As a promotional marketing company specializing in company logo merchandise, we understand the power of a well-timed gift. When it comes to holiday season gifting, the timing can significantly impact the effectiveness of your campaign. Let's explore the pros and cons of gifting before Christmas versus after Christmas.
Pros for Gifting Before Christmas
- Early Bird Advantage: Gifting before Christmas can give your company a head start on the holiday season. Your branded merchandise will be top of mind when clients are making plans for the following year, and this is a great reminder to include you.
- Holiday Spirit: Gifting before Christmas can help create a festive atmosphere and boost employee morale. It’s a great way to put a bow on the end of a year.
- Positive Brand Association: Gifting before Christmas can create a more positive association with your brand. The timing of the gift, and the gift get associated with other core memories the season brings from the magic of the holidays. Christmas music, hot cocoa, time with family, exchanging of gifts are all positive memories that your gift would be associated with.
- More (Stock) Options: Starting early can give you a broader range of products to choose from as there could be more stock issues after the holiday season.
Cons for Gifting Before Christmas
- Increased Competition: Many businesses are giving gifts before Christmas, which can make it harder for your company to stand out. This can be overcome by choosing the right items and delivering in custom packaging that makes your gift stand out. However, your gift could be one of many from others, losing impact.
- Logistics Challenges: Due to the increased volume of packages and “Ground Rate” shipping not being guaranteed, delivery times may be longer and more expensive.
Pros for Gifting After The Holidays
- Avoid Gift Fatigue: Gifting after Christmas can help avoid gift fatigue, as recipients may be less overwhelmed by the number of gifts they receive.
- Recognize the Previous Year: Gifting after Christmas can serve as a recognition to celebrate success for the previous year. It can also recognize the challenges employees or clients may have faced throughout the year, highlighting their resilience and perseverance. It can be a way to acknowledge their efforts and show appreciation for their ability to overcome.
- New Year, New Beginnings: Gifting at the start of the new year can symbolize a fresh start and a renewed commitment to your brand. It’s also a great way to kick off a new campaign or goal for the upcoming year.
- Flexible Timing: Gifting after Christmas offers more flexibility in terms of timing, allowing you to choose a date that is most convenient for your business, especially if you’re extremely busy at year end.
- Avoid People Not Celebrating Certain Holidays: By gifting after Christmas you avoid the question of whether people celebrate certain holidays.
Cons for Gifting After The Holidays
- Delayed Recognition: Gifting after Christmas can delay recognition leaving employees’ and clients’ wondering if they were forgotten or uncared for.
- Reduced Excitement: Gifting after Christmas may not generate the same level of excitement as gifts given during the holiday season.
- Stock Issues: If you don’t plan and buy before the holiday season, you could run into stock issues after the holidays of the products you planned to give.
The Best Approach for Your Business
The ideal timing for your holiday gifting campaign depends on your specific goals and target audience. If you're looking to maximize brand visibility and create a festive atmosphere, gifting before Christmas might be the best option. However, if you're focused on starting the New Year with a “bang” and creating a memorable post year-end experience, gifting after Christmas could be more suitable.
Let Us Help You Choose the Right Approach
As experts in promotional marketing and corporate gifting, we can help you determine the best timing for your holiday gifting campaign. We'll work with you to select the perfect branded merchandise that aligns with your brand identity and budget. Whether you gift before or after the holiday season, we encourage you to start planning now. For ideas and inspiration, we invite you to check out our Holiday Product Tradeshow or Contact Us to brainstorm.
