Corporate gift giving is a gift that gives back to your company. A holiday gift shows clients, employees and special vendors how much you value them and how important they are to your success.

EXECUTIVE ORDERS

For the busy executive, consider the Hermes collection of desk trays made exclusively for

Saks Fifth Avenue

. These classic blue and white trays come in an array of sizes, ideal for candy, paper clips or business cards ($85-$280). Your lucky gift recipient can also tune into Swarovski crystal wraparound headphones ($128) or tote data with a Swarovski lock-shaped, one-gigabyte flash drive, which can hook onto a strap or belt ($180). Every gift can be marked with monograms or engravings—after all, just because it’s corporate doesn’t mean it’s not personal.

Saks Fifth Avenue

3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota

(941) 364-5300

SOUND INVESTMENTS

Show you value them with something of value. Coffrin Jewelers features a distinctive sterling silver business card case. Make it more personal by engraving it with their name ($140). Or how about a sterling silver money clip, adapted for credit cards, that can be customized with your corporate logo ($45 and up)?

Coffrin Jewelers

1829 S. Osprey Ave., Sarasota

(941) 366-6871

www.coffrinjewelers.com.

SPECIAL ASSISTANTS

Although it isn’t a typical business gift, some employers occasionally thank a special associate with jewelry. For women executives, Ingrid Russell of Sedacca: The Art of Jewelry, recommends jewelry designer Nikki Sedacca’s new Jimbara Collection in sterling. The bracelet cuff has a patterned weave that creates a sleek gleam, adding a touch of intrigue to any business attire ($616). A set of cuff earrings ($236) completes the look. For men? A pair of Jimbara cufflinks, natch ($405).

Sedacca: The Art of Jewelry

49 S. Palm Ave., Sarasota

(941) 957-1957

www.sedacca.com

LASTING IMPRESSIONS

For a creative way to stay in-budget, but still make a lasting impression, consider gifting your employees company-logo shirts. Company Outfitters/Say It With Stitches offers a wide variety of styles. ($25-$70) The Sarasota company also offers colorful Terello hand-stained Italian leather business accessories—how about snakeskin or crocodile in natural or neon lime ($63-$170 monogrammed)? Wine aficionados might enjoy an insulated two-bottle wine tote that comes with cheese board, knife and bottle opener. Personalize it with a logo or monogram to make it really special ($50). There’s also a handsome black canvas coffee tote with a stainless steel thermos, cream and sugar set, two insulated stainless steel mugs, and spoons and napkins ($65). Realtors who want to thank new homebuyers might consider his- and-her cotton spa robes embroidered with their initials ($90 each). For more straightforward corporate gifts, the company offers a line of glassware and crystal, including a crystal ice bucket ($117) and a classic library decanter made from full-lead crystal ($75)—both can be etched with the initials of the recipient.

Company Outfitters/Say It With Stitches

5750 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota

(941) 925-3855

www.sayitwithstitches.net

RAISE YOUR GLASS

Also affordable and easy to personalize with any company logo: insulated Tervis Tumblers, manufactured in Sarasota County since 1946. They’re great to give as promotional gifts because Tervis can ultrasonically seal any logo or graphic between the two tumbler walls to create an effective marketing message that’s guaranteed to last forever. Even better, you can slap the company logo on one side and personalize it on the other side. The popular 16-ounce tumbler is $11-$13, depending on quantity.

Tervis Tumblers

(866) 392-1963

www.tervis.com; [email protected] 

GOURMET GIFTS

Randy Sue Fountain of Gift Baskets Are Us will design a gift basket based on budgets and themes. Feel like sending a special message with Dom Perignon and fine crystal stemware? No worries; she’ll put it all together—and make sure it arrives in one piece (baskets start at $29.95). Her holiday basket, with cookies, truffles, fudge, smoked salmon, cheese and sausage, is a surefire way to warm the hearts—and stomachs—of clients and employees alike ($75).

Or how about giving a Fitz and Floyd porcelain candy dish shaped like a holly berry—just in time for the holidays? Beneva Flowers will send this heirloom collectible filled with flowers to your favorite colleagues and clients ($60). They also offer their signature holiday classic gift basket filled with cocoa, caramel-filled chocolates, candy cane almond roca, cheese and crackers, sausages, holiday mints and more. ($50-$95).

Another dependable office hit is an elegant box or basket stuffed with incredible cookies from Chef Larry Barrett of Simply Gourmet. You can add coffee and fresh roasted nuts, if budget allows ($37 and up).

A selection of fine wines is always well received. “Just give us your budget and recipient list and we’ll do the rest,” says Phil Mancini of Michael’s On East and Michael’s Wine Cellar.  

Gift Baskets Are Us

(941) 342-7300

www.giftbasketsareus.com.

Beneva Flowers and Gifts

(941) 308-5151

www.beneva.com

Simply Gourmet

4783 Swift Road, Sarasota

(941) 929-0066

www.simplygourmetcaterers.com

Michael’s Wine Cellar

1283 S Tamiami Trail, Sarasota

(941) 955-2675

www.wineflorida.com

GOOD VIBES

Is the economy getting you down? Cheer up your colleagues with the Life is Good book, a compilation of wisdom and wit by Jake and his trusty dog Rocket, the Life is Good company’s icons of optimism. Even better? The company donates all book sale profits to the Life is Good Kids Foundation, which helps children facing unfair challenges. ($20.)

Jake’s Downtown

1463 Main St., Sarasota

(941) 955-JAKE

www.jakesdowntown.com 

GIFT LOCALLY

Keeping it in the family is important to the executives at Lakewood Ranch Communities. “We support the businesses at Lakewood Ranch and those who do business with us everywhere,” says Sondra Guffey, vice president of communications at Lakewood Ranch. “Tickets to Lakewood Ranch Cinemas, gift baskets and certificates from i-tesori, Planet Beach and Little Bookworms are very popular. People love gift certificates to Che Bella, Broken Egg, Polo Grill, MacAllisters and Lucky Pelican. Food gifts are always a favorite.”