Business Gift-Giving is Customer Investing

Business gift giving is really an investment in your company. You can solidify the relationships you have with current customers and re-establish relationships with marginal customers. You can even draw new customers into your company. All without cutting your prices.

Here are 5 fundamentals to follow with business holiday gifts 

Give Practical
Your current customers are having a hard time financially, just like you are, whether they are individuals or business clients. Any relief you can give them would be much appreciated and they will remember it. If you have a service/solutions business try offering a future discount.
Offer a discount for services for the next 1 - 3 months, or whatever is appropriate for your business.

Check with Your Customers and see if They Have Limitations on Receiving Gifts
Many companies have strict limitations on the kind and monetary amount of gifts they can receive. In order to avoid embarrassment for both parties, check ahead and find our your customers' gift policies so you won't make a mistake.

Quality is King
No matter what the gift or the economic climate, remember that quality is king. If you decide, for example, on a gift basket, make it a nice one. Even small gift baskets can be nice. You might want to become even more creative and feature your customer's products in the gift basket. This guarantees that the customer will sit up and take notice of your basket and the time and effort you put into it.

Check IRS Regulations on Gift Giving This sounds like a bah humbug type of thing at the holiday season, but to keep yourself out of hot water with the IRS, check their gift regulations before you decide on holiday gifts for your customers. IRS Publication 463 addresses business gifts. They are usually limited to $25, but read this publication for all the details.

Know your Client and your Client's Company
Do you know what holiday your client celebrates? Christmas? Kwanzaa, Hanukkah? Do you want to give a holiday specific gift or a generic gift that is appropriate for any holiday? Take the time to be culturally-correct when choosing a gift for a customer