New Year Corporate Gift Ideas (USA): A Real-World Guide for Employees, Clients & Remote Teams

There’s a very specific moment that happens in a lot of US companies every December.

Budgets are mostly closed.
Everyone is half in “wrap up” mode, half in “please don’t schedule another meeting” mode.
And then someone says:

“So… are we doing New Year gifts this time, or what?”

If you’re the unlucky-but-trusted person who gets that question, you end up juggling:

finance saying “let’s keep it reasonable this year”
leadership wanting something that feels “premium, not cheap”
employees who have seen every mug, hoodie and generic gift box on earth
clients who already receive twenty hampers every holiday season

On top of that, US workplaces have changed:

more remote and hybrid teams spread across states
more attention on wellness, mental health and burnout
more talk about sustainability and clutter instead of plastic-heavy swag boxes

And corporate gifting isn’t small anymore. The global market is well into the hundreds of billions of dollars, with the US alone estimated in the hundreds of billions and still growing year over year.

So no, it’s not “just a box of stuff”.
Done right, New Year corporate gifts can:

make employees feel genuinely seen and appreciated
keep your company top-of-mind with clients in a warm, non-pushy way
signal your values (wellbeing, sustainability, growth, modern culture)
set the tone for the coming year

Done badly, they become:

another branded thing that goes straight into a drawer
a line item finance side-eyes
a “we did this because everyone else does it” ritual

This guide is written with US companies in mind: startups, agencies, SaaS, professional services, local businesses, anything where people and relationships matter.

The goal: help you choose New Year gifts that feel thoughtful, modern and actually useful without blowing your budget or your sanity

Before You Even Look at Catalogs: Get the Basics Straight
What a “Good” New Year Corporate Gift Looks Like in 2026
New Year Gift Ideas, USA Edition – Deep Dive by Category
Gift + Message + (If You Want) a Short Video
Ready-Made New Year Gift “Menus” by Budget (USA)
Special Situations: Remote Teams, Mixed Workforces, Tiny Startups, Big Orgs
New Year Message Library (Copy-Paste, Then Tweak)
Turning This Into an Actual Plan (Simple Checklist)
Real-World Scenarios: What to Do in Different Kinds of US Companies
Using Video and AR Greetings in New Year Corporate Gifting (Without Being Awkward)
Internal Comms: How to Announce and Roll Out New Year Gifting
Common Questions (The Stuff People Ask Every Year)
Your New Year Corporate Gifting Philosophy
Example New Year Corporate Gifting Landing Page

1. Before You Even Look at Catalogs: Get the Basics Straight

If you skip this part and dive straight into “50 gift ideas”, you’ll end up with a cart full of random things that don’t quite fit anyone.

Take a breath and sort out a few things first.

1.1 Who are you actually gifting?

“Everyone” sounds noble. It’s also vague and expensive.

Break it down into real groups:

Employees and internal people
- full-time staff
- part-time staff (if you’re including them, decide intentionally)
- contractors or on-site consultants you rely on
- interns who are staying into the new year
Clients and customers
- high-value B2B clients
- long-term retainers / accounts
- VIP customers or loyalty members (for B2C brands)
Partners and vendors
- agencies: creative, media, PR, dev, accounting, legal
- channel partners and resellers
- suppliers who routinely go above and beyond
Investors, board members, advisors
- smaller group, but higher expectations

You don’t have to invent four different gifts. Most companies do one or two core gifts and then a slightly elevated version for very key people.

But you do want to be clear:

Who must receive something?
Who should receive something if budget allows?
Who can be skipped this year without damaging the relationship?

Write that down somewhere. It’s your sanity guardrail.

1.2 Pick a real budget (not a vague “reasonable”)

Corporate gifting in the US is big enough that there are actual stats on average spend per employee and per client, but you don’t need to obsess over the industry average.

You just need to be honest about what you can do.

A rough, realistic breakdown in US dollars:

$10–$20 per person
- bulk gifts for large teams
- lighter appreciation for vendors or seasonal staff
$20–$50 per person
- the sweet spot for most US employee gifts
- decent client gifts that don’t feel cheap
$50–$150 per person
- leadership, senior managers
- VIP clients and key partners
- investors and board members

Once you know that number, entire categories fall in or out:

under $20 → you’re probably looking at a single good item or a very small kit
$20–$50 → you can build thoughtful mini-boxes with 2–4 items
$50–$150 → you can explore tech, experiences, big-name brands or a combination

Write those bands down per group. This saves you from falling in love with a $90 gift for a 400-person team.

1.3 Choose a New Year theme instead of random “nice things”

New Year gifts work best when they all quietly tell the same story.

Not in a cheesy slogan way. More in a “everything in this box makes sense together” way.

Some easy themes that play nicely in a US context:

Fresh Desk, Fresh Year
Focus on the workspace:
planners, notebooks, desk organisers, laptop/phone stands, cable management.
Better Mornings
Coffee, tea, breakfast treats, mugs, tumblers, small rituals that make 8 AM less painful.
Workday Wellness
Break-time snacks, sleep helpers, simple stretch or relaxation tools, maybe a wellness app.
Eco & Intentional
Reusable drinkware, recycled paper, bamboo or cork items, less plastic, less junk.
Learn & Grow
Courses, books, notepads, learning stipends, apps that help people build skills.

You can pick one theme for everyone, or one for employees and a slightly different one for clients.

Example:

Employees: “Workday Wellness”
Clients: “Fresh Desk, Fresh Year”

Suddenly everything you choose either clearly belongs or clearly doesn’t.

1.4 Check your logistics reality (US geography isn’t small)

A gift that makes sense in one HQ office might be a nightmare for a remote team scattered across four time zones.

Ask yourself:

Are most people in one office?
Do you have multiple locations?
How many people are fully remote?
Are your clients mostly US-based or spread globally?

This matters because:

One-office teams can handle:
- fragile glass jars
- plants
- bigger boxes that arrive on pallets
Remote and hybrid teams need:
- shippable, lighter items
- non-fragile packaging
- gifts that don’t melt, leak or break in transit

Digital gifts (e-gift cards, subscriptions, virtual experiences) keep growing as a category precisely because they dodge the shipping headache and still feel relevant to remote workers.

A lot of US companies now end up doing a hybrid approach:

physical gift that works everywhere (like a mug, bottle, or small desk item)
plus a digital layer: a gift card, course access, wellness app, or video greeting

1.5 Decide how “personal” you’re willing to go

There’s a spectrum from:

purely transactional: “Season’s greetings from Company X”
to
deeply personal: handwritten note tailored to the person, plus customized gift

You don’t have to pick only one point. You can mix:

more personal for leadership and key clients
simpler but still warm for larger teams

Three simple questions help:

Are we comfortable giving different gifts to different tiers?
Do we have the time and people to handwrite any part of this?
Are we okay choosing gifts that might require people to share preferences (like clothes sizes or specific diets)?

If you don’t have capacity for high personalization, don’t pretend you do. Choose gifts that feel thoughtful even if everyone in a group receives the same thing.

The place you can still add a human touch, even at scale, is in the message and (if you use it) a short video greeting that doesn’t have to be re-recorded 200 times.

2. What a “Good” New Year Corporate Gift Looks Like in 2026

The market has shifted. The safe-but-boring corporate gifts of ten years ago don’t land the same way now.

Looking at how US companies are gifting in 2024–2025, a few patterns keep showing up: more sustainability, more personalization, more wellness, more digital, more focus on remote teams.

If you strip that down, a “good” New Year gift tends to tick these boxes:

2.1 It’s actually useful

Someone can:

drink from it
write in it
plug it in
eat it
wear it
or use it to make their workday or home life a little easier

Rough rule: if you wouldn’t personally use it in your own life, it probably isn’t worth sending.

2.2 It feels decent in the hand

This doesn’t mean everything has to be luxury.

It does mean:

the planner doesn’t fall apart in March
the mug isn’t thin and wobbly
the headphones don’t sound like a tin can
the pen doesn’t feel like it came from a trade show table in 2004

People might not consciously evaluate quality, but they feel it. That “feel” translates back into an impression of your brand.

2.3 Branding is there, but not screaming

Most US employees and clients are fine with a logo on a gift. They are less fine with feeling like they’re carrying a walking billboard.

Aim for:

small, subtle logo
tone-on-tone imprint
branding on the inside cover or underside

If people like the object enough to use it outside work, that’s long-term brand exposure anyway. You don’t need a huge logo to remind them where it came from.

