Australian businesses start to get ready for the annual December rush as the year starts to wind down. Between finishing the end-of-year projects, wrapping the client deliverables, and prepping for the summer slowdown, corporate gifting drops to the bottom of the to-do list.
But getting corporate Christmas gifting in Australia takes a bit of finesse. The business culture gets relaxed but the poorly timed or overly commercial gift can easily miss the mark. No matter if you’re curating Christmas gifts for clients in Australia or you are choosing Christmas gifts for employees in Australia, understanding the tax guidelines, delivery cutoffs and local etiquettes will ensure your gesture lands in the best possible way.
In Australia, Christmas is not only about having a long weekend but it is the start of the summer holiday break. Many businesses shut down completely from the middle of December to mid-January, which means the staff take off to the coast or head to the town early.
There is a chance nobody is going to open the package until the new year if your parcel lands on the desk of your client on December 20th. You should aim to have the business gifts delivered by the end of November or the first week of December at least.
It should always feel like a token of appreciation rather than being a promotional giveaway specifically when it comes to corporate gifts. A really small logo on the outer gift box or card works fine. But having a giant logo is surely going to make a thoughtful gift look like a billboard.
You should focus on the quality of the gift rather than attaching huge logos. This way the recipient is actually going to use the gift and enjoy it outside the office.
Tax rules definitely play a huge role when you are planning business Christmas gifts in Australia. The Australian Taxation Office treats the gifts for staff and clients very differently.
For employees, the Gifts given should cost less than $300 per employee because they are generally exempt from fringe benefits tax and are completely tax-deductible. You should keep the spending under this amount to avoid unnecessary headaches.
For the clients, the gifts given are not subject to FBT. They are claimable as a tax deduction as long as the gifts are non-entertainment.
A nice bottle of sparkling has been the go-to corporate gift. But dietary preferences and lifestyle choices are changing significantly fast. There are many workplaces that prefer inclusive options.
you should opt for local produce, coffee beans, some chocolates, or premium lifestyle gear like tumblers or picnic blankets if you’re not sure whether a client or staff member is going to drink alcohol. When you are sending food hampers you should also ensure they are completely gluten-free or vegan. This way nobody will feel left out.
Australians love supporting local businesses. When you are choosing locally made products like native botanical skincare, roasted coffee, or craft provisions from the regional growers it is going to add a layer of thought to the gift.
It is also going to show community support while also offering the receiver something that is high-quality. This is also going to show how you are thoughtful when you are giving people something rather than considering it just a duty that you have to perform every year.
Gifting etiquette is extremely important to learn and understand. If you do not do so rather than making the other person feel special you can end up messing everything up. To make sure the recipient enjoys receiving the gifts, you should spend some time understanding the basics of gifting before giving them.
Lastly, if you do not want to put too much thought into what you can give to your employees or clients you should visit our website Creative Hampers because you are surely going to find some of the best options.
When selecting client gifts, consider the following key factors:
Focus on items that reflect quality and practicality:
The ideal window for delivering client gifts in Australia is between late November and December 10. Sending early avoids postal bottlenecks and ensures gifts arrive well before office shutdown periods and annual leave begin.
