Wang Solutions

Getting Down to the Business of Gifting: The Basics of Giving Clients Presents

Whether it’s Christmas, or just a pleasant day in June, sending gifts to clients is one way to build and maintain professional relationships. Beyond that, it’s always nice to give and receive. And beyond that, you can deduct up to $25 for business gifts you give directly or indirectly to each person during your tax year, with some special rules of course. Here are tips for making gift-giving to your clients as stress-free as it should be.

Clients can range from all over the place, and ordering online is one of the easiest way to ship gifts far and wide. That way, you don’t have to worry about handling all the boxes, bubble wrap, and stamps yourself. The only problem is that shipping costs can start to add up, and you might start wishing you sent everyone an e-book.

Actually, e-books aren’t a bad gift idea, but if you really want to send something tangible in a cost-effective way, every year thousands of online retailers take part in Free Shipping Day. Taking place a few days before Christmas, on Free Shipping Day you get – you guessed it – free shipping with guaranteed delivery by Christmas Eve. However, even if you miss this one-day event, many online merchants offer free shipping periodically, so be patient and diligent in Googling for free shipping coupon codes.

As a rule of thumb, if you don’t know a client too well, play it safe when sending them a gift. Although items like gift cards, gift baskets, and vanilla candles won’t be winning a “Most Innovative” award, their recipients will probably be pleased. These items are also a good idea for bulk orders if you have too many recipients to keep track of. Time is money, but it’s worth it to also search for deals if you have a bunch of clients on your list. The internet makes it a lot easier nowadays to compare prices, so don’t click “Add 100 to Cart” on the first item you spot.

If you’re catering to a smaller group, and you know a client better, don’t be afraid to imbue their present with a more personal, professional touch – it’s a good way to show that you’re keeping their preferences in mind. For example, if you know that your accountant enjoys collecting paperweights in their spare time, send them a colorful paperweight (with free shipping, of course).

All that being said, don’t forget that not everyone can accept gifts, and not everyone celebrates the same holidays. Again, if you’re unsure, stick to generalities in the accompanying card. Also, avoid giving business clients gifts that you think they would like – you want to people to know that you recognize their importance, not alienate them. Above all, keep your gift giving simple; it should be fun for you, and should seal the deal with the person you’re giving to.