2.4 It’s inclusive by default

Unless you’re sending very targeted gifts, assume:

mixed diets (vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free)
mixed family situations (single, married, kids, no kids)
mixed beliefs (some religious, some not)
mixed comfort levels with alcohol

That means:

avoiding food that only some people can safely eat, unless it’s clearly labeled and optional
being careful with alcohol (wine bottles can be landmines)
steering clear of messaging that assumes everyone has kids or a partner
keeping religious references off general gifts unless you know the audience shares that faith

New Year is neutral enough that you can focus on rest, growth and appreciation without walking into any of that.

2.5 It’s sized for real life

A giant branded popcorn machine looks fun in a vendor catalogue.

It looks less fun in a one-bedroom apartment or a small home office.

Most good New Year gifts:

fit easily on a desk, shelf or in a kitchen cabinet
don’t require a new storage solution
can be thrown in a backpack if needed

If people are rearranging their house to make space for your gift, something went wrong.

2.6 It fits January energy

December is “twinkle lights and sugar”.

January is “okay, let’s breathe and get our life in order”.

Lean into that:

fresh notebooks, planners and desk setups
better morning routines (coffee, tea, breakfast)
small wellness tweaks
simple treats, not sugar overload
learning and growth

If you hit those notes, you’ll feel aligned with where people actually are.

3. New Year Gift Ideas, USA Edition – Deep Dive by Category

Now the fun part.

We’ll go through categories one by one and unpack:

when they make sense
what they can include
how they land with employees vs clients
how to package them so they feel like more than “stuff in a box”

Category A: Desk & Work Essentials – “Fresh Desk, Fresh Year”

In January, people suddenly care about their workspaces again. Old notebooks get tossed, desks get wiped down, someone orders a new keyboard they’ve been eyeing.

Desk gifts slot neatly into that moment.

A.1 Planners and notebooks that people actually use

If you send a planner that looks pretty but is annoying to write in, it will go straight into a drawer.

The goal is simple: make it easy for people to think on paper again.

Good options:

Weekly planners with:
- week at a glance
- monthly overview pages
- some blank pages for notes
Clean notebooks (no cheesy quotes on every page) with:
- thick paper that works with most pens
- dot grid or lined layouts
“Planning bundle”:
- one planner or notebook
- a single, nice pen
- 2–3 sticky-tab strips for marking pages

How this plays for employees

For employees, this kind of gift says:

“We know your brain holds a lot. Here’s something to help you capture it.”

You can:

put a small logo on the back cover
print a short note from leadership on the first page
keep the rest completely clean, so it feels like their tool, not an ad

How this plays for clients

For clients, tone it down further:

no big logo on the front
small, tasteful branding near the back or inside cover
maybe a single line printed inside like:
“Thanks for being part of our story in 2025. Here’s to clear, calm plans in 2026.”

Pair it with:

an email or card from the account manager
a one-line mention of one project you were proud to work on together

It feels a lot more intentional than a generic “Season’s Greetings” card.

A.2 Desk organisers & trays that prevent chaos

Almost everyone has a “dump zone” on their desk: keys, earbuds, badges, random pens, lip balm, you name it.

A good desk organiser doesn’t try to change that. It just gives the chaos a home.

Ideas that work well in US offices and home offices:

Wooden or bamboo organisers with:
- a slot for a phone
- a couple of pen compartments
- a shallow tray for loose items
Soft catchall trays (faux leather or felt) that:
- fold flat when not in use
- sit right by the keyboard or near the door
Small “desk reset” kits with:
- an organiser
- cable clips or Velcro straps
- screen cleaning spray and a microfiber cloth

Employee angle

For employees, this is perfect for New Year because:

they’re already cleaning their workspace
they’re thinking “this year I’ll be more organised”
they’re tired of ugly plastic organizers

You can:

choose neutral colors (black, gray, tan, wood tones)
add a tiny logo on the side or inside edge
include a short message like: “Fresh year, slightly less chaotic desk. We appreciate you.”

Client angle

For clients:

avoid overly branded pieces
let the object look like something they might have bought for themselves
brand the gift box and note more than the object

If they like it enough to put it on their desk at home or in their office, the subtle branding will do its job over time.

A.3 Tech helpers: stands, pads and little conveniences

You don’t have to go straight to “noise-cancelling headphones for everyone” to be in the tech lane.

There’s a layer of smaller, cheaper items that quietly make remote and hybrid work easier.

Examples that are very US-friendly:

Adjustable phone stands
- good for Zoom/Teams calls
- useful for following recipes in the kitchen too
Foldable laptop stands
- improve posture
- help cool laptops that run hot
Quality mousepads with wrist support
Simple cable organisers (magnetic clips or silicone loops)
Compact USB hubs for people who live in dongle land

These are universal enough that you can give them to mixed teams without worrying about personal style too much.

How to keep them from feeling like boring swag

Choose designs that look like something from a decent lifestyle brand, not a bargain-bin conference giveaway
Stick to black, white, gray, or simple metallic finishes
Keep the logo small and discreet

Message card suggestion

A line that fits the New Year context:

“A small upgrade for your setup, because you do big things on this screen all year.”

Category B: Wellness & Self-Care – “Work Hard, Rest Better”

Wellness gifts are everywhere now, but they’re not all equal.

The ones that land well in US workplaces:

respect boundaries
don’t tell people to “fix” themselves
work for people who are introverts, extroverts, parents, non-parents, single, married, all of it

Think of these as gentle nods toward rest, recovery and small breaks, not full-on life transformation.

B.1 Simple wellness boxes that don’t get weirdly personal

A “wellness box” can be as complicated or simple as you want. The key is to avoid things that feel like commentary on someone’s body or habits.

You’re not trying to manage their weight, sleep, or mental health. You’re simply saying:

“We know this year was heavy. Here’s something small for your quieter hours.”

Low to mid-budget ideas:

A good quality mug (ceramic or insulated stainless steel)
A few sachets of herbal or green tea
Maybe a small hot chocolate pack for winter states
A soft eye mask for travel or sleep
A small candle (nothing overwhelming in scent)

Pack them in a simple box with crinkle paper or shredded paper, not plastic foam.

How this feels to employees

If the note inside says something like:

“Thanks for everything you carried this year. We hope you get at least a few truly slow nights in 2026.”

…it lands as care, not corporate wellness theater.

You can tune it:

more playful for younger teams
more understated for serious industries

Either way, the message is: please rest, you’re not a machine.

B.2 “Workday reset” kits for people glued to screens

Not everyone is a “light a candle and take a bath” person.

But almost everyone can use a 90-second reset in the middle of a brutal day.

A workday reset kit reframes wellness as micro breaks:

What it can include:

A stress ball, fidget cube or smooth worry stone
Small desk plant (succulent) or a convincing faux plant
A small tube of hand cream or non-sticky sanitizer
A printed card with:
- one simple breathing exercise
- one stretch you can do from a chair
- one reminder to literally get up and walk away from the screen

You’re not prescribing therapy. You’re just giving them a little “excuse” to pause.

Ideal for:

support teams who deal with angry tickets all day
sales or success teams constantly on calls
product and engineering teams during heavy shipping periods

If you want to push it one level deeper, you can add space on the card for them to write their own “I will pause when…” trigger.

Example: “When meetings stack back-to-back for more than 3 hours, I will at least stand up, stretch and drink water.”

Small, but it sticks.

B.3 Digital wellness + one physical anchor

Physical boxes are lovely. They’re also work to ship, especially across the country.

Digital wellness gifts are exploding precisely because they’re:

instant
easy to scale to 50 or 500 people
flexible for remote teams in multiple states

Common digital wellness gifts:

access to a mindfulness or meditation app
subscription to a sleep, sound or focus app
membership to an online yoga or fitness platform
virtual “calm down” sessions or breathwork classes

To avoid it feeling like a random code in an email, pair it with one small physical item that arrives in the mail:

a sleep mask
a simple journal
a small candle
or even just a nicely printed card with a thoughtful message

The combination says:

“We know work stretches into your evenings and weekends. Here’s something small to help you reclaim a bit of that time.”

Make sure your internal communication:

explains how to redeem
is written in non-corporate language
is honest about why you chose this gift (burnout, stress, wanting people to take care of themselves)

Category C: Food & Drink – “Treats That Don’t Feel Like Leftovers”

Food gifts are corporate gifting’s comfort zone. In the US they’re still extremely popular, but expectations have changed:

people care more about ingredients and labels
there’s more awareness of allergies and dietary restrictions
giant sugar bombs feel a little dated

That doesn’t mean you can’t do food. It just means you should be more thoughtful about what, and how.

C.1 Snack boxes that actually get eaten

A well-chosen snack box can be a lifesaver on long days.

