The Best Client Gift Ideas For Contractors

** Spoiler – it’s not a puppy.

The number of people ditching their full-time employment positions to become self-employed contractors is accelerating at an incredible rate. This means, signing new clients is becoming extra competitive.

Obtaining a new client can be hard, once you have them, it’s vital to focus on customer retention. Yes, the most important aspects of maintaining a happy client are to provide ‘best-in-the-business’ services and top-notch customer experience.

However, there is a more crafty way to ensure your clients see you as #1, and, that is your end of year Christmas gift. Finding the perfect gift for a client who you may not know very well is tricky.

We want you to enjoy the benefits that come with contracting over Christmas, like spending time with family, eating candy canes or watching Love Actually for the 15th year in a row. So we’ve researched for you.

1. Dairy/ Calander

A dairy or a calendar is a great gift idea for many reasons;

• There are so many varieties and brands to choose from that it is easy to find something, no matter what your budget is
• A diary or calendar is something your client can use all year long. That means you’ll be consistently in their thoughts.
• Your client can use it to note down important information, such as a reminder of your pay date!

2. Wellbeing Gift

A well-being gift is a lovely option, as it shows that you care about your client. People tend to get run-down towards the end of the year, so something to make them feel good over the Christmas break is sure to earn you some browny points.

You can’t g wrong with:

• A massage
• A yoga/fitness class
• A spa voucher

3. An Experience

An experience type gift is better suited when you have an idea of your client’s hobbies. Avoid buying anything too extreme as it might make your client uncomfortable, such as a skydiving ticket or motor racing hot-laps.

Stick to options such as:

• A voucher to one of your favourite restaurants
• Tickets to see a band you know they will enjoy
• A hotel voucher

4. An Indoor Plant

Indoor plants have never been trendier and are a gift that screams “feel-good”. Plants do the opposite to us, humans, they absorb in carbon dioxide and release oxygen.

For this reason, indoor plants can have an incredibly positive effect on our mental health. Studies have shown that surrounding yourself with greenery can:

• Reduce stress and anxiety
• Purify air quality
• Improve concentration and cognitive abilities

No matter your client’s age, chances are, this is a gift they will adore.

5. Gourmet Food Basket

Say goodbye to the shortbread biscuits and fruitcake hampers and hello to organic dark chocolate and beautiful handcrafted ceramic mugs. Today, you can get a massive variety of fantastic quality food baskets, and you can even create personalised ones.

Choosing a gourmet or personalised hamper, over a generic one is a simple way to show that you put thought into the gift, and didn’t just pick the easy option. Always be sure to check for any dietary requirements when buying an edible gift.

6. Something Funny

If your client has no sense of humour, go for the first option in this list. For any other client, a funny gift is almost always a good idea. You can find thousands of gimmicky gifts online, for any budget.

Giving a humorous gift is a great way to bond with your client, and a natural pathway to establish an in-joke. A non-work related joke will lighten your catch-ups, and it means your conversations with your clients won’t always have to be work related.

Just remember that you don’t have to wait until the end of the year to give a gift. Sending small tokens of appreciation throughout the year is an excellent way for a contractor to show their clients they care about them.

Now, get gifting!