Every year it happens. Somewhere around the second week of December, someone looks up from their desk and says, “Are we doing client gifts this year?” Cue the scramble: couriers are flat out, half the suppliers are winding down, and the only thing still available is a 2025 calendar nobody wants.

It’s mid-October as we write this, which means you’re ahead of that person. Good on you. This guide covers what to give clients, staff and the long thank-you list, how to keep it classy, and when you actually need to order so the gifts land before the office shuts for the year.

🗓️ When to order Christmas gifts (work backwards)

Don’t start with the order date. Start with the day the gifts need to be in your hands, then count back. Most businesses want them by the first or second week of December, so there’s time to sign cards and drop them off before the Christmas party season eats everyone’s calendar.

From that date, take off freight, then production, then artwork approval. Here’s roughly how that plays out:

• Made-to-order and full-colour items (order in October): anything printed edge to edge or made from scratch has the longest runway. Our Full Colour Christmas Stocking, for example, lists 20 working days of production after you approve the proof. That’s four working weeks before it even gets on a truck.
• Branded stock items (early to mid November): bottles, tumblers, notebooks, bags and the like are already sitting in an Aussie warehouse. Branding them is quicker, but popular colours do sell out as December gets closer.
• Simple stock items, one-colour print (late November): still doable. You’ll just have fewer choices and less room if the artwork needs a second look.
• December: couriers are slammed and plenty of suppliers close over the break. We’ll always try, but you’re rolling the dice.

Lead times vary by product, quantity and decoration, so treat the list above as a guide rather than a promise. Tell us your in-hands date and delivery address up front and we’ll only shortlist things that can realistically get there.

One more thing people forget: artwork approval is part of the lead time. If the person who signs off on the logo is going on leave in November, sort that out now. A proof sitting in someone’s inbox for a week can cost you more time than freight.

🎁 Who are you gifting? (It changes everything)

A gift for your best client and a gift for 300 people on the mailing list are two completely different jobs. Splitting your list into groups before you look at a single product saves a lot of time and money. Most businesses end up with three.

Clients: something they’d buy for themselves

The test for a client gift is simple. Would they still want it if your logo wasn’t on it? If the answer’s yes, you’re on the right track. Client gifts get kept when they feel like a treat, not an ad.

A few that pass the test:

• For the wine lovers: the Tirano Two Bottle Wine Cooler is ready for a summer arvo and doesn’t need you to supply the wine (though nobody would complain). Pop a bottle in a Jute Single Wine Bag if you’re delivering by hand.
• For the desk-bound: a boxed notebook and pen set like the Kingston Notebook and Pen Gift Set is useful from the first working day of January.
• For the coffee crowd: a quality vacuum tumbler like the SPICE Nazare 330ml gets used every morning, which is exactly where you want your brand to be.
• For the “hard to buy for” client: a NATURA Candle with Bamboo Lid is a safe, nice-smelling bet.

Presentation does a lot of the heavy lifting here. A magnetic lid gift box with a bit of tissue turns two good items into something that feels considered. We can pack them for you, so you’re not up until midnight on the boardroom floor with a roll of tape.

🍷 Building a client gift box?
Mix and match from wine accessories, drinkware, candles and gift boxes. We’ll help it look like one gift, not four random things.
👉 See Christmas and end of year gifts →

Staff: think summer holidays, not Christmas Day

Here’s an Aussie advantage. Our Christmas break is summer holidays, so the best staff gifts are the ones that come camping, to the beach or to the cricket. A gift that gets used on holidays reminds people where they work while they’re having a good time. That’s a pretty nice association.

• Oceana Recycled Cooler Bag: the Boxing Day esky, sorted.
• Pluto Picnic Blanket: for carols in the park, the beach or the backyard.
• Frontier Rapid Dry Towel: packs small, dries fast, gets taken on every trip.
• Rebel Clip Speaker: clips onto a bag so someone can play the cricket commentary nobody asked for.

If your crew is mostly on site, think about what actually survives a ute. A tough lunch cooler or a good drink bottle will get more use than something delicate. And if you want names on each gift, tell us at the start. Personalisation adds time and needs a clean list of spellings.

The big thank-you list: small, cheerful, easy to post

Suppliers, past customers, the whole database. This is where you want something low cost that still raises a smile, and ideally something that fits in a satchel without costing a fortune to send.

