Make sure your corporate Christmas gifts stand out

We’ve all been there; from cringe-worthy Secret Santa experiences to being on the receiving end of a gift you don’t know how to respond to. Choosing corporate gifts at Christmas can be difficult, especially if your company has taken on new employees that you don’t know too well. It can be hard to think of the correct gift which expresses gratitude but also exudes a sense of luxury. 

With the past two years being a tricky time for many, we reckon making a big deal out of Christmas is the way to go. How? With chocolate of course!

Chocolate is one of the most popular gifts to give at Christmas – mostly because it’s convenient. After all, you can’t go wrong with a box of chocolates! Instead of popping to the supermarket on your lunch break and grabbing a generic selection box for the present you completely forgot about, why not think about using Hotel Chocolat for your work-related gifts? 

We know chocolate works and we’ve been doing our special thing for over a decade. Christmas is about luxury and rewarding those you love and appreciate. We take the chocolate experience one step further and have raised the bar for cocoa growing since 2002.

Choosing Christmas presents for employees and colleagues doesn’t have to cause you sleepless nights with our range of Hotel Chocolat corporate gifts. We have something to offer everyone.

It may seem a bit early to start thinking about Christmas. But everyone could benefit from embracing the festive spirit earlier this year, and we can help get turn your office into a suitably merry place to be.

Getting the office in the mood for Christmas

Even if you don’t want to think about buying gifts already, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to get into the Christmas spirit! From fairy lights to mistletoe, a little festive decoration is a great way to get ready for the season of goodwill.

Throughout the working week, it is easy to get bogged down with deadlines and numerous demands that can taint office morale.

With Chrimbo just around the corner, why not treat the office to a few pick-me-ups to raise the spirits? Our Dunking Biscuits Selection Box pair perfectly with a luxuriously rich coffee or hot chocolate. A luxury hot drink break is sure to give the office a boost any time of day.

And if the caffeine gets too much, there’s nothing that embraces the Christmas spirit more than a comforting mug of hot chocolate. Forget queuing at the local coffee shop. Instead, why not provide your lucky colleagues with creamy barista-grade beverages? From Black Forest Gateau to 45% Nutmilk Hot Chocolate, there’s something for everyone. Is there anything more festive?

And if you fancy going all-out, there’s always the revolutionary Velvetiser hot chocolate machine. Even the office Scrooges will feel the Yuletide cheer.

A bit of indulgence and early Christmas festivities never did anyone any harm. And getting Christmas presents for colleagues, such as our warming hot chocolate might be the best decision you make all year.

What is the best gift for your boss?

Looking to offer your boss a thank you for all they do?

Some people may accuse chocolate of being impersonal as it’s the safe option for many who don’t know what to buy. It’s true that you can’t go wrong with chocolate. However, you can also get a personal chocolate gift that is oh-so-right as well. Give something to your boss that they wouldn’t normally buy for themselves. A bottle of Mint Chocolate Velvetised Cream, perhaps? With deep and mellow cocoa notes combined with uplifting and fragrant peppermint undertones, and that boozy kick, it’s the perfect winter warmer.

Our Classic Christmas Sleekster is an iconic collection of firm favourites and festive chocolate treats your boss is sure to enjoy. From traditional pralines and moreish Chocolate Brownie Selectors to a luxurious Champagne Truffle, there’s a little bit of everything. We’ve even included a rich Christmas Pudding chocolate to really get to the heart of the season.

Alternatively, your boss might enjoy an elegant cabinet. Are they a fan of dark chocolate? Our Dark Chocolate Cabinet is a sleek, show-stopping display of our most iconic dark recipes. With 55 filled and solid chocolates and biscuits rich in cocoa, any dark chocolate lover is sure to be delighted.

What is the best gift for your employees?

It might seem overwhelming to think about getting a gift for each of your employees, but it is worth it! An Instant Print survey asked 1,500 US office workers their opinion on their boss buying them a corporate Christmas gift. 94% said a gift would make them feel more valued.