The good ones hit a balance:

some healthy-ish options
some “just because” treats
nothing that requires a fridge, oven or elaborate prep

Employee-friendly snack box ideas:

individual nut and seed packets
trail mix
popcorn or chips with decent ingredients
granola bars / energy bars
a couple of chocolate items (dark chocolate works well)

You can pitch it as:

“Desk Snack Box”
“Brain Fuel for Q1”
“Emergency 3 PM Survival Kit”

If your team is mostly in one office, these can be delivered as:

individual boxes on each desk
one larger box per team for people to share

Remote teams can receive them at home. Just double-check addresses and shipping times if people are all over the map.

Client version

For clients, level it up slightly:

branded, nicer packaging
focus on higher-quality or more “gourmet” brands
include a card from the account manager with one specific thank-you line

It shouldn’t feel like you ordered a generic holiday tin. It should feel curated, even if it’s logistically powered by a bulk vendor in the background.

C.2 Coffee & tea kits: “Better mornings” in a box

Most US workplaces run on coffee and tea (or at least pretend to).

New Year is a great excuse to give people a better version of something they already use every day.

Employee coffee kit ideas:

good ground coffee or single-serve pour-over sachets
a decent mug or insulated tumbler
maybe a flavored syrup sample or small biscotti

Tea kit ideas:

mix of black, green and herbal teas
honey sticks or a small honey jar
mug

You can do:

coffee only
tea only
or let people choose their preference ahead of time if you’re feeling organized

How this lands

A nice “Better Morning” box feels less like a random treat and more like a small upgrade to an everyday ritual.

The card can say something like:

“Thanks for all the early starts and late nights in 2025. We hope at least a few of your 2026 mornings are slow, warm and a little less rushed.”

Client focus

For clients:

choose more premium coffee or tea brands
keep the design very clean and gift-like
maybe skip heavy branding on the mug so it feels at home in their kitchen

Attach a short, sincere note that mentions one specific project or milestone from the year that just ended.

C.3 “Family table” gifts for a small group of key people

Not every client is “family-table gift” material.

But for a handful of especially important relationships, sending something that goes to their home table instead of just their desk can be powerful.

Ideas that work well in US households:

Dessert box:
- cookies, brownies, bars from a good bakery brand
“Sunday brunch” basket:
- pancake or waffle mix
- maple syrup
- coffee or hot chocolate
Movie night kit:
- gourmet popcorn
- candy
- hot chocolate or soft drinks

You do not need to plaster your logo on everything.

Brand the:

note
ribbon
outer box

Let the food look like something they’d buy or gift themselves.

Tone of the message

Something like:

“You’ve been a big part of our story this year. Here’s a small something for your table at home. Thank you for trusting us.”

That lands very differently than another generic tin of cookies with a holiday clip-art card.

Category D: Eco-Friendly & Low-Waste Gifts – “A Little Less Plastic This Year”

Sustainability shows up in pretty much every corporate gifting trend report now. US companies are under more pressure, and honestly, most people are simply tired of plastic-heavy junk that feels wasteful.

New Year is a natural moment to say:

“We’re trying to make our gifting a little kinder to the planet, too.”

You don’t have to be perfect. You can start small.

D.1 Reusable drinkware that doesn’t scream “promo”

We’ve all seen the sad, thin corporate water bottle that loses its paint after three washes.

Aim higher. If you spend a little more, people will actually use it:

Good options:

stainless steel insulated water bottles
travel tumblers that fit car cup holders
reusable cold brew / iced coffee cups with a straw

Why it works

fits gym bags, office desks, car consoles
helps people drink more water or cut disposable cups
subtle logo = years of use

Message idea

A line that ties it into the New Year:

“Here’s to staying hydrated, caffeinated and a little more sustainable in 2026.”

If your company has any sustainability goals, you can hint at them in one short sentence without turning it into a manifesto.

D.2 Eco desk kits that still look good

You can assemble a small “eco-leaning” desk kit that doesn’t feel like a classroom project.

What it might include:

notebook made from recycled paper
pens with recycled or bamboo bodies
bamboo pen stand or small organiser
plantable seed-paper card (they can literally plant the card in spring)

Keep the design modern and minimal. Eco does not have to look rustic unless that matches your brand.

Budget tiers:

lighter: notebook + pen + card
mid: add a small desk organiser
higher: organiser + small plant or seed kit

How to talk about it

Skip the big declarations. Say something simple like:

“We’re trying to send gifts that feel good to receive and a little better for the planet too. Thanks for being part of our journey this year.”

That feels genuine, not preachy.

D.3 Seed kits and tiny plants

Plants are tricky in some climates and shipping setups, but when they work, they’re memorable.

Ideas:

windowsill herb kits (basil, mint)
small succulents in simple pots
plantable pencil or seed bombs

They quietly carry the “growth” and “fresh start” metaphor all year.

You can pair them with a short note, for example:

“A little something to grow on your windowsill while we grow together in 2026.”

Keep in mind:

shipping plants in winter to very cold states needs planning
some remote addresses may make live plants risky

If live plants feel too fragile, stick to seeds and seed paper.

4. Gift + Message + (If You Want) a Short Video

This is the part a lot of companies rush or skip… and it’s the part people remember most.

You can send the same mug or planner as ten other companies.
What people remember is:

the words that came with it
the feeling it gave them
whether it felt human or like a line item

4.1 A simple way to write New Year messages that don’t sound generic

You don’t have to be a copywriter. Use a structure that works almost everywhere.

Think in three beats:

What happened – acknowledge the year that just ended
What you appreciate – something real about them
What you wish for – one or two things for the year ahead

Example for employees:

First beat – acknowledge the year:

“This year asked a lot of you – new projects, shifting priorities, tight deadlines and plenty of surprise fires to put out.”

Second beat – appreciation:

“We see how much energy, thought and care you bring to your work, and we’re genuinely grateful for it.”

Third beat – wish:

“Our hope for you in 2026 is a year with more good surprises than hard ones, more wins you can feel proud of, and enough rest that work doesn’t swallow everything else.”

That’s three or four sentences. It’s warm without being dramatic. You can tune the tone to match your culture.

Example for a client:

“Thank you for trusting us with your projects in 2025 – working with you has been a real highlight for our team.”
“We appreciate your clarity, your honesty and the way you treat us like partners, not just vendors.”
“Here’s to a 2026 full of steady growth, smooth launches and a little more breathing room between deadlines.”

This is still corporate, but it sounds like a human wrote it at their desk, not a committee.

You can write one core version for each group (employees, standard clients, VIP clients, partners) and then tweak a line or two as needed.

4.2 Where a video or AR greeting actually adds value

Not every gift needs a video attached.

But there are moments where it makes a big difference:

company-wide New Year message from the founder or CEO
intimate “thank you” from a project team to a specific client
special note to long-time partners or early employees

The nice thing is: you can record it once and share it many times.

A realistic flow:

Founder, CEO or leadership team records a simple 45–60 second video:
- shot in the office or a casual setting
- honest, not over-produced
- speaking more or less the three beats above
You connect that video to:
- a QR code printed on the first page of the planner
- a small card inside the snack box
- a simple “scan to see our New Year message” insert
People scan it with their phone when they open the gift.

Tools like MessageAR exist exactly for this: record a quick video greeting, tie it to a code or link, and let people open it without downloading apps or signing up for anything. You don’t need to explain the tech to the recipient; you just give them a clear “scan here for a short hello from us”.

For some people – especially long-time employees, early clients, or partners – seeing your face and hearing your voice is the part that sticks in their memory far longer than the gift itself.

5. Ready-Made New Year Gift “Menus” by Budget (USA)

To make your life easier, here are plug-and-play combinations you can literally drop into a spreadsheet and price out with vendors.

We’ll break it into three bands:

Under $20 per person
Around $20–$50 per person
Around $50–$150 per person

For each, you’ll see:

what’s in the bundle
who it’s good for
why it works in a New Year context

You can rename these bundles inside your company (for fun, or to match your theme).

5.1 Under $20 per person – “Smart but Simple”

This is the reality band for a lot of US teams with 100+ employees or big vendor lists. You can’t go wild, but you also don’t have to send junk.

Option 1: “Fresh Notes” Kit

What’s inside

Softcover notebook with decent paper
One nice rollerball/ballpoint pen (metal body if you can swing it)

Best for

large employee groups
contractors/part-timers you still want to include
vendor lists

Why it works

It taps into that “new notebook, new year” feeling.
It doesn’t require knowing sizes, tastes, or shipping weird items.
You can order in bulk but still choose a color palette that feels like your brand.

New Year message to tuck inside

“Here’s something for all the ideas, notes and random moments you’re going to collect in 2026. Thanks for everything you helped build with us in 2025.”

