The holiday season is the perfect time for businesses to show appreciation to their employees, clients, and partners through thoughtful corporate Christmas gifts.
Whether it’s to thank colleagues for a year of hard work, strengthen professional relationships with B2B suppliers, or do something special that makes you stand out from the crowd and cut through the festive noise, the right gift can leave a lasting impression.
In this guide, we’ll explore a variety of corporate Christmas gift ideas to suit different preferences and budgets, offering unique, memorable, and even playful alternatives that go beyond the typical seasonal offerings.
Happy gifting! 🎁
Christmas gift ideas for business
Traditional corporate gifts Innovative and unique gifts Eco-friendly corporate gifts Digital corporate gifts Bulk-friendly corporate gifts Budget-friendly gifts Luxury corporate gifts Holiday-themed gifts Corporate gifts for staff
1. Traditional corporate gifts
When it comes to ideas for holiday business gifts, there are a few classic examples that come to mind. These might include:
Drinks – Bottles of wine, champagne, spirits, or gift sets that include these.
Hampers and gift baskets – Mixed food and drink hampers, gourmet snacks, cheese and cracker sets, coffee and tea sets, cocktail kits, luxury chocolates, or gift baskets to suit specific dietary requirements.
Experiential gifts – Hotel stays, spa days, online classes, concerts, sporting events, wine tasting, or adventure packages.
Stationery and desk accessories – High-quality pens, notepads, planners, organisers, mouse pads, calendars, or clocks.
Pros and cons of traditional corporate gifts
Pros:
Timeless and widely appreciated
Easy to find and purchase
Suitable for a wide range of clients and employees
Cons:
Can be seen as generic or impersonal
Less memorable if overused
May not stand out in competitive business relationships
2. Innovative and unique gifts
Perhaps you’re trying to do something different that feels extra-special and memorable? Here are a few creative, out-of-the-box ideas to help you leave a lasting impression on recipients:
B2B online games – Add your branding and messaging to an online Christmas game for a fun and engaging experience that will delight clients, staff, and business partners alike. You could use it as a vehicle to give away prizes and other gifts, or simply make it all about the game itself.
Charity donations – Let people know you’ve made a donation on their behalf, or ask them to pick a charity or good cause that you can then donate to. You could even mimic what construction firm Rhodar did and gamify your charitable giving !
Custom artwork – For special business relationships or memorable partnerships, you could commission an artwork that serves as a unique reminder of a place or project that you worked on together.
Modern tech – Gadgets here might include wireless chargers, smart speakers, earphones, smart notebooks, or handy tech accessories.
Interactive messages – An example of this might be a personalised letter or gift card containing a QR code that the recipient scans with their smartphone. This could then take them to a dedicated web page that reveals a surprise such as a video message, special voucher code, or online advent calendar .
Subscription boxes – Instead of a one-off gift at Christmas, treat your recipient to a regular subscription service that will continue into the next year. Ideas here include monthly boxes with snacks, coffee, or books, or a paid subscription to an industry publication.
Pros and cons of unique gifts
Pros:
Highly memorable and attention-grabbing
Shows creativity and thoughtfulness
Can help strengthen client relationships with personalised experiences
Cons:
May not appeal to everyone
May require more effort in selection
Can be costly and time-consuming to personalise
Case study – Derivco Sports
Planning the annual Christmas do can be a bit of a headache at the best of times. Add to that a global pandemic, empty offices and a workforce all working from home, and you can see that Derivco Sports’ comms team had a real challenge on their hands.
Learn how they took the party online and entertained staff with four branded games and a digital advent calendar!
3. Eco-friendly corporate gifts
Choosing eco-friendly gifts – whether it be through using sustainable materials or promoting greener practices – allows businesses to align with the growing demand for environmentally responsible choices. Here are just a few examples of how B2B companies might do this when it comes to corporate gift-giving:
Sustainable everyday essentials – Reusable utensils such as bamboo straws or cups, reusable shopping bags made from recycled materials, or clothing made from organic cotton or bamboo.
Eco-friendly office supplies – Notebooks and organisers made from recyclable materials, sustainable pens, or products that use seed paper and can be planted after use.
Green gadgets – Solar-powered chargers, backpacks with built-in solar panels to charge devices, or phone cases or chargers made from recycled materials.
Nature-focused gifts – Plant X number of trees on someone’s behalf or make donations in their name to environmental causes.
Pros and cons of sustainable corporate gifts
Pros:
Appeals to environmentally conscious clients and staff
Reflects a company’s commitment to sustainability
Unique and stands out from traditional gifts
Cons:
Limited variety in some cases
Can be more expensive
Learn more
The suggestions above are just a few taken from our detailed list of sustainable corporate gift ideas . Go check it out for more green gift inspiration! 🌱
4. Digital corporate gifts
In keeping with the theme of eco-friendly and sustainable gifts, why not go one step further with a digital option? Given the rise of remote/hybrid working and the global nature of business relationships, digital gifts provide a practical and convenient solution with a much smaller environmental impact than their physical counterparts. Here are a few ideas to consider:
Virtual game experience – Digital games are fun, memorable, easy to share with anyone around the globe, and bring people together through a little light-hearted competition. It’s easier (and more affordable) than ever to add a personal touch to an existing Christmas-themed game , giving you a ready-made festive experience that lets you say thanks to clients, celebrate with employees, and spread a little festive joy!
Vouchers and gift cards – These are easy to purchase and send to recipients via email, with most popular retailers offering an online voucher option for their store. Not sure which one to go for? Choose a multi-retailer gift card that lets the recipient decide where to shop.
Online quiz – Who doesn’t love a good quiz? Take the party online with a Christmas quiz and challenge staff and suppliers to get the highest score on the leaderboard!
Learning and skill development – Partner up with a learning provider and give the gift of online courses (and corresponding qualifications) tailored to the recipient’s professional or personal interests.
Digital entertainment – Give the gift of online entertainment through a subscription to ad-free music, podcasts, audiobooks, or streaming services.
Interactive advent calendar – Customise a digital version of the classic seasonal countdown format, complete with doors that open to reveal a different message each day. You could even pair an online advent calendar with a Christmas game and prizes for an interactive combo that will keep your audience coming back again and again!
Pros and cons of digital corporate gifts
Pros:
Ideal for remote teams and recipients around the globe
Instant and convenient delivery
Easily customisable and versatile for various interests
Cons:
Lacks physical presence, which can make it feel less personal
May be less memorable than tangible gifts
May require recipients to be tech-savvy
Top tip
In the B2B space, it’s pretty common to work with clients who have strict anti-bribery rules in place and so aren’t allowed to accept physical gifts. Experiences such as online games (👇) are perfect for showing clients that you care while sticking to their company’s rules.
You don’t even have to offer any prizes – you could simply run a game for the fun of it and the bragging rights for those top scorers!