And having employees that feel more valued is only going to bring more overall benefits in the long run. But gift-giving for employees at Christmas is about more than financial incentives. It shows that you care and value them as a person.

Giving the gift of chocolate is popular for a reason. In Britain, giving chocolate started to become popular in the nineteenth century, and we’ve kept it ever since. Here at Hotel Chocolat, we recognise the importance of corporate Christmas gifts. However, we want to provide a slice of creativity and authenticity alongside it.

We have items available to order for every budget, from a Waddle of Penguins tin to a decadent Grand Wreath Box. Simply order online and we’ll take care of the rest. Feel free to add a message card and choose from our array of gift bags to make it feel extra special.

Or, if you’re a smaller company and only have a handful of employees to buy for, you could use our gift creator option where you can select a gift bag and decide what to put in it. In this way, you can personalise the gift and think about what flavours the person loves.

Now you’ve got the gift ideas covered, you may want to start thinking about the Christmas party season. Christmas parties are going to be a bit different this year, but there’s no reason why they can’t be safely celebrated in style. We can ensure your attendance has the perfect accompaniment.

What is the best thing to bring to a Christmas party?

Arriving at a Christmas party empty-handed is one of the worst feelings of all, and can set the tone for the rest of the evening. However, at Hotel Chocolat, we’re here to help you – and the office – make merry!

Food and drink will be at the centre of any Christmas party and festivities, so why not treat the host to some liqueurs to try? Our Velvetised Espresso Martini Velvetised Cream liqueur with vodka, espresso, white chocolate and cream is guaranteed to go down a treat for rounding off the evening.

You may be thinking that they may be supplied with plenty of alcoholic beverages already. If so, you could always show up with our Tipsy Truffles H-Box, featuring delicate flavours of rums, whiskeys, fruit liqueurs and cocktails. This will give them an indulgent treat to look forward to when the crowds have gone home.

Do you have to give corporate gifts at Christmas?

You may be thinking, is all this gift-giving necessary? And is sending corporate Christmas gifts worth it?

Corporate Christmas gifts are always well received. Christmas is often a time when people are financially stretched and are under a lot of strain. A corporate gift arriving on their desk is a wonderful expression of appreciation and seasonal goodwill. It may seem like a small thing that won’t have much of an impact, but you’d be surprised.

Good quality gifts create a positive and generous impression on your employees and will ensure the year ahead gets off to a good start. Giving gifts to employees at Christmas will raise their morale in a time of need.

But it doesn’t have to stop there. You can also use corporate gifts to send to regular clients and future ones. This will create a positive association between you and your clients and will help form established relationships in the long run. Aside from being a clever form of marketing, it’s simply a nice thing to do.

Business is essentially about forming and maintaining good relationships. And the act of gift-giving is a significant way to nurture this. The Hotel Chocolat direct ordering service makes this easier than ever. Help create a stand out impression with a personalised message for employees and clients, and we’ll send it straight to their door. A couple of clicks and, phew, that’s one less thing to worry about this Christmas!

Crowd-pleasing corporate Christmas hampers

Still not sure about what to choose? If this is the case, you can simply leave it up to us by purchasing one of our Christmas hampers, designed specifically for the occasion and to be shared in any office.

Got a big office? The Festive Feast Hamper is a generous collection of chocolates, biscuits, hot chocolates and tipples. With full Sleeksters, dozens of batons and even a Mini Chocolate Dipping Adventure, there really is something for everyone. So whether you’re handing out nibbles during a meeting or cracking open a bottle of Classic Prosecco after work, bring some merriment to the workplace. This bountiful basket will bring a smile to anyone’s face.

Everyone has their favourites when it comes to chocolate, so purchasing a corporate hamper is one way to ensure the chocolate cravings of everyone in the office are well and truly quenched.

This year has been a testing one, and there’s no better way to spread the Christmas cheer than by treating your staff or boss to a taste of luxury. Make your Christmas gift stand out among the crowd with our chocolate which prioritises taste and authenticity. It’s what we do best.

By Nicky Green