Holiday gifting tends to go wrong in the same way every year: nobody starts the list until the season is already underway. The fix isn't a bigger budget. It's a simple plan you can put together in an afternoon, while you still have plenty of options.
Step 1: Sort Your List Into Groups
Start with everyone you might want to thank, then sort those names into a few groups. Most small businesses end up with something like this:
- Top clients. The relationships that drive the most business or referrals.
- Your team. Employees, part-timers, and anyone who keeps the place running.
- Partners and vendors. The people who make your job easier all year.
- Everyone else. Newer customers and contacts you'd like to stay in touch with.
Step 2: Set a Budget for Each Group
Decide on a total first, then divide it. Your top clients might get a nicer single gift, while a broader group gets something useful and simple. Thinking in groups keeps one or two big gifts from eating the whole budget.
Step 3: Match Gifts to How People Live and Work
- People on the road: travel mugs and power banks
- Desk workers: journals and wireless chargers
- Anyone who loves staying in: cozy gifts and blankets
- Clients who enjoy a treat: gift sets and treats
Step 4: Work Backward From Your Delivery Date
Pick the date you want gifts in hand, then count backward. Leave room for proof approvals, production, shipping, and the time it takes to wrap and send everything yourself. Timelines vary by product, so ask about them when you choose your items, and build in a cushion.
Step 5: Gather the Details Now
- A high-quality version of your logo
- Current shipping addresses for anyone receiving a gift directly
- Apparel sizes, if you're giving wearables
- A short note you'd like to include with each gift
A handwritten line about something specific you worked on together will do more than any catalog upgrade.
Ready to turn your list into a plan? Browse gift ideas at Will Imprint or reach out to us, and we'll help you match the right items to each group on your list.