For most of us, it’s not until we receive some truly uninspired chocolates as a gift that we give any thought to the vast difference in quality between different chocolate brands. Here’s some key facts to note before you embark on selecting your branded or personalised chocolates as corporate gifts.
Buy the Best Quality Chocolates You Can Afford
If you’re serious about sending a corporate gift that your most valued clients and employees will appreciate, then consider whether you’re buying the best quality chocolates you can afford. It’s easy to save a few pence per box by buying cheap alternatives; but high quality corporate chocolates, made with pure ingredients and 100% cocoa butter, will not only delight recipients, they’ll also provide the most cost-effective return on investment.
Look Out For Hidden Charges
When comparing costs between providers of personalised chocolate gifts it’s easy to focus only on the quoted price per chocolate box. However, many chocolate suppliers list set-up costs and printing as separate price components. Depending on your order volume, these extra costs can increase the true unit price significantly, so be sure to ask each supplier to quote you all the costs you’ll pay for your personalised chocolate boxes, with no hidden extras.
Check Lead Times
Branded chocolate boxes are an extremely popular business gift choice, particularly at Christmas time, so it’s worth making your enquiries well ahead of the intended delivery date. Different companies’ lead times vary but we recommend four weeks during the year, rising to six weeks in the run-up to Christmas. This allows sufficient time for producing your personalised chocolates. Printed boxes, in particular need a longer lead time. It pays to be cautious, so if you find a Christmas chocolates gifts supplier who offers to deliver personalised chocolate boxes two days before Christmas, and with only three days’ notice, ask to see examples of their previous print work to check the quality. Remember that sending your clients poorly branded chocolate boxes can have an adverse affect on your brand, and is worse than sending them nothing at all.
Avoid Gimmicks
Gimmicks such as chocolate toolsets are perfect for children, but largely inappropriate as client and employee gifts, for two reasons. Firstly, you cannot assume that the recipient will get (or indeed appreciate) the message you intended to send. Secondly, gimmicky chocolate gifts are invariably made of poor quality chocolate because the quality of the chocolate is of secondary importance to gimmick itself.
Ask About Experience
Buying branded gifts can be a daunting task, especially if you haven’t sourced them before. So when selecting personalised chocolate boxes it pays to find a supplier with experience, not only with chocolate and printed chocolate boxes but also in the corporate workplace. Ask potential suppliers to explain how their service works. For example, will you receive a written quotation and product samples you can review with your team? If so, how quickly? You may need to liaise with your company’s design agency, so what kind of logo artwork is required and what are the branding options available to you? You’ll probably need to keep your team updated with your order progress, so how can you be sure your delivery deadline will be met?
Given the vast array of potential suppliers available online, it’s well worth taking the time to seek out a professional company that understand the constraints and pressures of the environment in which you work. Your initial efforts will be rewarded with the highest standard of personal service and total product satisfaction.
And Finally …
The majority of clients will always remember the company that gave them an impressive gift. So you can be confident in the knowledge that by sending luxury handmade chocolates, the value of your own brand is reinforced.
