Is Your Corporate Gifting Strategy Sending the Wrong Message?

If you and your company have questions about corporate gifting, you're in the right spot. We're going behind the gift (pun intended!) and sharing some of the most common mistakes that we see businesses make with their gifting strategy. Plus, we'll get into what to do about these issues, so that your corporate gifts meet your intended goal and say what you want them to say either about your event or your brand.

Corporate gifts should strengthen relationships, reflect your brand, and leave a lasting impression. But if you're not careful, they can just as easily fall flat, or worse, send the wrong message entirely.

From custom gifts for employees or top clients at the holidays to intentional gifts for corporate events and incentive trips, at Marigold & Grey we're all about working with our clients and partners to intentionally design and curate gifts that not only meet, but exceed, the moment.

See more of these celebratory Irish cocktail themed corporate gifts.

Corporate Gifts That Exceed The Goal

A corporate gifting strategy that feels rushed, overly self-promotional, or one-size-fits-all won’t deliver the impact you’re hoping for. In fact, it can unintentionally make your brand feel disconnected, disorganized, or out of touch.

If you’re investing time and budget into gifts for clients, employees, or brand partners, you want your gifts to do more than check a box. You want them to build connection, increase brand awareness, and show that you genuinely care.

We polled our gifting experts around M&G headquarters and have some gifting advice for you that will save you time and money when it comes to gifting. Here are three of the most common corporate gifting mistakes that can quietly sabotage your efforts, and advice on how to avoid these mistakes in the first place...

Corporate Gifting Mistake #1:  Waiting Until the Last Minute

It’s tempting to treat business gifting as a year-end afterthought or scramble to find something when a milestone pops up. But rushed gifts often feel thrown together, and that feeling sticks. If it feels haphazard and thrown together to you, the chances are high that your gift recipients will feel the same, and that's not a good look for any business.

While it is possible to create thoughtful gifts on a tight timeline, last-minute panic usually leads to generic options, missed opportunities for personalization, and poor execution. Additionally, last minute gifts can be expensive and stressful on you and your team.

Intentional gifting isn’t about how long you plan, it’s about having a clear goal. (Although we do love starting early on gifts!) Even with a short turnaround, a gift can still be beautifully curated, aligned with your brand, and purpose-driven if you approach it strategically.

If you're short on time, spend what little time you do have on being intentional and thoughtful with your gifts. It's about quality over quantify. Opt for meaningful gifts, even if that means less gifts overall.

Additionally, a well-crafted and heartfelt gift note is affordable, easy and impactful. Personalized gift notes go a long way on any timeframe, but especially when you don't have much time.

Believe or not, our favorite and most recommended time to begin work on corporate holiday gifts is in the summer. The holidays and end-of-the year come every year without fail. It's best to start early on holidays gifts to save your self stress.

Need help making fast corporate gifts still feel meaningful and not like throw-away swag? Here’s our step-by-step guide to custom corporate gifting.

See more of these sustainable corporate gift bags.

Corporate Gifting Mistake #2:  Getting Branding All Wrong

Your corporate gifts shouldn’t ever scream “Look at us!” But, they also shouldn’t miss the chance to reinforce your brand's identity or achieve the goal that you were hoping to achieve. This is where a lot of businesses get it wrong.

Overly branded gifts, think giant logos on every since gift item, can come off as promotional rather than personal, which more than likely doesn't align with your company's values. Plus, overly branded gifts feel inauthentic and are usually the first to get thrown away or tossed aside.

On the other hand, completely skipping branding misses an opportunity for subtle, long-term brand recognition. If you're taking the time to send the gift, it's in your best interests to let recipients know who sent them this gift.

The sweet spot? Thoughtful, strategic touches like using your brand colors in the packaging, incorporating a small logo on one, maybe two, premium item(s), or including a beautifully designed gift notecard. These subtle touches elevate the experience without overpowering it.

Here at team M&G, we like to incorporate a company's brand aesthetic right from the start on the gift tag or the outside of the gift to create an unforgettable experience from start to finish.

Also, when it comes to adding your company's logo to a gift item like a tumbler, towel or tote bag, we like to brand the re-useable items, so that each time your gift recipient uses their gift, it impacts your brand long after it's been opened.

Looking for more on using your company's mission on branded gifts that still feel elevated? Be sure to get our expert advice on how to incorporate your brand's values in your corporate gifting.

See more of these branded holiday cocktail themed gift boxes.

Corporate Gifting Mistake #3:  Making It Feel Impersonal

You've likely heard this about your services, products or marketing, and the same is true when it comes to your business gifts. If your corporate gift feels like it could be for anyone, it’s going to feel like it’s for no one.

One of the biggest mistakes in corporate gifting is overlooking the small personal touches that make a gift feel intentional. And it doesn’t take much: a handwritten gift note, a customized gift tag, or even the recipient’s name on the packaging can make all the difference.

