When I started Rose and Laurel, a fine art wedding and event floral design studio, I quickly identified client gifting as a key part of my customer experience. A quality client gift not only says “thank you for your business,” but it’s a genuine outpouring of gratefulness from you that manifests in a thoughtful and beautifully presented item to your client. If you think adding client gifts to your workflow would be a good fit for your business, I have some dos and don’ts for you to consider.

1. DO Gift After You’ve Established Your Client Relationship

For my wedding clients, I give a small gift during our final design meeting, which occurs about a month or so before their event, and again on their wedding day. These gifts are personalized to each couple, and the gift wrap is branded to my business. While you could certainly utilize a gifting service (and there are many excellent options out there to choose from), I found that with the exclusive client load I take on each year, taking the extra time to source a gift myself adds something special that is hard to replicate.

2. DO Pick a Color Palette

Picking a color palette that is complementary to your brand will make shopping for gifts (and packaging!) so much easier. You can ignore anything that doesn’t fit your palette! My brand colors are black, white, and hints of French blue. By picking gifts that are packaged only in black, white, and pale shades of blue, it makes it easy to source items that your client would find appealing and are consistent with your brand.

3. DO Customize the Gift to Your Client

If you are giving a gift that has more than one item, I find it helpful to follow a theme. This makes the gift cohesive, and makes it easier to shop! Some ideas are listed below:

• Does the client love meeting at a coffee shop? Do a coffee themed gift package of coffee, a pair of coordinating mugs, and a pretty measuring spoon.

• Is the client stressed out over their event? Gift a spa day: bath salts, hand lotion, and a candle. (Tread carefully here—personalize, but keep it professional. Avoid personal care items that are too personal).

• Does the client love to entertain? A game night theme could be perfect with a pack of cards and assorted novelty snacks.

4. DON’T Be Cheap

Quality is crucial for a client gift. If the quality of the gift is not on par with your product, it confuses the client. I source my gifts locally whenever possible. A simple Google search will yield plenty of results and ideas in your area. Nationally, I find lots of quality and unique gifts at stores like Anthropologie, World Market, as well as online at Etsy and Minted (my recommendations aren’t sponsored—I genuinely like the products I find at these stores!)

If you can’t afford a gift, skip it. Instead, write a heartfelt note on beautiful cardstock, and send it via snail-mail. It is better to write a sincere thank-you note than send a cheap gift. Cheap doesn’t say“thank you for your business.” It just says “cheap.”

5. DON’T Use “Swag”

Branded items, or “swag,” as gifts are tacky. I keep it simple with my brand on the outside of the box, and that’s it! The gifts inside the box are not branded in any way. This is not the time to offload all those branded pens or tote bags sitting in your storage room. A good rule of thumb is if it’s something you would bring to a wedding fair or trade show, skip it.

I hope these tips are helpful to you as you consider your client gifts and customer service workflow! And remember, even if you are unable to send a gift, a beautiful note with a heartfelt thank you goes a long way in creating a delightful experience for your clients.