Why Give Business Gifts?

Less than half of the corporations in the United States give their employees gift baskets around the holiday season.

However, there are 1.7 million corporations in the United States, a staggering number of businesses that doesn’t even include partnerships and S corporations. With that shocking statistic in mind, it’s no surprise so many people don’t feel appreciated by their employers when the holidays roll around.

Many employees feel like they don’t get major recognition or appreciation, but that’s not true — every job matters. Each person has a place and a purpose, and without all of the smaller parts, the bigger whole wouldn’t be able to succeed.

More corporations are taking their employees’ well-being into account and creating a more inclusive company culture. That’s because when employees feel valued and appreciated, they’re more likely to work as hard and bond with their teammates.

When holidays come around, it’s the perfect time to show your employees that they matter. Below are some tips to bear in mind when it comes to corporate gifts.

The Ideal Approach

Making your employees feel appreciated is what gift-giving is all about. However, you also want to get your team members practical gifts that they’ll actually use.

Before ranking the best corporate gift ideas, let’s explore what not to get your employees this holiday season.

Don’t: Give Discount Codes as Gifts

The second type of gift to avoid as an employer this year is a discount.

As a business owner, you may receive promotional discount codes to give to your employees. While giving these to your employees is kind, it isn’t necessarily the best holiday gifting strategy.

Your team would love to receive something that isn’t just the extra you receive from the companies you sponsor. Employees want something that takes a little bit of thought and effort!

Don’t: Skip the Personalized Note

While it’s easy to forget to sign a name on a gift, this gesture goes a long way. With your signature (and maybe a short and thoughtful note), your team members will feel honored by your gift; this is where “It’s the thought that counts” comes into play.

With Prezzee, you can upload one thank you (or a similar message) video and send it to all employees — no need to upload a video with every gift you send. This lets your employees know that each of them has value within your company. That nod of recognition makes all the difference for many workers. Everyone wants to get a note from the boss that says, “Great work this year — here’s something to let you know how much I appreciate you.”

The Ideal Approach to Employee Appreciation This Holiday Season

The best way to know what your employees want this Christmas can be found in one simple way: ask.

Before diving head-first into gift-giving this holiday season, take the time to start a poll in the office of what your employees might enjoy this Holiday Season. If you’re considering giving your employees a gift card, giving them options to vote on might give you a head start in making everyone happy this gift-giving season.

So before finalizing your gift strategy, send out an email to ask your employees their opinions. Providing options is another key to having corporate gift success.

Now, let’s explore the best ways to find the right gifts for this year’s office holiday party.

Keep It Simple: Something for Everyone

Over 48% of corporations in the United States give their employees gifts around the holidays. Ranging from bonuses to fruit baskets, most employees expect to receive a gift from their employer in one way or another.

As a business owner, you want to give your employees a happy holiday every year. With so many different likes and dislikes, how do you find something that piques their interest across the board?

There’s a delicate balance that goes into finding the “it” gift of the year. One of the easiest ways to satisfy every member of your team is by giving a Smart eGift Card, which each employee can use online at countless popular stores.

Give a High-Quality, Unique Gift

As mentioned before, many of your employees are used to receiving a company gift basket from an employer. However, your team members don’t just want any gift — they want a unique gift that they’ll want to use. That means branded coffee mugs, water bottles, and pens are off the holiday gift ideas list.

Instead of these more generic options, you can wow your employees with a present they’ll love.

Nobody wants to feel like they’re just a box being checked off a list. People want to be heard, seen, and appreciated for who they are. So, as an employer, try giving a gift that will not only impress your employees but make them feel valued.

A unique gift doesn’t have to be a one-of-a-kind item for each team member. Instead, try offering a customizable gift card that your employees can use in multiple ways. You’ll save yourself some effort without skimping on quality.

Find Something That Gives Back

It’s been scientifically proven that giving gifts boosts emotional well-being.

As an employer, you want to encourage your employees to not only want to stay with the company but also to ensure that they feel important in what they do. Finding a gift that gives back to your employees is one way to create a lasting bond between the boss and the worker.

Creating and nurturing quality relationships with your employees is part of what makes running a business worthwhile. This year, give back to your employees with a gift that they will value. Ultimately, this act of generosity will help your company grow as well.

Gifts You Don’t Want To Miss

Now that we’ve learned what not to get and how to get our company into the right holiday mindset, it’s time to learn what are the best gifts for you and your employees this season.

Customized Gift Cards

Customizable gift cards are some of the most fun presents to receive — and to give. By providing the recipient with the freedom to use their gift however they want, these gift cards offer something truly unique.

With customized gift cards, your employees can pick and choose what they want to buy without being confined to just one store. Their options range from food gifts like brownies or pretzels to coffee or tech goodies, as well as clothes and other necessities. You have the freedom to choose the amount that you want to give, and your employees have the freedom to choose what type of swag they want!

Plus, you can make it even more thoughtful by adding your company logo or maybe a photo of the team with a Prezzee Smart eGift Card. Or maybe they’d prefer a video, note, card, or GIF — you know your employees best.

Coffee is The Perfect Gift for All

You know your employees better than just about anyone. If you’re spending the work week with them, you’ve seen how much coffee (or tea) they can drink. That means you know much they’d love a Peet’s Coffee gift card for the holidays.

