If you’re looking for affordable client entertainment & gift ideas, this is the list for you. We’ll look at everything from corporate hampers to airport lounge memberships to give you suggestions that will appeal to nearly everyone (without breaking the bank). But first, we need to roll up a level and think about the reasons why you might want to invest in client entertainment & gifts.
Why is client entertainment important?
Client entertainment is one of the few ways you can broaden the relationship with your customers into deeper and more meaningful ones. According to City Experiences, “Client entertaining is a significant part of ensuring the business relationship is maintained. By entertaining a client, you’re letting them know you appreciate their support and business.” It’s just as important as marketing campaigns and loyalty rewards to make your brand more sticky.
So, let’s look at a few options for outings and gifts that will really wow your clients.
Corporate hampers
Go big with the Excelsior. It has four bottles of vino plus, Willie’s Cacao Chulucanas Gold Peruvian 70% Dark Chocolate, Joe & Seph’s Caramel & Belgian Chocolate Gourmet Popcorn, Peters Yard Fig & Spelt Sourdough Crackers, Edinburgh Tea & Coffee Co. Fresh Ground Breakfast Coffee, Edinburgh Preserves Wild Boar Pâté, Cambrook Baked Umami Cashews, Borders Dark Chocolate Gingers Biscuits, Buttermilk Crumbly Vanilla Fudge, Baronie Belgian Milk Chocolate Caramel Pralines and lots, lots more. If that’s too spendy, our most affordable option is the Muffins, Cookies & Flapjack Selection at under £35.
Multi-brand gift cards
Sure, you could select a single brand and send all your corporate clients gift cards and a message, but why not give them more choices? Multi-store cards are an amazing way to say you care without hemming them in. Just choose the occasion and the amount and then they will do the rest; redeeming them at dozens, even hundreds, of different retailers. Amp up the impact and make these cards part of a goodie bag at a lush hosted corporate dinner.
Charity gifts
You could donate some money in your client’s name to a good cause. Or you could shop a charity website to send a more traditional gift yet have some of the proceeds go to charity. We love the options from Macmillan. This little gardening set is sure to delight any client and “100% of the profits from this product goes towards helping [Macmillan] provide physical, financial and emotional support to people with Cancer, allowing them to live life as fully as they can.” Double down on the good vibes by hosting a charity auction to gift these products for even more fundraising.
Spa days
Gifting your client a voucher for a spa day with afternoon tea. This is a thoughtful and kind gesture that shows you know how hard they work too. With a website like Buy a Gift, redeeming is easy as they have partners all over the UK. That takes the stress out of using the corporate client entertainment gift. If appropriate, you could even do a group spa day. Arrange transport to and from and throw in some networking time too.
Travel gifts
Gifting a membership to a service like Lounge Pass is the perfect gift for clients who travel a lot. Combine that with a chic, cheap and cheerful group city break too. Then you’ll get some fabulous bonding time as well and you’ll tick all the boxes for affordable client entertainment. Just don’t forget to book some experiences and meals out as well…