Option 2: “Desk Snack Boost”

What’s inside

3–4 individually wrapped snacks:
- 1 nut or trail-mix style snack
- 1 granola/energy bar
- 1 popcorn or chips
- 1 small chocolate

Best for

big teams where you want a physical treat
distribution through the office (boxes on desks or at stations)

Why it works

Food is universal, but you’re keeping portions manageable and office-friendly.
Individually wrapped = easy to stash in a drawer or bag.

Message idea

“For those long afternoons and ‘one more email’ moments. Thanks for hanging in there with us this year.”

If you’re worried about dietary needs, you can do a “regular” box and a “mostly better-for-you” version and let people pick.

Option 3: “Cable Chaos Helper”

What’s inside

Small set of cable clips or Velcro wraps
One simple phone stand

Best for

remote and hybrid teams
anyone who lives on video calls

Why it works

It genuinely improves their day if they live in cord hell.
It feels modern and tech-friendly without expensive gadgets.

Message idea

“A tiny step toward fewer tangled cords and less desk chaos this year.”

Option 4: “Warm Mug, Simple Moment”

What’s inside

Simple ceramic mug (not flimsy, neutral color)
1–2 sachets of tea or hot chocolate

Best for

frontline teams, warehouse staff, in-person crews
when you want everyone to get something you can hand out easily

Why it works

People always need mugs at home or at work.
Even if they don’t drink tea, someone in their life probably will.

Message idea

“Here’s to at least a few quiet, warm moments with your favorite drink in 2026. You’ve more than earned them.”

5.2 Around $20–$50 per person – “Thoughtful Mini Boxes”

This is the sweet spot for most US employee and client gifts: enough budget to feel intentional, not enough to do something wild for hundreds of people.

Option 5: “Fresh Desk Starter”

What’s inside

A compact desk organiser (wood, bamboo or minimal plastic)
A small pack of cable clips
Microfiber cloth + tiny spray for screens

Best for

office teams resetting their desks for the year
remote workers with home setups

Why it works

It lines up perfectly with January “I’m going to get my life together” energy.
It works for almost any role.

Message idea

“For a desk that feels a little calmer in 2026. Thank you for everything you’ve handled on that laptop this year.”

Option 6: “Better Morning” Coffee/Tea Set

What’s inside

One bag or box of decent coffee, or a tea sampler
A mug or insulated tumbler
Optional: 1–2 small treats (biscotti, cookie, snack)

Best for

teams that talk about coffee constantly
US clients who appreciate everyday “nice” things more than luxury items

Why it works

Morning rituals are powerful. You’re upgrading something they already do.
It works regardless of home vs office vs hybrid.

Message idea

“Thanks for all the early starts and late finishes in 2025. Here’s to warmer, calmer mornings in 2026.”

You can offer a choice during an internal sign-up (“Coffee box” vs “Tea box”) if you have time to collect preferences.

Option 7: “Workday Wellness” Box

What’s inside

Herbal tea or relaxing caffeine-free blend
Eye mask or small lavender pillow
Soft socks or a small candle (depending on your team culture)

Best for

high-stress teams (support, ops, project teams)
smaller companies where you want a slightly “cozy” feel

Why it works

It says “we see you’re tired” without saying “you’re burned out”.
It feels like a little “evening moment” rather than homework.

Message idea

“You carried a lot this year. We hope you get some slow evenings, softer days and real rest in 2026.”

Option 8: “Eco Desk Pack”

What’s inside

Recycled-paper notebook
Bamboo or recycled-plastic pen
Small bamboo pen stand or mini organiser

Best for

companies with sustainability goals
younger teams that care about “less plastic”

Why it works

It hits the “fresh start, new notebook” vibe.
It quietly signals your values without preaching.

Message idea

“We’re trying to make our gifting a little less wasteful and a lot more useful. Thanks for being part of our story this year.”

Option 9: “Remote Setup Helper”

What’s inside

Foldable laptop stand
Simple mousepad with wrist support

Best for

fully remote or heavily hybrid teams
people who work from kitchen tables, couches and coffee shops

Why it works

It makes their body happier without being a full ergo overhaul.
It feels like you actually thought about their day-to-day reality.

Message idea

“For your neck, shoulders and wrists, which carried more than their fair share this year. Here’s to a more comfortable 2026.”

5.3 Around $50–$150 per person – “VIP / Leadership / Key Clients”

Here you’re not gifting everyone. You’re thinking about:

senior leaders
long-term or high-value clients
partners you absolutely want to keep
investors and board members

Option 10: “Home Office Upgrade”

What’s inside

A really solid, adjustable laptop stand or high-quality phone/monitor stand
A good wireless or wired mouse
Optional: a matching desk mat

Best for

senior employees who live on calls
key clients you’ve worked closely with all year

Why it works

It’s practical and feels “grown-up”, not gimmicky.
It improves their daily experience in a big way.

Message idea

“You spend so much time at your desk. This is a small way of saying thank you and making those hours a little better in 2026.”

Option 11: “Weekend Reset” Gift

What’s inside

Premium coffee beans or tea
A small French press or pour-over cone
Gourmet snacks (shortbread, nuts, chocolate, etc.)

Best for

VIP clients with whom you have a personal relationship
leadership team and founders across offices

Why it works

It feels like a treat for their home, not just their job.
It supports the idea of “real weekends”, not just inbox catch-up.

Message idea

“You’ve given a lot of your energy to work this year. We hope a few of your 2026 weekends start slow, with good coffee and zero deadlines.”

Option 12: “Learning & Growth” Bundle

What’s inside

A physical element:
- a hardcover notebook or journal
- a couple of thoughtfully chosen books
A digital element:
- credit toward a course or online learning platform

Best for

high-potential employees
managers and directors
clients you want to invest in as partners, not just buyers

Why it works

It says “we care about your growth, not just your output”.
It ties directly into New Year goals and professional development.

Message idea

“We don’t just want you to grow our company in 2026. We want to help you grow your own skills and career too.”

You can include a note suggesting they block time on their calendar as “learning hours” a couple of times a month. That small nudge matters.

Option 13: “Family Table” VIP Gift

What’s inside

High-quality dessert assortment or brunch basket
Handwritten or very personal printed note

Best for

long-time clients where you know the relationship is deeper than just invoices
advisors or investors who’ve been in your corner through ups and downs

Why it works

It acknowledges that they’re a whole person with a life outside work.
It turns your company from “vendor” into “people they remember”.

Message idea

“You’ve been a big part of our journey this year. Here’s a small something for your table at home. Thank you for the trust, the conversations and the partnership.”

6. Special Situations: Remote Teams, Mixed Workforces, Tiny Startups, Big Orgs

Not every company fits the neat “office team with a shipping address” model. Let’s walk through some common scenarios and what tends to work well in each.

6.1 Fully Remote US Teams Across Time Zones

If your people are spread across the country, gifting gets messy fast.

Challenges

different state climates (shipping chocolate to Arizona in early January is not the same as shipping to Maine)
people moving during the year (outdated addresses)
shipping costs adding up fast

What works well

Compact, unbreakable gifts
Bottles, tumblers, notebooks, small tech helpers, eye masks, snacks that don’t melt.
Digital gifts plus small physical anchors
For example:
- digital: gift card, wellness app, learning credit
- physical: simple card and maybe one small item (mug, mask, notebook)
Opt-in gifting
Give employees a quick form:
- confirm or update address
- pick between 2–3 bundles (“Desk setup”, “Better mornings”, “Wellness”)

That way you’re not mailing coffee to non-coffee drinkers or candles to people who hate scents.

Communication tip

Send a clear internal message that says:

what you’re sending or offering
when they should expect it
who to contact if something goes wrong

Remote workers already feel invisible sometimes. The worst version of gifting is when a bunch of people post their boxes on Slack and 10 people quietly realize theirs never arrived.

6.2 Mixed Workforce: Office + Warehouse + Retail + Field

A lot of US businesses have a split:

corporate/office staff on laptops
frontline workers in stores, warehouses, delivery routes, call centers

They do very different jobs. Just mailing everyone a planner might land poorly.

Ways to handle it without going crazy

Shared core theme, different objects

Example:

Theme: “Thank you for showing up every day”
Office staff: desk organiser + notebook
Warehouse staff: good water bottle + snack pack
Retail staff: tumbler + gift card for a coffee chain

Same message tone, different items that fit their actual workday.

Experience gifts that anyone can use

Food delivery gift card
Gas card for people with long commutes
Grocery gift cards as part of a “New Year essentials” gesture

If you do this, be very clear it’s a gift, not “here’s money for work expenses”.