• Christmas Ham Bag: possibly the most Australian Christmas gift there is. It gets used every year, from the 25th until the ham finally runs out sometime around New Year.
• Hazel Chocolate Gift Box: a small branded box of chocolates. It won’t last long, but it will be appreciated (pick something heat-friendly if it’s heading north in December).
• Full Colour Christmas Stocking: fun for client kids or office decorations. Remember the 20 working day lead time.

For more low-cost ideas that travel well, have a look at our mailable items. If you’re torn between spending less on more people or more on fewer people, our budget vs premium guide walks through that trade-off.

🎄 How to avoid the tacky corporate gift

We’ve seen a lot of Christmas gifts over the years. The ones that end up in the regift drawer usually make the same few mistakes.

The logo is too big. A client gift with a giant logo feels like a billboard. Keep it smaller and tidier than you would on an event giveaway. A tone-on-tone or single-colour print often looks more expensive than a full-colour splash. Your free visual proof is the place to try both and pick the one you’d actually keep.

It says “Christmas 2026” on it. Anything printed with a date or a Santa has a use-by of 26 December. Put the festive bit in the packaging, the ribbon or the card. Keep the product itself useful all year, and your logo stays on show all year too.

It ignores the person. Not everyone drinks, eats chocolate or wants another mug. If you’re sending wine accessories, have a non-alcohol option ready for the clients who don’t drink. It takes ten minutes to sort and avoids an awkward moment.

It breaks a gift policy. Government departments and a lot of larger companies have limits on what staff can accept. If you work with them, a modest, useful item is safer than something flashy. When in doubt, ask your contact quietly.

It turns up late. A Christmas gift that arrives on 8 January is just a slightly confusing gift. See the timeline above.

📦 Delivery, packing and the Perth factor

Will you hand the gifts over in person, or post them? It changes what you should order. Bulky, heavy or fragile items are great for a handshake delivery and a headache in the mail. If you’re posting to clients across the country, pick something that packs flat and light.

If you have several offices, tell us early. We can split a single order across multiple addresses so you’re not paying to ship everything to one place and then sending it all out again. And if you’re in regional WA or the NT, add a few extra days on top of the usual freight times. December doesn’t make the trip any quicker.

Still not sure where to start? Our guide to choosing promotional products breaks it down into three quick questions. It works just as well for Christmas.

Reviewed by Daniel Galpin, PromoMate Australia. Daniel looks after product selection, print methods and order planning, and has steered more than a few last-minute Christmas orders over the line.

Frequently asked questions about corporate Christmas gifts

1. When should I order corporate Christmas gifts in Australia?
As early as you can. Made-to-order and full-colour items are best briefed in October, branded stock items by early to mid November, and simple one-colour stock items by late November. Lead times depend on the product, quantity and decoration, so tell us your in-hands date and we’ll shortlist what can make it.

2. How much should I spend on a client Christmas gift?
It depends on the relationship and your client’s gift policy. Many businesses spend more on a short list of key clients and keep a smaller, cheerful gift for everyone else. Share a rough per-person budget and we’ll show you options at that level, branding included.

3. What are good Christmas gifts for staff?
In Australia, think summer. Cooler bags, picnic blankets, quick-dry towels, speakers and good drink bottles all get used over the holiday break. Choose something that suits how your team actually spends their time off.

4. Should I put Christmas designs on branded gifts?
Usually not on the product itself. A Christmas print dates the item, so it tends to get put away after December. Keep the festive touch in the gift box, bag or card, and keep the product useful year-round.

5. Can you pack the gifts into boxes for us?
Yes. We can pack items together in gift boxes or bags so they arrive ready to hand out. Mention it at the start, as packing affects pricing and timing.

6. Can you deliver to more than one office?
Yes. Give us the addresses and the split of quantities and we’ll quote delivery to each location. Regional and remote addresses can take longer in December, so allow extra time.

7. Can each gift have a person’s name on it?
On many products, yes. Personalisation takes longer than a standard logo print and needs a checked list of names. Let us know early so it can be built into the timeline.

8. What if I’ve left it too late?
Get in touch anyway. Stock items with a simple print can sometimes still be turned around quickly. We’ll be honest about what can arrive in time and what can’t.

Got a Christmas list and no idea where to start? Flick us an email with the rough details. No dramas, we’ll sort a shortlist.