangible, feel-good connections between your company and its employees, clients, and members.
Corporate gifting is a wise investment. Corporate gifts can unite dispersed teams or event attendees, recognize or incent employees, and show appreciation for customers, among other benefits. And we know by now that employees who feel appreciated by their employers are happier and more productive at work.
Corporate gifting makes recipients feel valued. According to Forbes, a 2021 Coresight study conducted among 300 corporate gift buyers across companies up to $30 billion in revenues found that more than 80% of respondents said gifts have improved their relationships with employees and/or clients.
Corporate food gifts check all the boxes. Before you dive head-first into gifting, do your homework. Many organizations don’t allow employees to accept individual or personal gifts—but they can receive a gift package shared with the entire team or staff. This is where food gifts come in strong. There are no exclusions, no one feels left out with group food gifts. When done right, corporate food gifts can have mass appeal, creating a feeling of satisfaction and bliss that’s directly associated with your brand.
Follow these three tips to make your corporate food gift a big hit.
Use food to create a gift experience
Start by asking yourself how you want your gift to be received. Assembling a customized food gift box, basket, or package allows you to create a unique and memorable unboxing experience that offers attractive benefits for your brand.
Use food to make the gift personal.
Curate your food selections based on what you know about the recipients, like their personal tastes, dietary needs, or tendencies. Or tie food items to a theme—think campaign, anniversary, new product launch—to create a powerful connection. Here are some curated (and brandable) themed food kit ideas from Shamrock’s food gifting partner, Batch & Bodega.
Use food + ancillary items for staying power.
Include food items along with other reusable gifts that will keep your brand in front of your recipients after they’re done eating. Here’s an example. When Cleveland Clinic brought on new agency partners to work on a campaign for Cleveland Clinic Children’s hospital, they asked Shamrock to create a custom gift kit to celebrate and welcome their new partners.
We created a child-inspired, adult-inclined ice cream kit packaged in a branded musical box. The kit included a premium ice cream scoop (with subtle logo placement) and gourmet fixings like confectionery syrups and sprinkles, and artisanal waffle cones. Plus, we added a Loungepad Wireless Charging Station with the Cleveland Clinic Children’s logo as a practical gift item that the agencies will use long after the ice cream is enjoyed.
From comfort food items and beverages to sweet treats and holiday favorites, corporate food gifts are a great way to make an impression on your team, clients, and prospects. With the holidays right around the corner, now is the right time to think about how you can incorporate food gifting into your end-of-the-year marketing and HR campaigns.
If you’re interested, I’m here with lots of great ideas, sample projects, and tasty samples.
Tim Berry