If you have an office full of coffee, breakfast sandwich, or pastry lovers, giving a gift card to a coffee shop is a no-brainer. Getting your employees the freedom to pick up a drink or snack whenever they want is a great way to show your appreciation and help your team members perk up.

Simple, enjoyable, and thoughtful gifts that’ll keep giving, investing in coffee gift cards for your office might just exactly be what you and your employees need this holiday season. Who doesn’t love some espresso or an egg and cheese sandwich during that mid-afternoon lull?

A Tech Gift Card

Since the pandemic, a lot of jobs are still being executed remotely. Despite not being in the offices, employees are still making sure their corporations run smoothly and efficiently. A great gift option for those remote employees would be a Best Buy gift card.

Best Buy sells gear that WFH employees will love. Your employees can use their gift cards to purchase a new Bluetooth headset, a wireless charger, or other gadgets that make remote work life easier.

Whatever your employees may prefer, giving a gift card for equipment that assists them in achieving their work goals more comfortably is a win in the gift-giving department.

Mental and Physical Wellness Gift Cards

Any job can bring a level of stress to a person’s life. As we grow more and more aware in our society of the detrimental effects of neglecting our mental and physical wellness, a great gift option would be a mental and physical wellness gift card.

Whether it be a gift card for vitamins or workout gear like Academy Sports, sending a gift that encourages your employees to take care of their mental health goes a long way. It shows you care for your employees outside of their job description, and that makes a huge difference in their appreciation for you as well.

Find out what your employees' mental and fitness goals may be, and find them a gift that speaks to them.

An Audio Gift Card

Depending on the type of work your employees do for you, they may be allowed to wear headphones and listen to music or podcasts during the day. If that is the case, maybe look into getting your employees a Spotify Premium gift card.

Giving your employees the option of listening to their own music while they work may encourage them to think about how they’re able to give back to you. Additionally, some people focus better with background music or podcasts playing, so consider encouraging your employees to listen while they work!

A Gift Card That Says “Treat Yourself”

The awesome part about gifts is how they make life a little sweeter. Sending your employees the chance to treat themselves with an On the Go Eats Smart eGift Card is another small but meaningful way to show them you care.

If your employees love to grab snacks on their lunch break, this smart gift card is perfect for them.

It gives your employees a chance to splurge on snacks from well-known brands, including:

• Chipotle
• Burger King
• Applebees
• Texas Roadhouse
• Domino’s
• Papa John’s
• Subway
• Taco Bell
• And many more

Snacks are universally appealing, so this gift card option is sure to please every member of your team. Plus, it can be used on DoorDash or Uber Eats orders, so your WFH employees will enjoy it just as much as the rest of your staff.

A Gift Card They Can Use in Their Area

If your company has remote employees working around the country, getting them all gift cards to the same franchise might not work. Instead, try one of Prezzee’s Smart eGift Cards.

With a smart gift card, your employees can spend their gift at a franchise near them, whether it’s an outfitter like Dick’s Sporting Goods or a coffee shop like Starbucks. Not everyone has the same major businesses near where they live, so this gift is extra thoughtful; it includes even those who live in small towns that might not have as many big-name store locations.

In addition, Prezzee’s Smart eGift Cards can be used online, making them even more universally appealing. That way, your busiest employees can still make use of their present from the comfort of their own homes.

eGift Cards Are the Future

A gift that culminates all of the wants of your employees can be found in an eGift card.

eGift cards are an easy-to-use, simple solution to all your gifting needs. With plenty of different options, you can easily find a gift card option that will appeal to your staff. In addition, digital gift cards have customizable amounts, so you don’t have to overspend and break the bank on your corporate gifts.

Combining ease for the employer with freedom of choice for the employee, eGift cards really are the future of corporate gifting. They’re just as thoughtful as hand-delivered gifts but take significantly less effort for you.

Choosing a gift that will appeal to a large group of people is often a challenge. Luckily, with an eGift, you don’t have to choose. Prezzee allows recipients to swap gift cards for the retailer of their choice, so you don’t need to worry about choosing the right card. Give your employees the gift of choosing their own gifts, and you can’t go wrong.

In addition to some of the options listed in the other sections of this article, Prezzee offers digital gift cards to countless US-based brands (and international ones!). If a team member has a favorite major store, we’ve got a gift card for them.

Remembering the Reason To Give

During the craziness of the holiday season, which seems to come upon us earlier every year, it is easy to get swept into the void of shopping and deals.

Many of us are too quick to stress over holiday plans and the struggle to find the right gifts instead of focusing on the important things during the holidays: spending time with those you love and showing those around you that you care — including your employees.

Giving isn’t just about the recipients, either. When you give, you’ll feel a flood of positive emotions akin to what the recipient of your gift feels. That means that as an employer giving gifts to your team members, you’re setting yourself up for a feel-good holiday season.

The holiday season is a time for celebrating and remembering the year that is coming to a close. In your search for the “it” gift for your employees, be sure to take the time to remember what it’s all about — generosity and spreading holiday cheer.

Sources:

The Psychology Behind Gift-Giving | South University

ASI Study: More Companies to Give Corporate Holiday Gifts | ASI Central

The U.S. Has More Individually Owned Businesses than Corporations | Tax Foundation

Do holiday gifts motivate employees? | SBAM | Small Business Association of Michigan

How to Throw an Office Party That Builds Your Team | Inc.com