Affordable yet thoughtful options that don’t require much emotional effort.

You’ve worked with a client, and you haven’t found the relationship to be as smooth as silk. Perhaps you and them didn’t gel, or perhaps they’ve displayed some challenging communication methods. Either way, if you need to get them a gift (e.g. if it’s Christmas), there are various gift ideas that don’t require too much effort or break the bank yet maintain the client relationship. Here are a few of our favorite ideas.

A potted plant or succulent that’s hard to kill.

Plants are often associated with positive emotions like happiness and peace. Consequently, if you buy your client a plant and it dies immediately, they might not take it as a good omen. However, a classy potted plant or succulent that requires little to no effort to maintain will make a stylish addition to their home.

A photo frame or album to celebrate their new home.

If you know the client is moving home, buying a beautiful frame adds a little personal touch – without overstepping the client’s boundary. Some frames you could consider might be a minimalist silver frame, a classic wooden frame or a modern acrylic frame. If they’re fond of gizmos, you could also consider a digital photo frame, which creates a slideshow of the photos they upload.

An e-gift card to a home improvement store.

Likewise, an e-gift card to a home improvement store shows that you’re actively listening to them when they’re describing their move and renovation. The advantage of e-gifts is that you can email them to them with a thoughtful message without needing to worry about delivery options.

A utility-focused gift like a smart light bulb or charging station.

There’s nothing wrong with a practical gift, as long as it matches what they’ve mentioned needing. Utility-focused gifts, as long as they’re a reputable model, reflect how well you can serve your clients’ needs.

Smart light bulbs and charging stations are good examples of practical, utility-focused gifts. Smart light bulbs are remotely connected, meaning they can be connected to a phone. Usually, their color can be changed, and some may respond to voice commands. If your client has a modern approach to renovation, a smart light bulb makes a wonderful gift.

A charging station is a wonderfully impersonal gift: all you need to know is their phone type. For example, an iPhone charging station charges an Apple Watch, iPhone and Airpods simultaneously.

Alternatively, if you’re feeling more ambitious, you could offer a personalizable or customizable gift.

Gifts that are easy to customize without being overly personal

If you’re looking for gifts that you can quickly personalize according to the client’s specifications, here are a few of our ideas.

Gift cards to a popular local restaurant or service.

If you know the client frequents a particular local restaurant or takeout service, a voucher makes a thoughtful gift. You can personalize the gift by adjusting the amount (depending on how close or valuable the client is) and adding a personal message.

A curated food or drink basket that doesn’t require much personalization

You can opt for a food or drink basket from a high-end vendor known for delivering quality products. That way, you don’t have to worry about whether the basket’s contents will tickle your clients’ tastebuds and match their preferences.

A subscription to a gourmet snack box or wine club.

If the client has mentioned being a wine buff or a serial snacker, there are multiple high-quality subscription services available. A subscription is a nice, regular reminder of your relationship, keeping the client relationship alive without needing to actively maintain effort.

A stylish yet neutral welcome mat or home decor piece.

If they’ve just moved, you could purchase them a high-quality welcome mat. If you think they would enjoy personalization, you could add their family name to the welcome mat. A home decor piece you might consider is a (preferably handwoven and/or artisanal) throw blanket. Again, if you think they would enjoy personalization, you could have the blanket monogrammed with their initials. Alternatively, you could gift them a set of candles. Preferably, the candles would be sourced locally and handmade. Or try an engraved cutting board, which you could customize if needed.

A premium coffee table book about local history or architecture.

If the client has ever displayed any interest in their local history or architecture, a coffee table book acknowledges their interest (and your ability to listen). Ensure you’re choosing a premium coffee table book: embossing, foil stamping and high-quality visuals indicate that the book’s appearance, at least, will be impressive. If in doubt, you could always check the book’s review.

A bottle of wine or champagne with a handwritten card.

It’s a classic gift idea for a reason. A ‘nice’ bottle of wine (with a price tag between $25-$75) is a tasteful gift. It’s also not the end of the world if you get the grape wrong e.g. if you get them a bottle of red when they stick to white wines (if in doubt, you could get them a bottle of prosecco). If the recipient is an oenophile, consider buying wine or champagne from a local winery or from a dedicated online store. Or, if you’re really keen to keep the partnership alive and they’re a confirmed wine fanatic, you could opt for a wine subscription service.

The handwritten note that accompanies the wine is really what elevates this gift from generic to genial. Winning phrases might focus on the ‘valuable partnership’, ‘looking forward to continuing the relationship in the future’, etc. It’s essential that the note is handwritten, but if you have horrible handwriting, what else are colleagues for?

How to maintain the relationship without setting unrealistic expectations for the future.

The right gift keeps your relationship with the client alive without requiring you to shell out too much money or effort in the future. The right gift maintains trust in the relationship without spending too much money or hours of your life worrying about the perfect gift idea. We all appreciate a little effort, and your client will be no different.