Drag: Gifts For The Client

It’s the most wonderful and dreaded time of the year. What will you give clients this year, as way of saying, “even-though-you-nixed-a-genius-plan-and-ruined-what-could-of-been-a-great-campaign-thanks-for-not-putting-
the-account-up-for-review?” To help guide you, we thought we’d provide a list of “Don’ts” culled from our readers.

Don’t… send sexual or potty humor gag gifts. You would think this one would be a no-brainer, but yesterday, we received a Santa that when you pull its finger it farts. Not. Kidding.

Don’t… give the gift of food. Come on… they know that your assistant got that same damn tin for everyone in your address book. Plus, you’ve probably skipped out on enough client dinners that you can’t be positive they digest milk, aren’t allergic to wheat, follow a weird microbotic diet or just don’t like chocolate. Be safe and skip it.

Don’t… give your client anything with your company name etched on it. Seriously. Have some class. You are a not a telemarketer. These people know who you are and they probably aren’t fond enough of you to not make fun of the Old Navy sweatshirt the account manager is rocking.

Don’t… be that agency that sends clients a card with a picture of the team on the front of it. We don’t think we need to explain why.

Don’t… be cheap. Don’t send your clients one of those oh-so-useless holiday gift bags that are worth about 5 bucks. No one wants a one size fits all t-shirt, stuffed Santa Claus or a notebook lined with snowflakes. You can’t even re-gift that kind of crap.

Feel free to add your own don’ts in the comment section.