A personalised gift works because it proves somebody thought about the person receiving it. That is the whole mechanism, and it is why a modest personalised item usually beats an expensive generic one.
Here are ideas that people genuinely keep, sorted by occasion.
BIRTHDAYS
- An engraved tumbler or wine glass with a name or a date
- A notebook with their name on the cover, which sounds small and gets used daily
- A custom keyring made from an inside joke
- A printed photo block or framed print
- A personalised cutting board for the person who cooks
WEDDINGS AND ENGAGEMENTS
- Engraved glassware for the couple, dated
- Personalised gifts for the bridal party, which is one of the most common requests we get
- Custom signage for the venue, from seating plans to a welcome board
- Printed favours and personalised labels
- A guest book alternative, such as a printed board people sign
STAFF AND TEAM OCCASIONS
- A welcome pack for a new starter, with their name on the notebook and the bottle
- Long service awards that are not another plaque, such as an engraved pen set or a quality bag
- Personalised desk items for a promotion
- Farewell gifts signed by the team on a printed board
YEAR END AND CLIENT THANK YOUS
- A small curated gift box rather than one large item
- Engraved drinkware, which outlasts anything edible
- A quality notebook and pen set with their name, not just your logo
- A branded cooler bag, which in this country gets used constantly
There is more on this on our corporate and personalised gifts page.
THE RULE THAT MAKES PERSONALISATION WORK
Put their name on it, not yours. A gift covered in your logo is marketing material. A gift with their name on it, and your logo small and discreet somewhere else, is a gift.
People keep the second one, and your brand sits on their desk for years because of it.
PRACTICAL THINGS WORTH KNOWING
- Engraving looks more expensive than printing and lasts indefinitely, which suits metal, glass and wood
- Check spelling twice, because a personalised item with a misspelled name is worse than no gift
- Order personalised items earlier than you think, as each one is a separate set-up
- For a group, ask for a proof of one piece before the rest are run
START WITH THE PERSON
Ask what they would actually use, then find a way to personalise that. It is a better starting point than scrolling through a catalogue.
Tell us about the occasion and we will come back with options at a few different price points.