The Dilemma Of Corporate Holiday Giving?

FANCY CLIENT GIFTS VS A CHARITABLE DONATION? THAT’S THE DILEMMA!

Every November the Excentric team gets together to brainstorm ideas on how best to thank our clients for their business. That’s when we face the annual dilemma of how we want to allocate our holiday promotions budget: fancy client gifts or charitable donation to a cause that is close to our heart such as The Ottawa Humane Society, The Mission, The Ottawa Food Bank etc.

As a creative agency, we feel the pressure to deliver a unique “outside-the-box” holiday greeting and gift with that wow-factor that will top what we did the year before. It’s a lot of pressure and what’s more November is one of our busiest months, as clients push for all deliverables to be complete before year end.

WHAT HAVE WE DONE IN THE PAST?

In 2015 we sent out an eCard and made a donation to local charities. In 2014 we commissioned custom designed gingerbread houses. They were a huge hit. One client actually told us it was the best client gift they have EVER received. And BONUS, apparently they tasted as great as they looked. In 2013, we gifted bottles of extra virgin olive oil with the message “Gifts from the heart that are good for the heart”.

In 2014 we commissioned these spectacular gingerbread houses.

In 2013 we surprised clients with Olive Oil packaged as wine bottles. See the related blog post.

OUR DECISION FOR 2016 HOLIDAY GIVING?

At the risk of appearing boring and same-old, we have decided to go the charitable donation route again this year. The media has recently provided a great deal of coverage on the plight of local food banks struggling to keep up with rising food costs, families coping with electricity bills that prevent them from keeping their lights on (don’t get us started on Ottawa Hydro!). And of course, there are always our furry friends at the Humane Society that need our help. We feel fortunate each and every day for everything that we have, and we are extremely grateful to all our clients.