Balancing benefits and budgets: Cost-effective corporate gifts for Christmas 2023
Posted on September 12, 2023 by Kess Crighton
2023 has been a financially challenging year for many companies – and in times of economic difficulty, client and employee relationships can suffer. Employee benefits are often the first to be cut, which can have a negative impact on staff morale, motivation and engagement. Clients can become more demanding, expecting increased support without necessarily paying the associated increased fees. Keeping everyone happy when you have reduced resources to invest in engagement strategies is challenging, to say the least.
With all this in mind, how do you think your clients and colleagues will reflect on your relationships this year? Will staff fondly remember how the trying circumstances brought your team closer together? And will clients look back and appreciate your support as a valuable partner? Or do you think they’ll reflect on your relationships less favourably than you’d like?
Even if most of your interactions have been positive, people tend to remember the negative experiences – it’s just human nature. So as we approach the end of the year, it’s important to repair any fractious relationships and move forward on a more positive footing.
Christmas gifting provides an ideal opportunity to do exactly that. Treating clients and colleagues to a thoughtful Christmas gift will counteract any negative feelings and ensure you end 2023 on a high – laying the foundations for a positive, prosperous 2024.
The ROI of relationships: You get out what you put in
Relationships with clients and colleagues require constant work – just like relationships in our personal lives. Those based on honesty, trust, respect and open communication will survive the bad times, and thrive during the good.
The current economic climate has placed additional pressure on your professional relationships, so they require more work than ever before. But with reduced resource, keeping open communication and meeting expectations can be challenging – and your relationships with clients and colleagues may have suffered as a result.
Extending a heartfelt gesture of appreciation at Christmas is an ideal way to build bonds and show clients and colleagues how much you appreciate them. Treating them to a thoughtful gift will ensure they feel seen, special and valued – helping to build trust and foster loyalty.
The gift itself doesn’t have to be overly elaborate or expensive to be impactful. As long as it makes clients and colleagues feel special and thought of, you’ll create the emotional connections required to deliver lasting impact – from increased engagement to improved morale.
You can’t put a price on magic
The most cost-effective corporate gifting isn’t necessarily the cheapest option. The gifts that deliver the most value are those that engender strong emotional reactions in recipients.
Think about the last time you received a truly thoughtful gift. Whether you’re picturing a scrapbook of a shared adventure, or an inscribed piece of jewellery, it probably sparked an emotional reaction. It might have made you laugh, brought ‘happy tears’, or compelled you to show gratitude to the giver. These powerful reactions help to build strong bonds, and ensure we remember the gesture for longer.
And it’s these magical moments that make thoughtful corporate gifting so cost-effective, too. When you make your clients and colleagues feel truly appreciated, you’ll create emotional connections and build positive relationships – delivering significant return on investment for your business. You can’t put a price on magic.
So, what do these magical, cost-effective corporate gifts look like? Well, sparking a little Christmas magic in your recipients is actually easier than you may think.
Christmas magic enclosed
Treating clients and colleagues to an M&S Gift Card is the ideal way to show how much you appreciate them.
To many people across the UK, M&S is synonymous with Christmas – so an M&S Gift Card is much more than cash in a festive envelope. It unlocks a touch of Christmas magic itself, and gives your recipients permission to treat themselves to all their favourites from the M&S range. And M&S is very reasonably priced across the board, offering exceptional quality and excellent value – whether they’re topping up on household essentials or indulging in decadent desserts.
An M&S Gift Card is a cost-effective, yet impactful gift at any denomination. You don’t have to spend a lot to spark a little magic in the hearts of your recipients – ensuring the lasting impact on engagement and loyalty is felt long into the new year.
A small token of appreciation, but a big impact for your business.
Whether you’re looking to reward staff for their hard work this year, or thank clients for their continued commitment to your company, M&S Gift Cards are the thoughtful option for everyone. Place your corporate gifting order in three simple steps.
Or to see exactly what your recipients could spend their M&S Gift Card on, explore our Christmas gifting guide.