Corporate Christmas gifting can feel like navigating a tinsel-covered minefield. You want to show genuine appreciation to your clients and team, but you're working with remote colleagues, tight budgets, and the logistical nightmare of getting gifts to people you might never have met in person.
Enter the humble letterbox gift – the unsung hero of modern corporate gifting. Although we do sing about it quite a lot…
Why Letterbox Gifts Work for Business
When your team are scattered across different cities (or countries), traditional corporate gifts become complicated fast. Letterbox gifts tie up the key problems with a neat velvet bow:
No one needs to be home. Your gift arrives safely without requiring a signature or someone to answer the door during work hours.
Shipping is straightforward. You don't have time to be worrying about courier fees and delivery windows! Standard postage keeps costs down when you're sending to multiple people.
They feel personal. A well-chosen letterbox gift doesn't scream "bulk order". It says you've actually thought about the person receiving it.
Perfect for hybrid working. Whether they're in the office twice a week or fully remote, their festive treat gets to them no matter what.
What Makes a Good Corporate Letterbox Gift?
Not all letterbox gifts are created equal, especially for professional relationships. Think carefully about how you build yours:
Quality over gimmicks. Skip the novelty stress balls. We’re talking locally made treats, premium tea or coffee, lovely stationery, or small luxury items that feel considered.
Universal appeal. Unless you know someone really well, avoid anything too personal or niche. Food gifts should also take into account dietary requirements – no-one wants to be tempted by something they can’t eat!
Thoughtful presentation. Packaging matters. A beautifully presented letterbox gift makes an impression before it's even opened. And beautifully presented gifts are our thing.
Include a personal note. Even a short handwritten message (our speciality) says genuine appreciation not "corporate obligation".
The Remote Working Issue: Getting Addresses Without Spoiling the Surprise
This is where corporate gifting gets tricky. How do you get someone's home address without making it blindingly obvious you're sending a gift? Here's how to fly under the radar – while keeping it all above board, of course:
For Your Team
The casual HR update approach: "Hi everyone, we're updating our records for emergency contacts and home addresses. Can you confirm yours when you get a chance?"
The welcome pack angle: If you have new starters, send a general email: "We're sending out some company info to home addresses – can everyone reply with their current details?"
The honest but vague method: "We need to send something to you at home – could you share your address?" Most people won't push for details, and it's not technically a lie.
For Clients
Invoice or paperwork: "We're reviewing our invoicing details – is this still the correct address for you?" Works particularly well if you've genuinely been sending invoices to an office that might not be in use.
Christmas card pretence: "We're sending cards this year – what's the best address to reach you?" It's not untrue, and most people expect cards anyway.
Direct but mysterious: "We'd love to send you something to say thanks for this year – what's your preferred address?" They're probably going to see straight through this one – but the surprise of what arrives still counts!
Ask their assistant: If your client has an EA or assistant, they're your secret weapon. A quick, friendly message usually gets you the information without any awkwardness.
The "Just Ask" Philosophy
Then again, it's perfectly fine to just say you'd like to send a thank-you gift. Most people (if not all!) appreciate the gesture, and the surprise is in what you send after all!
Timing Your Letterbox Gifts
For Christmas corporate gifting, timing matters:
Early to mid-December is ideal. Your gift arrives before the festive chaos, and people actually have time to enjoy it. Plus, you're not competing with a mountain of personal deliveries.
Account for posting deadlines. Check final posting dates well in advance, especially for international clients.
Send earlier for international recipients. Nothing says "we forgot about you" like a gift arriving on December 28th.
A Few Ideas to Get You Started
For clients: luxury coffee or tea selections, cute hot chocolate sets, fancy biscuits or chocolates, beautiful notebooks or cosy candles.
For your team: personalised stationery, self-care sets, extra special treats, festive books and cosy accessories.
The safe bet: When in doubt, food and drink gifts are universally appreciated and work across most dietary requirements if you choose carefully.
The TreatBox Treatment: Get in touch with our corporate gifting team, and they'll do all the hard work for you; they're the hardest-working elves we know!
The Corporate Bottom Line
Corporate gifting doesn't need to be complicated or impersonal. Letterbox gifts let you show genuine appreciation without the logistical headaches of traditional corporate presents.
Your clients and team work hard all year. A thoughtful gift that arrives through their door, requires zero effort on their part, and feels genuinely personal? That's worth much more than another branded mug gathering dust in a cupboard. Although we DO love a good mug.
And if you have to get slightly creative with your address-gathering tactics? Well, that's just part of the fun.
