Offering gift baskets to your customers is a nice way of showing them how much you appreciate them.
Whether it’s their birthday or the holidays, or you just want to thank them for a large purchase, a corporate gift will make your clients feel truly valued and strengthen your bond.
So, what should your gift include?
Check out our list of 15 of the most popular marketing basket ideas that our clients recommend.
Let’s begin!
Table of Contents
What Are The Benefits of Corporate Gift Baskets?
15 Corporate Gift Basket Ideas To Inspire You
How To Create Your Marketing Gift Box
What Is a Marketing Basket?
A marketing basket is a gift containing branded merchandise that you can offer to potential customers, existing clients, or employees.
For instance, you can send promotional baskets on special occasions to your most important clients and employees or hand out swag baskets as trade show giveaways or grand opening gifts.
Marketing baskets go under several other names, such as swag, branded, promotional, and corporate gift baskets. Sometimes, they are called boxes instead of baskets.
The goal of these marketing gifts is to nurture long-lasting relationships and promote your brand.
Now, let’s take a closer look at why you should use this marketing strategy on your customers.
What Are The Benefits of Corporate Gift Baskets?
You can use corporate gift baskets to attract new customers and leads but this marketing strategy is at its best when used to engage those with whom you already have a business relationship.
Better business relationships
To retain clients long-term and encourage repeat business, you need to build strong relationships with them.
According to the 2023 State of Corporate Gifting Report, 42% of businesses use corporate gifts to nurture client relationships.
So, they’re clearly on to something.
For instance, an annual birthday or Christmas gift basket can leave a lasting impression on your clients and strengthen your bond.
Boosts loyalty
Building customer loyalty should be a top priority for your company.
After all, loyal customers:
- Will always choose your brand over your competitors.
- Will make brand referrals using word-of-mouth marketing.
- Can share positive customer testimonials on social media, helping you reach your target market.
A great way to build brand loyalty is to create customer loyalty programs where you offer marketing baskets and other client gifts as incentives.
You can also celebrate special occasions, like Mother’s Day, by sending moms spa gift cards for a well-deserved day of relaxation.
This is worth the investment because, according to the Loyalty Big Picture report, as cited by Business Wire, 60% of companies reported that loyalty program members spend two to three times more annually than non-members.
Shows appreciation
Our clients recommend that you follow up every customer purchase with a thank you email or message.
However, you should do more than that for your most important clients.
For instance, you can show them how much you appreciate them with VIP client gifts, including luxury promotional products.
Or impress them with healthcare promotional products and work-at-home kits that express how much you care about their well-being.
If budget is an issue for your small business, don’t drain your accounts because even a small, high-quality, meaningful gift can have a significant impact.
15 Corporate Gift Basket Ideas To Inspire You
Based on the feedback of our clients, we created this list of gift basket ideas that will wow your customers.
You can offer these items either as standalone gifts or create basket themes and add multiple items.
Either way, you should always personalize your gifts with your company name or logo to make them more memorable, or, at least, include your business card in the basket.
1. W&P ice mold & Soirée glass gift set
Raise a glass in honor of your most loyal customers with this exquisite gift set.
The set includes an innovative silicone ice mold that creates a single ice sphere and a plastic old-fashioned glass that is shatter-proof and durable.
Why we recommend it: People enjoy having a drink to celebrate special occasions, like meaningful milestones or the holiday season, which means your recipient will be reminded of your brand during pleasant moments.
2. MiiR Pourigami & camp cup gift set
Our clients can’t get enough of the MiiR Pourigami, the world’s smallest and most resistant flat-pack coffee dripper you can take with you on all your outdoor adventures.
The set also features a classy-looking, vacuum-insulated custom coffee mug that will keep your coffee hot.
Why we recommend it: According to Drive Research, nearly 3 in 4 Americans drink coffee every day, which means it’s very hard to go wrong with this gift set.
3. Bottle Bash game set
Gifts for managers and other important clients don’t always have to be serious.