There are a few strategic ways that we think about making corporate gifts feel personal. From sending gifts one at a time to thoughtful design, it's all about making the recipient feel like they are the only one on your gift list.

First, company's appreciate using our Add-Your-Own-Logo Program to send branded gifts one a time to recipients. With this easy-to-use, straight-forwarded corporate gifting program, businesses keep their branding details here on file with us at M&G, and then send gifts out as needed throughout the year, whether that's for an employee's birthday or to thank a client for a referral. They can choose from hundred's of gift designs in our ready-to-ship gift collection and we'll remove our M&G brand and add their company's branding. 

Second, we like to use the event's theme or the location as the basis for the gift design itself. This means that we'll locally source items from a corporate event's location, or take the time to hand-select gifts from small, artisan companies that recipients can't find anywhere else. These little touches go a long way to make recipients feel that while many gifts may have been given, their gift was chosen for them.

People remember how a gift made them feel, not just what was inside. So even if you're gifting one at a time or gifting at scale, adding small moments of personalization creates a far bigger impact than a one-size-fits-all box ever could.

Want more ideas for adding those personal touches that wow? Start with our complete guide to impactful corporate gifting.

See more of these corporate event welcome gift boxes.

Frequently Asked Questions About Corporate Gifting

Here are some of the most common questions we get from clients looking to create meaningful, on-brand corporate gifts that make a lasting impression...

What’s the ideal timeline for planning corporate gifts?

We recommend beginning your corporate gifting strategy as early as possible, especially for large or custom projects. For holiday gifting, summer is our sweet spot. Planning early ensures availability, smooth logistics, and time for thoughtful personalization.

Can I send branded gifts without it feeling too promotional?

Absolutely. The key is subtle, strategic branding. We help our clients incorporate brand colors, gift notes, and tasteful logo placement in ways that feel elevated and aligned with their mission, never like throwaway promotional swag.

Do you offer options for sending one-off gifts throughout the year?

Yes! Our Add-Your-Own-Logo Program is perfect for businesses that want flexibility with their gifts. From birthdays to client thank-you's, you'll keep your branding details on file with us, and send gifts one at a time from our ready-to-ship gift collection.

How can we make bulk corporate gifts feel personal?

Small touches make a big difference. We recommend personalized gift notes, thoughtful packaging, and sourcing items that reflect the event theme or recipient location. It’s these little details that make even large-scale gifting feel custom and memorable.

Can you help with gift ideas for specific events or industries?

Yes! Whether it’s a corporate retreat, business event, milestone anniversary, product launch, rebrand, or incentive trip, holiday gift basket, we’ll tailor gift designs to your industry, audience, and occasion. Every gift is curated with your goals and recipients in mind. For inspiration and ideas, browse our gifting gallery.

See more of these Naples, Florida themed corporate welcome gifts.

The best corporate gifts don’t just reflect your brand, they reflect your company's values and mission. So before you send out another generic gift box that risks being thrown in the trash as an after thought, or rush to check “gifting” off your to-do list, be sure to check in with the message that your gifts are sending.

With a bit of intention, a clear goal, and the right gifting partner, your gifts can feel just as meaningful as the relationships you’re trying to nurture.

If you're ready to say "goodbye" to rushed, forgettable gifting and "hello" to thoughtful, intentional corporate gifts that truly reflect your company's brand, we’d love to help at M&G. Whether you're looking for custom corporate gifts for a big event, ongoing client appreciation, or a corporate holiday gifting strategy for employees or top customers that doesn’t stress you out, we’re here at team M&G to make it seamless. 

Contact our gifting experts today to start the conversation. Let’s create gifts that send the right message for your business!

Happy corporate gifting!

3 WAYS TO DO GIFTING WITH MARIGOLD & GREY

When it comes to corporate gifting, gifts for your business, or gifts for your company's employees, clients or events, there are three unique ways to gift with Marigold & Grey.

#1: Custom Gift Design Service

If you're interested in elevated branded gifts for your company for employee appreciation, holiday or any corporate event in between, please get in touch with us to ask about our custom corporate gift design services. We'd love to work with you or your team to create something that reflects your company's brand with limitless options for customization to include branding the packaging, gift contents, printed collateral, and more. 

#2: Add-Your-Own-Logo Program (i.e. Semi-Custom Gifts)

In addition to custom gift design, we also offer a thoughtful semi-custom gift design program with low order minimums and your company's logo and brand on each gift you send. Our Add-Your-Own-Logo Program is perfect for businesses that want to send company branded gifts either all at once for an event or particular marketing campaign OR throughout the year, on demand as you need them, for special occasions like employee appreciation, birthdays, client thank-you gifts, and more.

#3: Ready-to-Ship Collection in our Online Shop

For curated gift sets and themed gift baskets that are easy to send for any occasion in life or work, don't forget to shop our curated collection of ready-to-ship gift boxes with quick turnarounds and no order minimums. These ship out within 1-3 business days; rush next-day shipping is also available at checkout.

Images: Lissa Ryan Photography