Take Networking to the Next Level in 2019 with these Inexpensive Gift Ideas for Clients

Thoughtful and unique gifts will win your clients and make you stand out. You have more choices now than before when it comes to choosing a gift for your client. If you have a small number of clients/ small number with large accounts, you’d customise each gift to the closest option available and consider your clients’ interests and habits before choosing their gifts.

For instance, if you have a client who likes to have wine during his dinner meetings, you’d choose a bottle of wine, for a client who you’ve met during his golf practice, a set of personalized tees would be a good idea. Gift personalisation will exude a sense of ‘being special’ and make your clients feel, they are important to you.

When chosen well, gifts can not only strengthen your business relationship with your client but also lead to an increase in sales, promotions and referrals. But there are some exceptions to the kind of the gifts you can or cannot get for your clients. Choosing office stationery like pens or notebooks or desktop items with your company’s logo won’t really make much of a difference in your client’s mind about your image and it comes across as a stingy effort on your part as well.

Choosing apparel is very personal and not really appropriate given their sizing constraints and a billboard kind promotion that just doesn’t disappear ever! Small businesses should go an extra mile and not indulge in pre-made gifts that are impersonal to your clients, with a little bit of time and thoughtful consideration, you can earn a lot of appreciation and importance.

We live in a world with multi-cultural beliefs, religions and traditions and the etiquette's of gift giving require asking some significant questions before you go ahead and buy a gift for your client. It’s important to consider what gifts may be deemed lucky/unlucky in their culture. If there are any cultural boundaries for gifting women vs. men, what’s the most opportune time to gift – before or after a meeting? Another point to keep in mind is to ensure you treat all your clients equally, as, given the business network, most people know each other. And sending differently valued gifts can have an adverse reaction if someone receives a gift valued lower in comparison to the other!

Sending gifts to your clients is a good idea, but the first thing in your warehouse really isn’t! Coming up with ideas may be time-consuming and distressing, however, you can flip the mood by having fun over it. Get creative, and think outside the box! For instance, you’d give them a business book with a hardcover and personalise with words of appreciation, your signature and contacts. Each time they see the book, they’ll be reminded of you.

Getting a picture of you with your client during a golf play, with you picking up the dinner tab later for losing out could be interesting, when you preserve the photo from the test of time, by printing and infusing it on aluminum. You can also explore handmade bookmarks with unique features like adorning them with jewels, charms or embellishments that add more meaning to these personalised gifts.

Go a notch up with some different and unique gift options that are not only personal but worthy to your clients. You’d reach your client meaningfully by getting something for a cause they are passionate about, like buying a book for a community literacy program they’re involved in, or toys for children with Mothers fighting breast cancer. Using your creative talent, write down your client’s name and transform it into a poem, an inspiring story or a poem, type it up in a fancy but elegant font with borders, print it, frame it & present it to your client.

You’d help your clients grow by helping them out of any stumbling blocks. For instance, if product creation or article marketing is what’s holding them back, you’d perhaps hire a ghostwriter for them. Sign up your clients for club membership in a Members’ Hotel Network, an apt gift for your clients that can save them money for their travelling needs, with best rates on hotel tariffs, cashback for nights stayed and other associated reward programs.

One of the most popular plants and ideal for gifting, the Money Plant isn’t just great for decoration, it also purifies the air around and acts as an anti-pollutant aid. It activates positive energies and attracts good luck. The plant is easy to maintain and comes in a decorative plastic pot. The money plant grows well both under direct sunlight as well as indoors and is eco-friendly. The gift set includes a meditating ceramic Buddha and a praying Buddha to create a peaceful and serene atmosphere for any setting, a Money Plant and a 3.1” square plastic planter with rounded edges in blue, all priced at Rs. 780 on www.nurserylive.com

Gift this set of Coffee Mugs which exudes Style with its white ceramic finish and wooden handles. The White Coffee Mugs come with a black check print on them and the curved wooden handles make them look quite contemporary, ideal for gifting to your clients. Measuring 4” x 3.3” (height x diameter), the coffee mugs are priced at Rs.625 www.igp.com