On-site events or treats where possible

simple breakfast bar or snack station around New Year
hot chocolate/coffee bar at shift start

Pair that with a small individual gift so it doesn’t depend on shift timing.

6.3 Tiny Startups with Limited Budgets

Maybe you’re still getting off the ground. You want to show appreciation, but you do not have $50 per head for gifts.

Good news: at very small scale, words and time matter more than objects.

Ideas that work on a shoestring

Handwritten cards from the founder(s) plus:
- a small notebook
- or a simple mug
- or one snack or chocolate bar
A team brunch or lunch where the company picks up the tab
A “half-day off” voucher for January or February that people can redeem

How to make inexpensive gifts feel rich

Be specific in your message.
“Thanks for all your hard work” is fine.
“Thank you for saving us on that launch weekend in June and for sticking with us when we had no idea what we were doing with the billing system” hits differently.
Show up in person, if you can.
If you’re in the same city, hand people their gifts yourself and say the words out loud.
Be honest about where you are.
“We can’t do huge gifts this year, but we didn’t want to let the moment pass without saying thank you properly.”

Most early-stage team members will value that way more than a fancy object.

6.4 Larger Corporates with Layers of Approval

If you’re in a big US company, gifting often collides with:

procurement rules
vendor lists
legal/compliance
finance sign-offs

That doesn’t mean you can’t do something thoughtful. It just means:

you’ll probably be choosing from pre-approved vendors
you might be ordering months earlier than feels natural

How to keep big-company gifting from feeling soulless

Use the vendor catalog, but customise the story.
The same mug can be “corporate mug #17” or: “This is the mug I hope you drink coffee from on a day where you finally feel caught up, even just for a second.”
Layer on your own messages.
Even if procurement is handling the objects, you can:
- design your own note cards
- record a company-wide video message for people to scan
- write different intros for different audiences (employees vs clients vs partners)
Train managers to add their own line.
In a bigger org, the direct manager’s note often means more than the CEO’s.
Give managers 3–4 short templates and ask them to add one specific line for each person.

7. New Year Message Library (Copy-Paste, Then Tweak)

Writing the gifts is easy compared to writing the cards.

To save your brain, here’s a library of messages you can drop in and customise. You can adjust them to match your tone (more serious, more casual).

I’ll group them by who you’re writing to.

7.1 Messages for Employees (General Team)

Short and simple (card space is tight)

“Thank you for everything you carried, created and fixed in 2025. We’re really glad you’re on this team. Wishing you a calmer, happier and more rewarding 2026.”
“You’ve been a big part of what we managed to do this year. Thank you for showing up on the easy days and the hard ones. Here’s to a new year with more wins and more breathing room.”
“We see the work you do and the care you put into it, even when it doesn’t show up in a slide deck. Thank you. Wishing you a healthy, hopeful and joyful 2026.”

Slightly longer (for inside a folded card)

“This year wasn’t simple. There were big pushes, strange weeks, messy projects and plenty of ‘we’ll figure it out’ moments. Through all of that, you kept showing up with your time, your brain and your patience.

We’re really grateful for that.

Our hope for you in 2026 is a year with more good surprises than hard ones, work you can be proud of, and enough rest that your life outside this place feels full too.”

“It’s easy in the middle of deadlines and dashboards to forget that none of this runs without real people behind it.

You’ve been one of those people for us this year. Thank you for the ideas you’ve shared, the problems you’ve solved and the quiet ways you’ve supported your teammates.

Here’s to a new year full of wins you can actually feel, projects that excite you and days that don’t end totally drained.”

7.2 Messages for High-Performing or Long-Tenure Employees

You don’t want to sound like you’re playing favorites in front of the whole team, but it’s okay to be specific in private notes.

“You’ve been a steady, reliable force for us again this year. There are a lot of ‘we made it’ moments in 2025 that simply wouldn’t have happened without you. Thank you for the leadership you show in your work, with or without a title attached.

Wishing you a 2026 where your own goals move forward as much as ours do.”

“You’ve been with us through a lot of different versions of this company, and we don’t take that lightly. Thank you for sticking through the weird seasons, the experiments and the occasional chaos.

We hope 2026 brings you projects that feel meaningful, teammates who make you laugh and the space to enjoy your life outside work too.”

7.3 Messages for Newer Hires

They might have joined halfway through the year. You still want them to feel included.

“We’re really glad you joined us this year. It’s not always easy to step into a new team mid-stream, especially when things are busy, but you’ve already made a difference.

Here’s to a new year where you feel even more at home here, and where you get to see the impact of your work clearly.”

“Joining a new company is a big deal, even when everyone pretends it’s just another LinkedIn update. We’re grateful you chose to spend your time and talent with us.

Wishing you a 2026 where this place feels more and more like a team you’re proud to be part of.”

7.4 Messages for Managers and Team Leads

Managing people is its own kind of exhaustion. They often only hear about what went wrong.

“Thank you for the way you’ve held your team this year – through change, pressure and all the everyday mess of getting work done. A lot of the good things that happened in 2025 have your fingerprints on them, even if your name wasn’t on the slide.

We hope 2026 brings you a steadier pace, more support and time to do the deep work you care about, not just put out fires.”

“Being a manager means carrying extra worries that don’t always show on paper: your team’s stress levels, their growth, the projects that might go sideways. Thank you for taking that on with patience and care.

Here’s to a new year where your team feels strong, your workload feels human and you get to do work that energises you too.”

7.5 Messages for Clients (General)

Short, neutral professional

“Thank you for trusting us with your work this year. We’ve genuinely enjoyed partnering with you. Wishing you and your team a successful and steady 2026.”
“It’s been a pleasure working with you in 2025. We’re grateful for your clarity, feedback and collaboration. Here’s to more good projects and easy communication in the new year.”
“Thank you for being part of our story this year. We hope 2026 brings you growth that feels sustainable, not just fast.”

Slightly warmer (for closer relationships)

“Working with you this year has been one of the best parts of what we do. Your openness, clarity and willingness to try new things made the work better – and made it fun.

Thank you for the trust you’ve placed in us. We’re looking forward to another year of building good things together in 2026.”

“We know you have options for who you work with, so we don’t take your partnership for granted. Thank you for the projects we got to tackle with you this year, the honest conversations and the shared wins.

Wishing you a new year full of the kind of results you can be proud to share with your own team.”

7.6 Messages for Long-Term / VIP Clients

“We’ve been working together for a while now, through easy seasons and complicated ones. That kind of long-term partnership is rare, and we don’t take it lightly.

Thank you for the way you treat us like a real partner, not just a vendor. We’re excited to see what we can build together in 2026 and beyond.”

“Year after year, you’ve trusted us with important parts of your business. We hope we’ve matched that trust with care, honesty and good work.

Thank you for your loyalty and your candor – both have made us better. Wishing you and your team a strong, healthy and surprisingly joyful 2026.”

7.7 Messages for Partners, Agencies and Vendors

“Thank you for being one of the teams behind our team this year. We know how much effort, flexibility and patience your side has brought to our projects.

We’re grateful for your partnership and looking forward to doing more good work together in 2026.”

“Behind every ‘we shipped this’ announcement on our side is a lot of unseen effort on yours. Thank you for the late-night fixes, last-minute changes and all the calm responses to our panicked emails.

Wishing you a smoother, saner and successful 2026.”

7.8 Messages for Investors and Advisors

“Thank you for backing us through a year that had both bright spots and hard days. Your support, questions and perspective have mattered more than you probably realise.

We’re committed to building something in 2026 that justifies your belief in us – in a way that’s disciplined, honest and long-term.”

“We know you see a lot of companies and hear a lot of pitches. Thank you for choosing to put your time, money and attention into ours.

We’re clear-eyed about where we still need to grow and deeply motivated to make 2026 a year you’re proud to be associated with.”

7.9 Messages for “Tough Year” Situations

Sometimes the year was not a highlight reel. Maybe there were:

layoffs
missed targets
big market shocks
restructures

You still want to send gifts without pretending everything is amazing.

For employees after a hard year

“This year has been heavy in ways none of us would have chosen. If you’ve felt stretched, tired or uncertain, you’re not alone.

Thank you for how you’ve shown up anyway – for your work, your patience and your kindness to each other.

We don’t want 2026 to be ‘more of the same’. We’re working hard to build a year that feels steadier and more humane. We hope you feel that difference as it unfolds.”

For clients when projects were rocky

“Thank you for your patience and partnership this year, especially when things were rougher or slower than either of us hoped. We’ve learned a lot from those experiences and we’re putting that learning into how we work in 2026.

We’re grateful you stayed at the table with us, and we’re committed to earning that trust again in the year ahead.”

