While Aunt Susie is busy baking her famous peanut butter fudge, lots of companies are also busy cooking up Christmas cheer with gourmet food gifts for clients and employees. As a kid, I remember my Dad bringing home gift baskets filled with cheese, summer sausage and other goodies every year during the holidays. (Of course, we loved it.) Although a lot has changed in the world since then (the dawn of social media, for instance), one thing still rings true: Food continues to make a lasting impression. According to a recent survey by Advertising Specialty Institute, food and beverage gifts rank second only to gift cards and cash bonuses during the holidays. With that in mind, why not capitalize on the popularity of food gifts all year long? Here’s a look at five ways you can use corporate food gifts beyond the holidays!
#1: Birthday/Anniversary. What better way to demonstrate a personal interest in someone than by celebrating their birthday or the date that they joined your company? Yes, I know that can take a lot of time and effort, but our programs make it super easy for you.
REAL LIFE EXAMPLE: We worked with a client who wanted to boost staff morale and employee retention. With the help of gourmet food vendor Fresh Beginnings, we put together a birthday program where each employee received a tin of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies and a hand-written card during the week of their birthday. All the client had to do was purchase a set amount of tins and provide us with a spreadsheet of names, addresses and birthdates. Once they placed the order and provided the spreadsheet, their work was done for the entire year! Employees raved about the program and loved both the personal touch and the delicious cookies. (Did I mention that they’re baked fresh DAILY?) #2: Trade Shows. Feed them, and they will come. It’s actually true. If you really want to draw people in, offer the best possible treats at your booth. You won’t have any problem drawing a crowd. Our favorites? Individually wrapped cookies and packets of trail mix are great for a mid-show energy boost. These chocolate squares and customized cookies are great crowd-pleasers, too! Oh, and don’t forget the mints! #3: Room Drop Gifts. I recently attended a conference and when I arrived at the hotel, I found bottled water, a bag of nuts and a some yummy candies waiting for me. It offered a thoughtful alternative to mini bar snacks and made a great first impression! Whether you’re hosting a conference or entertaining clients, it’s always a nice touch to have a gift waiting for your guests. An assortment of nuts, a box of truffles or some handmade English butter toffee make for great snacks as your guests settle in. Want to take it a step further? We can even do customized bottled water with your company or event logo. #4: Incentives. Have you ever considered using food gifts to motivate your team? This works particularly well for companies wanting to boost sales. One company wanted to encourage their technicians to increase their service contract sales. They offered an all inclusive weekend getaway at a choice beach resort for the top three employees and their spouse/guests. Each quarter leading up to the trip, they sent the employees a small tin of treats/snacks with a reminder about the contest, using the tin to deliver a fun, motivational message. At the end of the first year, they saw a 40% increase in service sale contracts! *Case study provided by Fresh Beginnings.#5: Appreciation. Never underestimate the value of simply saying thank you. Maybe your team worked really hard to complete a big project ahead of schedule and you want to express your gratitude. A giant gift tower like this one serves 18-24 people and is perfect for feeding a crowd! Perhaps you landed a new account and you want to keep your company fresh in your client’s mind. Pair a gourmet food item with a collectible gift or a branded desktop item for long-term impact. Not sure when you’ll need a thank you gift? You can pre-order a select number of gifts and we’ll drop ship them as needed. You can even provide your business card to be included with each gift!
If you’d like to explore the best food gifts for you and your business, contact us for a free one on one consultation! We’d love to help you get creative with food gifts far beyond the holidays.
While Aunt Susie is busy baking her famous peanut butter fudge, lots of companies are also busy cooking up Christmas cheer with gourmet food gifts for clients and employees. As a kid, I remember my Dad bringing home gift baskets filled with cheese, summer sausage and other goodies every year during the holidays. (Of course, we loved it.) Although a lot has changed in the world since then (the dawn of social media, for instance), one thing still rings true: Food continues to make a lasting impression. According to a recent survey by Advertising Specialty Institute, food and beverage gifts rank second only to gift cards and cash bonuses during the holidays. With that in mind, why not capitalize on the popularity of food gifts all year long? Here’s a look at five ways you can use corporate food gifts beyond the holidays! 
#3: Room Drop Gifts. I recently attended a conference and when I arrived at the hotel, I found bottled water, a bag of nuts and a some yummy candies waiting for me. It offered a thoughtful alternative to mini bar snacks and made a great first impression! Whether you’re hosting a conference or entertaining clients, it’s always a nice touch to have a gift waiting for your guests. An assortment of nuts, a box of truffles or some handmade English butter toffee make for great snacks as your guests settle in. Want to take it a step further? We can even do customized bottled water with your company or event logo.
#4: Incentives. Have you ever considered using food gifts to motivate your team? This works particularly well for companies wanting to boost sales. One company wanted to encourage their technicians to increase their service contract sales. They offered an all inclusive weekend getaway at a choice beach resort for the top three employees and their spouse/guests. Each quarter leading up to the trip, they sent the employees a small tin of treats/snacks with a reminder about the contest, using the tin to deliver a fun, motivational message. At the end of the first year, they saw a 40% increase in service sale contracts!