Instead, encourage busy entrepreneurs to take a break and have some fun with their friends and family with this game set.
If you’re unfamiliar with Bottle Bash, the game involves hitting the bottles with a frisbee.
What we like most about this set is that it’s compact and easy to set up.
Why we recommend it: A 2023 research study found that outdoor activities reduce stress, boost morale, and sharpen mental activity, which is very important for busy entrepreneurs.
4. Auden bamboo writing lap desk
Working from home or while traveling for business can be challenging.
Therefore, our clients recommend including cool office supplies in your marketing basket, like this desk.
The Auden desk features a smooth bamboo surface, perfect for writing and using your laptop.
On top of that, it has two built-in docks for your phone and tablet and a soft cushion bottom that allows you to keep the desk comfortably in your lap.
Why we recommend it: Pew Research Center estimates that around 22 million Americans work from home at all times, making this gift very practical and thoughtful.
5. Cleer Enduro ANC noise-canceling headphones
Noise-canceling headphones are another great corporate gift idea for a remote worker basket theme.
These headphones reduce sounds by 25dB and allow for 60 hours of extended use.
They are also very comfy and come in a practical and customizable travel pouch.
Why we recommend it: This tech swag will help remote workers concentrate better and stay productive in any environment.
6. Welly tumbler & traveler bundle set
Are you searching for a great summer holiday gift for your clients?
This gift set is a very good choice because your clients can in fact use it all year round.
The stylish custom tumbler and traveler water bottle feature a double-wall stainless steel vacuum construction with copper insulation that keeps drinks cold for 24 hours or hot for 8 hours.
Why we recommend it: Travel promotional items will impress outdoor enthusiasts, as well as new business owners who travel a lot for work.
7. Highway 9-piece gift set
Unfortunately, cars break down when you least expect them to, so having a highway emergency set on hand is highly recommended.
Our set includes a collapsible funnel, 10-gauge jumper cables, a warning triangle, a gas siphon, a blanket, a 50 PSI tire gauge, one pair of rubber grip gloves, and a flashlight with two AA batteries.
Why we recommend it: Given that 72% of Americans commute to work by car, according to a 2024 Statista survey, this is a practical gift that shows clients you genuinely care about them.
8. Wenger recycled zippered padfolio
The Wenger padfolio is an eco-friendly promotional product that helps startup executives and other entrepreneurs stay organized during business meetings.
Our clients love its smooth, recycled polyurethane cover which gives it a very professional look, and the fact that it includes 30 pages of recycled white-lined paper.
The padfolio also features a gusset pocket, business card pockets, elastic loops, and pen loops.
Why we recommend it: Forty-six percent of U.S. consumers say they would have a better opinion about a marketer if they received an eco-friendly promotional item from them, according to an ASI report.
9. Live Green gardener’s gift set
Whether or not your clients have a green thumb, this gift will encourage them to spend more time outside, which is good for their health.
All the premium gardening tools come in a tool belt for easy carrying.
The best part is that the set includes carefully selected tree seeds that can thrive in most parts of the country, making this a one-of-a-kind DIY gift for gardening enthusiasts.
Why we recommend it: A 2024 systematic review found that gardening improves well-being and quality of life, which means this gift set promotes corporate wellness.
10. 36-piece backyard BBQ tool set
Don’t worry, your client doesn’t have to be a master chef to use this gift, but they just might perfect their grilling skills with it.
Besides the high-quality, stainless steel tools, the set also features a heat-resistant silicone glove to avoid burns, a recipe book, and a temperature guide for making delicious BBQ.
Why we recommend it: Since 70% of all households in the U.S. own at least a grill or smoker, according to the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association, it’s clear that Americans love barbeque.
11. Stay-in S’mores gift set
No, sweets are not just for kids!
Our clients can attest to this as they frequently order this promotional candy set.
Inside the gift box, you’ll find a complete DIY set for making yummy s’mores at home. You don’t even have to bake them!