8. Turning All of This into an Actual Plan (Simple Checklist)

At this point you might be thinking, “This is great, but I still have to execute all of it.”

Here’s a simple checklist you can use when you’re planning New Year gifting:

Define groups
- Employees (split if needed: office, frontline, remote)
- Clients (standard vs VIP)
- Partners/vendors
- Investors/board
Assign budgets per group
- Under $20, $20–$50, $50–$150 etc.
Pick a theme for each group
- Fresh Desk / Better Mornings / Workday Wellness / Eco / Learn & Grow
Choose 1–2 gift bundles per group
- Use the “menus” above as a base
- Adjust for your culture (more fun, more serious, more minimal)
Check logistics
- Gather or confirm addresses for remote folks
- Confirm shipping cut-offs with suppliers
- Decide on in-office vs home deliveries
Write or select messages
- Choose one core message per group from the library
- Make a plan for where managers/AMs can add a personal line
Decide on video or not
- If yes:
  - Decide who records it
  - Book 30–60 minutes
  - Plan how you’ll attach it (QR/AR on card, box insert, email)
Place orders and track them
- Keep a simple sheet: name, address, gift type, tracking info
- Note any people who need special handling (leave, relocation, etc.)
Schedule communication
- Internal announcement for employees
- A note to managers on what to say when handing out gifts
- Email templates for remote team, clients and partners
After it’s done, capture what worked

Ask 5–10 people privately what they liked or didn’t care about
note it somewhere so next year’s you doesn’t start from zero

9. Real-World Scenarios: What to Do in Different Kinds of US Companies

Sometimes examples help more than theory. Here are a few scenarios you can probably see yourself in (or close to it).

9.1 A 40-Person US SaaS Startup (Mostly Remote)

Setup

~40 people
scattered across 6–7 states
mostly engineers, product, support, marketing
modest but not tiny budget

Goal

make people feel appreciated
keep it simple to ship
do something slightly cooler than a random Amazon gift card

Budget

around $35–$40 per person

Chosen theme

“Fresh Desk, Fresh Year” for everyone

Gift choice

For all employees:

foldable laptop stand
decent quality notebook
small pack of snacks (2–3 items, nothing that melts)

All shipped in one compact, branded box.

Message approach

One core New Year message printed on the card from the founders
Managers encouraged to add a short handwritten line like:
“Really glad you joined us this year” or
“Thanks again for staying calm that week our deploy went sideways.”

Where video/AR comes in

The founders record a short video:

about 60 seconds
filmed in their usual work space (not a studio)
tone: honest, conversational

Then you attach it to the gift via a QR/AR code on the inside of the card.

Rough script they might use

“Hey everyone.

We wanted to do more than just put a logo on a mug this year, so here’s a quick hello from us instead of a long email.

2025 was… a lot. New features, unexpected bugs, big pushes, some really good launches, and plenty of days where it felt like we were building the plane while flying it. Through all of that, you kept showing up with your brain, your time and your patience. We don’t take that lightly.

The little package you’re opening is a small thank you and a nod to the reality that most of your life with us happens at a laptop somewhere. We hope it makes your setup a bit more comfortable, your notes a bit more fun to write, and your snack drawer slightly better stocked.

Our hope for 2026 is that we keep growing in a way that feels sustainable and human, not just fast. And we really hope you’ll be here with us for it.

Thanks again for everything you did this year. We see you, and we’re grateful.”

People scan, watch it once, and that’s the part they’re likely to remember.

9.2 A 200-Person Creative / Marketing Agency (Hybrid)

Setup

200 people
one main office, some remote folks
lots of designers, account managers, strategists, production people

Goal

something that feels “on brand” (they care about aesthetics)
something that fits messy desks, late nights and brainstorms
both employees and key clients should feel thought of

Budget

Employees: ~$25–$30 each
Key clients: ~$70–$100 each

Chosen themes

Employees: “Better Mornings + Workday Wellness”
Key clients: “Weekend Reset”

Employee gift

Box includes:

nice ceramic mug in a color that fits the agency brand
good coffee or tea (or allow choice via an internal form)
2–3 snacks that work at 3 PM
card with a short, slightly cheeky message

Message example:

“Here’s to fewer ‘I’m running on fumes’ mornings and more ‘I actually enjoyed this coffee’ moments in 2026. Thanks for all the late decks, weird briefs and brilliant ideas this year.”

Client gift

For 20–30 key clients:

premium coffee beans or tea
small French press or pour-over cone
selection of snacks for a low-key weekend morning

Message example:

“You’ve trusted us with your brand all year. Here’s a small something for your Saturday. Thank you for the ideas, the feedback and the partnership. We’re excited to make more good work with you in 2026.”

Video idea

One short video from the leadership team for employees, shared via QR in their box
Separate shorter video for key clients, shared via an email with a “tap to watch our New Year hello” link and optionally tied to a QR in the gift

Because it’s a creative agency, they might dress it up visually; but the important bit is the words and the fact that actual humans appear in it.

9.3 A 1,000+ Person US Company with Warehouse + Office Staff

Setup

HQ with office staff
warehouses or retail outlets across several states
mix of salaried and hourly workers

Goal

do something that doesn’t feel unfair
respect different types of work
keep logistics manageable at scale

Budget

around $20 per person

Chosen theme

“Thank You for Showing Up”

Grouped gifts

Office staff:
- simple desk organiser
- notebook
Warehouse/retail/frontline staff:
- solid water bottle
- snack pack

Same design language (colors, card style), different items.

Message for office staff

“Thanks for everything you handled behind the scenes this year – spreadsheets, emails, calls, projects and the hundred small tasks that make this place work. We appreciate you.”

Message for frontline staff

“Thank you for showing up on the days when it was busy, messy, hot, cold and everything in between. The work you do face-to-face with customers and product is a huge part of why we’re still here. We appreciate you.”

If leadership wants to do a video message, they can:

record one version addressing everyone
specifically mention both office and frontline work so no one feels like an afterthought
share via:
- QR code on the card
- or links through internal comms for people who prefer email

9.4 A 25-Person Local US Service Business (Agency, Accounting Firm, Studio, etc.)

Setup

one office
small team
mix of employees and a handful of long-term clients

Goal

keep it personal
don’t overspend
give something that feels local, warm and human

Budget

Employees: $30–$40 each
Clients: $50–$80 each (small number, maybe 5–10)

Employee gift

local coffee roaster beans or tea from a local shop
mug or tumbler
handwritten card from the owner/partners

Client gift

snack or dessert box from a local business (supports another small business)
card naming specific projects you did together this year

Both groups get messages that sound like they were honestly written, not squeezed out of a template.

The owner could record a short video that employees see via QR in their box, while clients get a slightly edited version via QR in their gift or a link in an email.

10. Using Video & AR Greetings in New Year Corporate Gifting (Without Being Awkward)

Let’s talk specifically about the “video layer” for a second, because this is where MessageAR fits naturally.

You don’t want something that feels like:

a marketing campaign
a polished ad
a cheesy corporate training video

You want it to feel like:

“we wanted to say this to you directly, so we recorded it once and attached it here.”

10.1 Where a video greeting makes sense

Good use cases:

company-wide New Year message to employees
account team saying thank you to a specific client
founder thanking early employees or key partners
small business owner thanking their first 50 loyal customers

Places you can attach it:

a QR printed inside a card
a QR sticker on the inside of the gift box
a QR on a small tag attached to a bottle, mug or organiser
a link in a New Year email, separate from the gift but tied to it

With tools like MessageAR, you can:

record the video
generate a link or QR code
drop that code wherever you want (card, packaging, email)
let people open it in their own space, on their own phone

No one has to download apps. They just scan and watch.

The point is not the tech; the point is the feeling of “oh, they actually looked into the camera and said this”.

10.2 How to record a New Year video that doesn’t feel stiff

A few simple guidelines:

Keep it short.
Aim for 45–90 seconds. Enough to say something real, not enough to turn into a speech.
Don’t over-produce it.
Natural light, quiet background, phone camera is fine. A slightly imperfect video often feels more honest than a heavily produced one.
Look at the lens, not yourself.
Pretend you’re talking to one person on your team or one client you know well.
Use normal language.
If you wouldn’t say “synergies” in person, don’t say it in the video.
Have bullet points, not a full script.
You can practice once or twice, but don’t read word-for-word if you can avoid it. It will sound like reading.

10.3 Sample video scripts you can adapt

You can literally steal these and tweak them.

Video for all employees (leadership speaking)

Structure:

greet
acknowledge the year
express real thanks
set a simple hope for the new year

Example:

“Hi everyone.

