Stan Can Design

The Gift That Keeps on Giving (Literally)

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Well, it’s almost Halloween. Which basically means it’s 2025 already and you forgot to send out holiday gifts to your clients and employees.

An exaggeration, sure, but only a slight one. Between ideation, creation, and holiday production timelines, the window for sending out thoughtful gifts signed by your brand is rapidly closing.

And that’s a big deal. One study showed that 75 percent of employees said holiday gifts increased job satisfaction. Another said nearly half of professionals receiving holiday gifts from vendors are influenced to continue working with them.

But there’s doing it, there’s doing it right, and then there’s doing it on brand. The same study said 54 percent of those who receive corporate gifts said they have thrown away at least one gift without even using it. Not the ideal outcome for something with your logo printed on it (or the best use of your money).

Corporate gift-giving is a fine line to walk, but the principles of regular gift-giving still apply:

1. BE THOUGHTFUL

Don’t just make something just to make something. Think of something useful, entertaining, or unexpected. Inject a little bit of craft and additional thinking wherever you can. (Unless your employees want money, then just do that)

SCD stickers

Hand-drawn illustrations turned stickers and keychains served as the vessel for a QR code that let recipients choose “sip” (a branded coffee mug to go with the sugary characters) or “drip” (a t-shirt featuring the two donuts) for one of Stan Can’s sweetest holiday gift ideas.

2. DON'T CHEAP OUT

If you want people to hang onto your gift, give a gift worth hanging onto. This doesn’t mean gifting the most expensive thing you can find, but rather finding quality items that fit your budget. (Especially if your brand reflects luxury and craft)

Brooks Brothers puffers? Carhartt beanies? Tolles didn’t mess around with their client appreciation gifts in 2023. But our favorite were the relatively “cheap” items made by equally reputable brands, like Field Notes notebooks with custom branded sleeves.

3. DON'T MAKE IT ALL ABOUT YOU

We all know the type. The people who gift things they love and assume you’ll love it, too. Same goes for your logo. Slapping it on any old thing doesn’t make it special. (Follow steps 1 and 2 and this part takes care of itself)

4. ...BUT MAKE IT A LITTLE ABOUT YOU

The best gifts are unique to the sender and the recipient. They have your stamp on it, which carries more meaning and makes it more memorable. Your gift should elevate your brand, build on its principles, and be in the correct tone of voice. (Unless, of course, your employees just want money. Then just do that.)

Anyone born in December knows Santa’s big night can steal the spotlight from a birthday. Even worse when you’re celebrating a century in business. When Employers approached us with the same dilemma, we delivered an idea that celebrated the season and their 100th Anniversary in style.

Frankly, we love corporate gifting projects. 

It’s a chance to expand on the brands we design and make something that’s truly a gift, not something people are waiting to skip so they can finish a gift-wrapping tutorial on YouTube.

If you have any ideas, or need some of our ideas in your stockings, we’ll be there with sleigh bells on.

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