4 Ways To Celebrate Clients & Employees This Holiday Season

If there’s any holiday tradition more fraught than the office holiday party, it’s finding ways to show your appreciation to clients and employees. And if you’re working within a small business budget, calling the personal shopper at Tiffany to rescue you probably isn’t an option.

So how do you select cards and gifts that send the right message? Use this handy crib sheet to speed your shopping and avoid feverish, late-night surfing on Amazon.

Break Out the Greeting Cards
Well-chosen holiday cards can be a great way to connect with clients and employees—if you don’t dash off all 200 of them on the same evening. Keep the focus of your message on how much you appreciate working with them and skip the news of anything that may sound like bragging (yes, your latest vacation or your kids’ sports achievements fall into that category!) And instead of robostamping the cards with the name of your firm, sign them by hand instead. Trust us: No one wants a card signed by an LLC.

Curate Client Gifts
Already sent your trusty fruit basket last year? Never fear. There are plenty of alternatives equally worthy of your best client. If you live in a city that’s home to interesting museums, consider sending a gift from one of their gift shops. For customers who love dining out, you can’t go wrong with a gift certificate to their favorite restaurant. Or, for those challenging clients who truly have everything, make a donation in their name to a charity they care about (for ideas, check out JustGive.org).

Get crafty
If you’re planning on spending less than $30 per gift, Etsy, the online crafts marketplace, can be a great source of ideas. It offers plenty of unique items by artisans—ranging fro m fresh baked goods to unique coffee mugs—that clients will love. Or consider a game that taps into the recipient’s interests.

Give Employees What They Really Want
Selecting gifts for your internal team can be tough—especially if you’ve got a wide range of personalities on staff. But perhaps a gift is not the

best option after all. What many employees want this year are cash bonuses—which topped the wish list of employees surveyed recently by Express Employment Professionals. If you can’t afford to give bonuses, why not give team members a half day off to get a jump on their own holiday shopping? The gift of time may be more valuable to them than cash.