Before the year gets away from us completely, we wanted to say something simple: thank you.

2025 was a full year. We shipped new things, dealt with surprises, changed plans mid-stream and asked a lot of you in the process. We know it hasn’t always been easy.

Through all of that, you brought your energy, your ideas and your patience. You took care of customers, you took care of each other, and you kept us moving forward. That doesn’t show up on every report, but it matters more than any metric.

The gift you’ve received is just a small way of saying we see that and we appreciate it.

Our hope for 2026 is pretty simple: that we grow in a way that feels sustainable, that your work here feels meaningful, and that you have enough time and energy left over for the rest of your life too.

Thank you again for being here. We’re really glad you’re on this team.”

Video for clients (account lead or founder speaking)

Structure:

greet
mention your relationship
thank them for specific things
look ahead to next year

Example:

“Hi [client name/team],

I just wanted to drop a quick New Year hello and say thank you for this past year.

Working with you on [project / account] has been a big part of our story in 2025. We’ve really appreciated your clarity, your feedback, and the way you treat us like a partner, not just a vendor.

We know you have options, so the fact that you continue to trust us with your brand and your business isn’t something we take for granted.

As you open this little New Year package from us, I hope it feels like a small, genuine ‘we appreciate you’, not just another logo on your desk.

Here’s to a 2026 full of smooth launches, good numbers and projects we can both be proud to show off.

Thanks again for a great year.”

You can record a generic version (“Hi there,” instead of using a name) and still have it feel personal enough when someone opens it next to their gift.

Video for small teams / early employees (founder speaking)

Example:

“Hey team,

I’ve been thinking about where we were a couple of years ago, and where we are now, and it honestly blows my mind a little.

We’ve gone through launches, pivots, long nights, weird bugs, great wins and some tough days. Through all of that, you’ve stuck with us, brought ideas we never would have thought of alone, and carried more weight than most job descriptions warn you about.

I know our gifts this year won’t fully match how grateful I am, but I didn’t want to let the New Year roll in without saying this out loud: you matter a lot to this company, and to me personally.

Thank you for believing in what we’re building, even on days when it’s messy. I’m excited – and honestly very lucky – to be heading into 2026 with you.

Happy New Year.”

You could tie this to a slightly more meaningful gift (learning budget, home office upgrade, etc.) for that early core.

10.4 Practical ways to weave MessageAR into your gifting

Here are a few very literal examples of how you could connect a MessageAR greeting to New Year corporate gifts:

On the inside cover of a planner
- print a small graphic: “Scan for a quick New Year hello from [Company]”
- QR opens a MessageAR video of the founder/CEO
On a tag around a mug or bottle
- small tag: “Open this later when you have 60 seconds and a quiet moment”
- QR opens a MessageAR video thanking them and making a simple wish for their year
On the card inside a client gift box
- card says: “We recorded a quick New Year message for you – scan to watch when you have a minute”
- QR opens a MessageAR greeting from the client team
In an email to remote teams
- email subject: “A small New Year hello from us”
- body: “If you want to see our faces instead of just reading this, tap here”
- link opens the MessageAR greeting

You’re not forcing anyone to watch. You’re just making it easy and un-intrusive. It becomes a little “moment” attached to their gift instead of just more text.

11. Internal Comms: How to Announce and Roll Out New Year Gifting

One thing that makes gifting feel more special is how you talk about it.

11.1 Announcing to employees

A simple internal email or Slack post can set the tone.

Example:

“Hi everyone,

As we wrap up the year, we wanted to do something small but real to say thank you. Over the next couple of weeks, you’ll be receiving a New Year gift from us – either at your home or at your desk, depending on where you work.

It’s not meant to be fancy or over the top. It’s just a few things we hope will make your workdays and off-hours a little nicer in 2026.

Inside the package, you’ll also find a short message from us about this year and the one ahead. If something goes wrong with delivery, or yours doesn’t show up, please reach out to [contact person/email] so we can fix it.

Thank you again for everything you’ve done this year. We see the effort you put in, and we’re grateful.

[Name]”

If you’re using MessageAR or another video greeting, you can add one line:

“There’s also a little video hello you can open if you’d rather hear this instead of reading it.”

11.2 Briefing managers

Managers are usually the ones physically handing out gifts or fielding questions. Give them a tiny playbook.

Include:

what the gift is
why you chose it
2–3 example lines they can say when handing it over

Example briefing snippet:

“When you hand these out, please don’t just drop them on desks. Take 20–30 seconds with each person if you can.

If you’re stuck on what to say, here are some lines you can use and adapt:

‘Thank you for all the ways you went above and beyond this year.’

‘I really appreciated [specific moment].’

‘I’m glad you’re on this team and I’m looking forward to working with you in 2026.’

It doesn’t have to be long or perfect. The important thing is that they hear it from you directly.”

That way the gift doesn’t do all the emotional labour alone.

11.3 Communicating with clients about gifts

For clients, you can:

send the physical gift
then follow up with a short email referencing it

Example:

“Hi [name],

You should see a small New Year package from us arrive soon (if it hasn’t already). It’s just a simple ‘thank you’ for the work we got to do together this year.

We’ve really appreciated your partnership in 2025 – your clarity, your feedback, and your willingness to build with us instead of just buying from us.

Here’s to a 2026 full of good projects, smoother timelines and results we can both be proud to show off.

Warm wishes,
[Your name / team]”

If there’s a MessageAR link or QR inside, they discover it naturally when they open the box.

12. Common Questions (The Stuff People Ask Every Year)

To round this out, here are some quick takes on things that usually come up. This is not legal or tax advice – it’s just practical perspective. You’ll still want to check with your finance/legal folks where needed.

12.1 When should New Year gifts actually arrive?

In the US, you’ll see three patterns:

Arrive before Christmas
Pro: people might still be in the office before holidays
Con: gets lost in the wave of Christmas gifting
Arrive between Christmas and New Year
Pro: quieter inboxes, more attention
Con: many employees and clients are out or travelling
Arrive in early/mid January
Pro: stands out in the “back to work” period, very on-theme for New Year
Con: people may assume you forgot and then remember

For purely New Year-themed gifts, first half of January actually works really well. If it’s clearly framed as a New Year gift (not late Christmas), no one minds.

12.2 What if not everyone celebrates New Year the same way?

New Year in the US is fairly secular culturally, but people do have:

different cultural calendars
different rhythms (some care, some don’t)

To keep it comfortable:

avoid heavy “resolutions” language
lean on rest, appreciation and fresh start
keep messages flexible: “as we head into 2026” vs “on New Year’s Eve”

If your team is very diverse culturally and religiously, New Year is actually safer than Christmas or other religious festivals. It’s more about time and cycles than belief.

12.3 Is it okay to skip gifts and just do bonuses?

Some companies choose:

no physical gifts
but performance bonuses or spot bonuses instead

That’s valid.

But if you do both, make sure you clearly separate them:

Bonuses: tied to performance, goals, results
Gifts: tied to appreciation as human beings and teammates

If you only do one, make sure you still say the words: “thank you”, “we see you”, “we appreciate what you did”. Money without words can feel transactional. Words without anything else can ring hollow if people are underpaid or under pressure.

12.4 What about people who joined very late in the year?

Options:

give them the same gift as everyone else
give them a lighter version
or give them nothing this year and start next year

If you can afford it, giving them the same gift sends a strong message:

“Even though you just joined, you’re part of this now.”

If budgets are tight, a smaller but still thoughtful gift + a specific note about being glad they joined is better than nothing.

12.5 Do gifts always need to have logos?

No.

Some of the best corporate gifts have zero logo on the object and only branding on:

packaging
card
small tags

A good balance is:

strong branding on the note and box
subtle, tasteful branding on the object

If you’re genuinely torn, ask yourself:

“Would I still want to use this if another company’s logo was on it?”

If the answer is “no”, that’s feedback on the object and the logo placement.

13. Your New Year Corporate Gifting Philosophy (So It Doesn’t Feel Random Every Year)

Most companies treat New Year gifting as a task:
“Someone please order something nice for the team and clients. Thanks.”

If you step back and write down your philosophy, a lot of decisions become automatic:

What you will spend money on
What you will never send again
Why you choose certain types of gifts over others
How you talk about it to employees and clients

You don’t need a big manifesto. A one-page “this is how we gift” document is enough.

Here’s a version you can steal, tweak, and use as your own:

13.1 Example New Year Gifting Philosophy (You Can Adapt)

1. Gifts are about people, not marketing.
We don’t treat New Year gifts as a chance to push our brand harder. We treat them as a chance to thank the people who kept us alive this year: the employees who did the work, the clients who trusted us, and the partners who backed us.

