Every holiday season, businesses face the challenge of corporate gifting. Many attempt to take this task in-house, believing it will save money. However, creating and sending holiday gifts internally often comes with unexpected costs—in time, money, and resources. Here’s a look at the true cost of DIY holiday gifting and why outsourcing to a professional service like Bundled can be the smarter investment for your business.
Choosing Quality Corporate Holiday Gifts Takes Time and Expertise
One of the biggest challenges of handling corporate holiday gifting in-house is choosing the right products. Curating gifts that are high-quality, thoughtful, and relevant to your brand is no small feat.
When you manage holiday gifts internally, you’re often forced to pick items based solely on appearance or general appeal, with limited knowledge of the product’s actual quality. Without a dedicated team, you may end up with items that look good in photos but don’t hold up upon arrival. Gifting professionals are experienced in vetting products, ensuring that every item meets the highest standards of quality and presentation, which reflects well on your company and creates a positive experience for recipients.
Corporate Holiday Gift Inventory and Packaging Are More Complex Than They Seem
Once you’ve chosen the items, the next step is to order and receive them—a process that can quickly become overwhelming without the right infrastructure. If your office lacks space, managing bulk orders is challenging, with items piling up in storage rooms or any available corner. Coordinating and organizing holiday inventory takes time and resources, especially when you need to track and inspect each item.
Professional gifting companies have the warehouse space, shelving systems, and inventory management tools to handle this task with ease. Outsourcing this step not only saves space in your office but also ensures that inventory issues, such as item shortages or delays, are managed by experts, sparing your team from dealing with last-minute surprises.
Holiday Gift Packaging Isn’t Just About the Box—It’s About Brand Representation
When gifting is handled internally, the task of packaging may fall on a team member with limited time or expertise, which can result in inconsistent presentation. Professional gifting companies invest in high-quality materials and offer custom packaging solutions that elevate the unboxing experience. From gift boxes to branded inserts and ribbons, these details matter. They make your gift memorable, demonstrating the effort and care your company puts into client and employee relationships.
Outsourcing to a professional team means your packaging will be custom-designed, branded, and secure—leaving recipients with a strong impression of your brand. Furthermore, a gifting company knows how to handle fragile items with the right level of protection, minimizing the risk of damages during shipping.
Corporate Holiday Gift Shipping Can Become a Logistical Nightmare
Shipping is a significant step where in-house gifting efforts can go awry. Many companies underestimate the time and logistics involved in sending large volumes of gifts. Managing multiple shipping addresses, deadlines, and tracking information can quickly become an overwhelming task. When you partner with a professional gifting company, they handle every aspect of shipping, including logistics, tracking, and delivery updates, so that you can rest assured your gifts will arrive on time.
During the busy holiday season, shipping carriers experience high demand, leading to potential delays. Professional gifting services have the experience to work around these seasonal challenges, using partnerships with shipping carriers to ensure your gifts are given priority and delivered in a timely manner.
The Hidden Costs of Internal Holiday Gift Management
While taking on holiday gifting in-house may seem budget-friendly at first, the hidden costs add up quickly. Here are some overlooked expenses that come with managing your holiday gifts internally:
- Staff time and productivity: Each step—choosing items, managing inventory, packaging, and shipping—pulls employees away from their core responsibilities.
- Storage costs: As inventory builds up, so do the costs associated with storing and organizing the items.
- Materials and tools: Packing materials, custom packaging, protective fillers, and labeling tools all add up. Without bulk buying power, you may end up paying more per item for these essentials.
- Shipping costs: Companies without bulk shipping rates may face higher delivery fees, especially if gifts are distributed nationally or internationally.
Gifting professionals like Bundled offer all-inclusive pricing that covers product sourcing, custom packaging, and efficient delivery, helping you avoid these unexpected expenses and surprises in your budget.
Make the Smart Investment: Partner with a Corporate Holiday Gifting Expert
Choosing to partner with a gifting professional not only reduces your internal workload but also ensures a higher-quality, polished, and stress-free experience for your clients and employees. From product sourcing to custom packaging and reliable shipping, companies like Bundled manage every aspect of holiday gifting with expertise and efficiency.
When it comes to corporate holiday gifting, remember: the right gift reflects positively on your brand, builds connections, and shows appreciation in a meaningful way. Investing in a professional gifting service allows you to prioritize relationships without the hidden costs of handling it in-house. This holiday season, choose a gifting partner to elevate your brand and leave a lasting impact on your recipients.
Ready to get started? Book a zero-obligation brainstorm session with a Gifting Pro. Whether you want to connect with employees, clients, or prospects, we will guide you every step of the way. You share your vision, and we’ll handle the rest!
Meet the Co-Authors: Courtney Taylor & Chelsea Gheesling
