Corporate Gifting – Not Just for Christmas

Having just released our limited-edition chocolate gifting box we have been thinking about some of the fantastic corporate promotion projects we have designed. Corporate gifting is synonymous with the festive season, and we have worked on some lovely projects this time of year, but with the festive market being so crowded, a well-timed gift outside of December can often have a bigger impact. 

Whether it’s to thank clients, reward employees, or build brand loyalty, thoughtful promotional items are a great way to foster connections. From the humble branded pen to innovative gifting there are lots of ways to promote your business and it’s well worth the investment in the creative process to ensure promotional gifts represent your brand well and has the impact you desire.

Our chocolate gifting box is one of the thirty things we are doing to celebrate Optima’s 30th birthday and we have chosen to use a corporate personalisation option of a chocolate brand we really love and respect – Tony’s Chocolonely®.
 

Here are some examples of how we’ve helped brands make a lasting impression through thoughtful, well-executed promotional projects:

Seasonal promotions done right

One of our favourite projects was the Pipers Advent Calendar. Each door revealed a new flavour, and door 25 included a surprise pair of branded socks – a playful touch for Christmas day! 
 

Whilst this was developed to sell to discerning crisp-lovers and is a great example of how to get your brand in the minds of customers throughout the month of December and beyond.

For The Original Cake Company, we created another advent calendar featuring nostalgic bites of Christmas cake behind every door – definitely worth making a moment in your day for! The design used quirky, hand-drawn Victorian-style illustrations that matched the charm and personality of this independent cake-gifting company. It’s proof that advent calendars don’t have to stick to the usual chocolate – a creative approach can make all the difference. Try sourcing well-made products from independent companies to add value.

Calendars are another well-used promotional opportunity at the end of the year. The key to success and them ending up on people’s walls is making them beautiful, useful or entertaining. In the case of the calendar we created for United Fresh we carried on their business narrative of promoting local seasonal produce by ensuring each month included a prominent fruit, vegetable, salad or mushroom in season that month. These were hand-drawn and strikingly vibrant and we included a QR on each page to link to the company’s online seasonal calendar, helping chefs and buyers make informed decisions on what they source for their plates.

Practical, promotional gifting

Promotional items aren’t just for Christmas. A well-thought-out gift at any time of year can help you build relationships and ensure your brand is remembered. We believe these gifts should reflect your values, be thoughtfully designed, and truly useful to the recipient.

Take our Optima-branded umbrellas, for example. Rather than going for bold, garish branding, we designed sleek black umbrellas with subtle branding on the closure strap. The magic happens when you open them: the inner lining reveals a colourful, surprising design with a single Optima logo. It’s a practical gift with wide appeal, designed to surprise and delight while subtly reinforcing our innovative approach. Instead of approaching these items as an advertising opportunity think about how they nurture your relationship with the receiver and what it makes them feel about your business.

Stationery and desk accessories remain popular, but they, too, can be elevated with thoughtful choices. We’re currently sourcing new Optima-branded pens made from biodegradable materials that are both high-quality and sustainable and a responsible choice for what we are putting out into the world. It’s all about balancing functionality with responsibility – and creating something recipients will want to keep and use.

Gifting with a purpose

Corporate gifting should be more than just placing your logo on an item. It’s an opportunity to reinforce your brand’s story and values. When Lincoln's first innovation centre, Think Tank, was built in 2009, its mission was clear: to attract science-based, innovative businesses, raise Lincoln’s profile, and generate investment and employment opportunities. 

The name Think Tank reflects the site’s dual legacy: it was built on the former testing ground for the original WWI military tank prototype, while also representing the innovative, forward-thinking focus of the centre. Optima developed creative marketing pieces to prospective tenants designed to intrigue and inspire. These included iridescent papers, colour-changing mugs, paper origami, and laser-cut metal models, showcasing cutting-edge techniques and materials that mirrored the innovative ethos of Think Tank.
 

These examples show how thoughtful, creative gifting can leave a lasting impression, no matter the season. Whether you’re looking to make an impact at Christmas or throughout the year, we can help you create promotional gifts that reflect your brand and resonate with your audience.