The gift set also includes a hot cocoa bag and a vacuum-insulated mug that will keep your drink hot throughout your cozy night at home.
Why we recommend it: This gift can bring back fond childhood memories of baking s’mores over the campfire on family camping trips, which your recipients can now recreate indoors with their children.
12. Moleskine coloring kit
Whether you want to surprise a creative client or encourage a busy entrepreneur to pick a relaxing hobby, the Moleskine coloring kit is a great choice.
It includes a beautiful branded notebook and a set of 12 water-soluble coloring pencils that will bring any drawing to life.
Why we recommend it: Surprisingly, a research study found that doodling can increase information retention by 29%, so this gift can help your clients perform better at work.
13. La Cuisine cheese board with serving set
Delight your foodie customers with this deluxe gift set.
The natural Acacia wood cheese board comes with a complete toolset for hard and soft cheeses, including a thin knife, a chisel knife, a serving fork, and a small spade.
Why we recommend it: Whenever your clients bring out this set for an evening of fine wine and cheese, they’ll be reminded of your brand.
14. Samsonite everyday toiletry bag and 6-piece travel bottle set
If you want to surprise your clients with practical summer promotional items, our clients recommend the Samsonite set.
The toiletry bag features a spacious main compartment that can easily hold all your everyday cosmetics, toiletries, or small gadgets.
Likewise, you can use the four travel bottles with squeeze, spray, pump, and pour tops to bring your favorite shampoo, conditioner, and liquid soap wherever you go.
Why we recommend it: This set will help your clients stay organized during their business trips and summer vacations.
15. Out of The Woods zero-waste gourmet lunch bag
Remind your clients of their school days with this vintage-looking reusable paper lunch bag that they can bring with them to the office every day.
And that’s not all!
The bag is full of delicious sweet and salty goodies that will put a smile on your recipient’s face.
Why we recommend it: After indulging in these goodies, your clients can resume their healthy habits and reuse the lunch bag to bring homemade meals to work.
Coming up next, we’ll teach you how to create your own marketing gift boxes.
How To Create Your Marketing Gift Box
Here are some useful tips that will guarantee the success of your marketing box:
- Find out more about your recipient. Ask around and do a bit of online research to identify your client’s preferences, interests, or hobbies so you can pick more meaningful gifts.
- Set a budget. With so many great swag items to choose from, it’s easy to overspend if you’re not careful.
Therefore, you should first determine how much you can afford to spend on client gifts and then pick promotional products that fit your budget.
- Choose quality items. Never compromise on quality!
A small, high-quality, budget-friendly gift is much better than a big, poor-quality one.
In fact, according to PPAI statistics, as cited by AMA, around 72% of consumers make a connection between a company’s reputation and the quality of its promotional products.
- Personalize. If you want your clients to remember your brand, you need to personalize all your gifts with your company name or logo.
Likewise, if you know the recipient well, you can also add a funny message to make your gift more memorable.
- Focus on variety and versatility. Don’t stick to only one swag category because it will become boring after a while.
Instead, include a variety of promo items in your marketing baskets that your clients can use either at home or at the office.
- Don’t neglect the presentation. The packaging you use for your corporate gifts is just as important as the items inside.
So, pay special attention to gift wrapping to enhance your client’s unboxing experience.
- Consider practicality. If you want your recipient to use your branded merchandise, pick items they can use daily or on special occasions.
- Plan for delivery. Order and send out your gifts well in advance, especially during the holiday season, to make sure they arrive on time.
The good news is that at SwagDrop we can take care of this for you by delivering your corporate gifts right to your client’s doorstep.
Now, it’s your turn!
Tips, tricks, and inspiration delivered straight to your inbox.
Over To You!
Remember that striving to keep existing clients contributes to your success way more than chasing new leads.
You can keep your clients on board longer by showing appreciation with a thoughtful gift basket every once in a while.
For more ideas on what to include in your corporate gift baskets, check out our SwagDrop shop.
