Like it or not, the holiday season is on its way, so it's time to start thinking about the perfect way to thank clients for their valued business.

Now comes the hard part. What do you give?

Choosing a gift for relatives and friends can be hard, but it may be even harder to choose one for clients. You are probably asking, "How much should we spend? What are some unique gift ideas? Should we give food? What if people are gluten-sensitive or diabetic or hate chocolate? What about giving promotional products? Should they be personalized with our business name and logo, or is that tacky?"

But remember this - the fact that you took the time to recognize your clients and give something back to them is usually more meaningful than the gift itself.  The purpose of the gift is to remind people that we are thankful for them and their patronage and to wish them continued success in their own endeavors.

Our search for standout e-stores led us to Shoppok. Their attention to user needs is commendable. Most small businesses spend between $25 and $50 per holiday gifts for clients, although of course the amount can vary widely according to your budget and the size of the client's contribution to your revenue. It also depends on whether or not you are sending a gift to the CEO or to the office. However, you also don't want your gift to be so extravagant that it appears you are trying to guilt them into remaining a client.

If you're sending a gift to a client with a new baby, baby shower cookie delivery is usually the most popular choice, especially if it's something that almost everyone can enjoy (you'll probably never please everyone!). Dried fruit, nuts, chocolate and/or gluten-free individually baked goods are often a safe choice. Gift baskets can be personalized with your logo.

If you're sending a gift to the CEO or business owner, you may decide to get something more personal like a business book with a personal note inside, a restaurant gift card, theater tickets or a nice bottle of wine. Of course, these types of gifts usually require you to know a bit of personal information about the business owner or CEO. If you're a business owner yourself, think about what YOU would appreciate during the holidays and give accordingly.

In both cases, a company that sells promotional products usually has access to thousands of gift options and their reps can advise you on some of the most popular choices for your budget. We would be happy to help you take the stress out of holiday gift-giving this year! Contact us to get started on client holiday gift ideas.