With their stylish, yet functional designs, these mini retro vinyl record coasters are as unique as they come and are a lightweight gift item to protect your client’s table top from cup rings/stains. Coloured differently, these drink coasters come in a trendy retro presentation box. Measuring 3.94” x 3.94”, the coasters are made of premium vinyl and are good to hold all kinds of hot and cool items, are dishwasher safe and can be cleaned easily. They also come with rubber grips on the base to keep them from sliding or slipping. These retro vinyl record coasters come in a set of 10 pieces coloured in red, yellow, blue & green and are priced at Rs. 816 on www.amazon.in

Ideal for charging all kinds of small electronics and smartphones, the RFID wallet protects from ID Theft, has 5 storage pockets to hold cards and cash and can charge up to 2x of a normal smart phone’s battery. With a stylish aluminum case, it weighs less than a usual wallet and can be used everywhere. Measuring 11 x 7.5 x 2cm, the RFID Wallet with 2500mAh power bank is priced at Rs.699 on www.flintstop.com

Produced from a unique patented stable static charge technology which keeps the notes sticking to nearly any surface for an extended period of time, the Magnetic Sticky Notes are compatible with most writing tools and they can be written on with non-permanent markers, wiped clean and reused on the reverse side. The ideal surface to stick these magnetic notes is on a smooth and dry area. Absolutely safe and environment-friendly, the magnetic sticky notes do not leave any residue behind and measure 100x70mm with 100 sheets, priced at Rs. 499 on shopping.rediff.com

The 5 second Fix is a liquid welding tool made in plastic, that repairs with UV light, fixing and sealing almost anything in 5 seconds or less. Totally paintable and sandable, the 5 second Fix can be used on wood, metal, plastic or glass and is super-powered to quickly and permanently seal and repair. Measuring 22.2 x 13 x 1.8cm the 5 second Fix is priced at Rs. 549 on www.flintstop.com

The Magnetic Flexible Telescopic Torch comes with a flexible head and telescopic body that helps in lighting hard to reach places and has a magnetic base for fixing on metal surfaces. Equipped with LED'S of premium quality white light, the magnetic flexible telescopic torch has a high degree of durability, strength and quality that aids in an uninterrupted, continuous work with ease and can help recover small metal pieces that may be stuck in narrow spaces with the magnet on the flashlight. The Magnetic Flexible Telescopic Torch is priced at Rs.375 on www.snapdeal.com

You never need a reason to open a bottle of wine! Here’s an all-inclusive wine gift set with the tools to open a wine bottle. Packaged in the form of the bottle with a magnetic clasp, the Wine Bottle Set makes for a perfect gift for your clients at a reasonable price. It stands vertically and can also be stored away into any wine rack easily, making it a unique and quirky way to reveal the essentials! This wine set will make any opening a wine bottle exciting & entertaining any day. Priced at Rs.799 www.flintstop.com

A smooth and environment-friendly option for plants to grow and be easily maintained, this vibrant and cute Flower Vase makes for an interestingly floral or botanical décor item that helps prevent eye strain and computer radiation. The Flower Vase is made of premium quality ceramic & metal and comes with a photo clip postcard holder with a modern & stylish touch that accentuates the décor of any space. Measuring 24*17cm, the Ceramic Flower Vase with Photo Clip Postcard Holder is priced at Rs.499 on www.propshop24.com

An illustrative & designer bookend made of premium quality metal with a powder coat and exquisite finish, the Statue of Liberty Bookend measures 6.5” and is crafted with an innovative & efficient design making for not only a utility item, but also a gifting option that marks a style statement for your clients. The bookend comes with 2 pieces and is priced at Rs.599 on www.amazon.in

Showing appreciation to your clients is a wonderful way to retain their business and maintain an ongoing business relationship for long. While sometimes a note of gratitude can suffice, an occasional gift or two doesn’t hurt either! It is easier to purchase a gift for someone, however, what to buy is the bottleneck, especially when you have a budget in mind or a large number of clients to honour. Here’s a variety of inexpensive options you can explore that caters to different categories of business clients alike.