2. We prioritise usefulness over noise.
We’d rather send one simple thing people actually use than a box full of filler that looks impressive for five minutes and then goes into a drawer.

3. Our branding is present but not screaming.
When we put our logo on something, it’s subtle and tasteful. We want people to feel comfortable using our gifts at home, in co-working spaces and in other offices, not just in our own building.

4. We try to keep it inclusive and kind.
We avoid gifts that only work for specific diets, family setups, beliefs or lifestyles unless we’re choosing them intentionally for a specific group. We assume our team and our clients are diverse and we choose accordingly.

5. We design gifts for the life people actually live.
Our people work in offices, warehouses, stores, home offices, kitchen tables and coffee shops. We take that into account when we choose gift types. We don’t ship fragile, oversized items to small apartments, and we don’t send only desk gifts to people who never sit at a desk.

6. We care about the planet at least a little.
We won’t be perfect, but we do ask:
“Is there a less wasteful way to do this?”
We lean towards reusable items, better materials and packaging that doesn’t feel like trash the second you open the box.

7. Words matter as much as objects.
We don’t rely on the gift to convey the whole message. We make sure there’s a clear, human “thank you” attached—written or spoken—that names, in plain language, what we appreciate.

8. We try to reuse what works, not reinvent the wheel.
If a certain type of gift genuinely lands well, we’re okay repeating the theme in future years with small upgrades. We don’t chase novelty for the sake of novelty.

9. We take feedback seriously.
If a gift doesn’t land well, we want to hear about it. We decide what to change next year based on actual reactions, not just vendor emails and catalogues.

10. New Year is about tone-setting, not grand gestures.
We don’t see gifts as a way to “fix” a tough year or replace fair pay, bonuses or decent working conditions. We see them as small but meaningful signals of how we want to treat people in the year ahead.

You can put a version of that:

on an internal wiki
in your culture handbook
in a short section on your careers page (“How we think about appreciation”)
or in a slide when you present the gifting plan to leadership

It’s also something you can quietly link to from a blog post:
“This is how we approach gifting inside our own company.”

13.2 How to Personalise This Philosophy for Your Brand

If your brand is:

More playful:
Lighten the language, swap “we prioritise usefulness over noise” with something like “we’d rather send you one thing you’ll reach for every day than five random trinkets that collect dust.”
More formal or corporate:
Tone down the jokes, keep the same principles, phrase them in slightly more neutral language.
Very values-driven (sustainability, social impact, etc.):
Add 1–2 extra points about local sourcing, supporting small businesses, or choosing vendors that align with your values.

The key is: once you’ve written this down once, next year’s gifting discussion starts from something like:

“Our philosophy says we don’t send junk, we stay inclusive, and we care about usefulness and subtle branding. These three options fit, these two don’t.”

Instant shortcut.

14. Example New Year Corporate Gifting Landing Page (Copy You Can Reuse)

You might want a page on your site where you explain:

why you care about gifting
how you treat your employees and clients
how you weave in things like video greetings and AR experiences (if you’re using MessageAR)

This can help:

HR and leadership align internally
potential hires see how you treat people
clients understand how you think about relationships

Here’s an example structure and copy

14.1 Suggested Structure

Hero section: headline + short intro
Section about employees
Section about clients and partners
Section about how you use video/AR greetings
Quick FAQ
Soft call to action (if you want people to read more, book a call, or explore other resources)

14.2 Example Copy

Hero

How We Do New Year Gifts (Without the Junk)

New Year is our favourite time to say thank you.

Not with generic baskets or last-minute swag, but with gifts and messages that feel like us—and that hopefully feel like you.

Every January, we send New Year gifts to our team and our closest clients as a way of saying:

“We see you. We appreciate what you did last year.
Here’s a small something to make the next one a bit better.”

Section: For Our Team

Gifts for the People Who Make the Work Possible

Our team members are the ones who answer the tickets, write the code, fix the bugs, manage the projects, talk to customers and keep everything moving.

When we choose New Year gifts for them, we try to do three things:

Make everyday work a little easier or more comfortable
Respect the fact that people work in different ways and places
Attach real words of appreciation, not just a printed slogan

That’s why our gifts tend to look like:

Better notebooks, planners and desk setups for a “fresh start”
Coffee, tea and snack kits for the mornings and late afternoons that need it
Small wellness touches for the times when work refuses to stay neatly in work hours

We keep branding subtle, keep packaging simple, and focus on things we’d genuinely want to receive ourselves.

We also make sure New Year gifts sit next to, not instead of, the things that matter most: fair pay, flexible work where possible, and an environment where people can be human.

Section: For Our Clients & Partners

Gifts That Say “Thank You” Without a Sales Pitch

For clients and partners, our New Year gifts are less about “brand exposure” and more about staying human in a busy, digital relationship.

We use this moment to say:

Thank you for trusting us with real work
Thank you for the honest feedback and the tough conversations
Thank you for staying with us through messy launches and big changes

Depending on the relationship, that might look like:

A “weekend reset” box for their home table
A “fresh desk” kit for their office or home office
A coffee or snack box for their team, not just the main contact

We stay away from “look how great we are” messaging. We keep it simple:

“We appreciate you. Here’s something small to enjoy when you’re not looking at a dashboard.”

Section: Where Video and AR Greetings Come In

Putting a Face and Voice Behind the Card

Sometimes, ink on a card doesn’t feel like enough.

Some of our New Year gifts come with a little extra: a QR code or link that opens a short video greeting from our team.

You open the box, find the card, scan the code, and suddenly:

the founder is talking to you directly
the project team is thanking you for a launch you did together
or the whole leadership team is wishing the internal team a calmer, kinder year ahead

We keep these videos short, honest and low on buzzwords. No scripts, no teleprompters, just a human “thank you” and a hope for the year ahead.

The tech behind it is simple on purpose: scan, tap, watch. No apps to install, no logins to remember.

Section: What Our Gifting Will Always Try to Do

Every year, our New Year gifting looks a little different. Budgets, team sizes and realities shift.

But a few things stay the same:

We will always try to send fewer, better things.
We will always care more about how gifts feel to real people than how they look in photos.
We will keep paying attention to sustainability and waste.
We will keep asking for feedback and adjusting when we get it.

New Year gifts won’t fix every stress or solve every problem.
But they’re one way we try to pause, acknowledge the humans on both sides of the Zoom calls, and start the next chapter on a warmer note.

If you’re curious about how we think about team culture, client relationships or appreciation in general, you can:

talk to us about what we’ve tried that worked (and what didn’t), or
borrow any of these ideas and adapt them for your own company

Either way, we hope your next New Year gifting round feels a little less “order something quick” and a little more “this actually means something”.

You can tweak that to weave in MessageAR more explicitly if you want (for example, “we attach our videos using MessageAR, our own AR video greeting tool” in one line), or keep it product-neutral if this lives on a more general culture page.

15. Getting Feedback and Making Next Year Easier

One last layer most companies skip: finding out how their gifts actually landed.

You don’t need a formal survey with ten questions and a bar chart. A few simple moves can give you enough signal.

15.1 Ask a handful of people privately

Pick:

3–5 people from different parts of the company
2–3 clients with whom you have an easy, honest relationship

Ask questions like:

“Be honest: did you use the gift?”
“What part did you like: the object, the food, the message, the video?”
“If we scrapped this and did something completely different next year, what direction would you pick?”

You’re not looking for them to design the whole program. You’re looking for clues.

If you hear:

“Loved the message, the object was okay”
“The snacks were gone in a day, no one used the notebook”

…that’s good data.

15.2 Look for behaviour, not just words

You can quietly notice:

Are those bottles or tumblers showing up on desks and in Zoom calls?
Are the planners and notebooks actually open on people’s tables?
Are people wearing or using items outside work?

Behaviour is often more honest than “yeah, it was nice, thanks”.

15.3 Capture it somewhere you’ll actually see next year

Don’t trust future-you to remember small comments in twelve months.

Keep a simple note or doc with:

what you sent
how much it cost per person
rough total budget
what went well
what you’d change next time

Next year, when someone says “what did we do last time?”, you’ll have more than a fuzzy memory.

16. Bringing It All Together: Turning New Year Gifts into a Tradition, Not a Panic Task

If you strip everything back, New Year corporate gifting comes down to a few very human questions:

Who showed up for us this year?
What do we want to say to them?
How can we send something that doesn’t add more noise to their life?

When you answer those first, the objects follow more naturally.

You don’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to outspend bigger companies. You don’t have to reinvent your gifting every year.

You just have to:

be honest about your budget
pick a theme that fits where people actually are in January
choose gifts that live nicely in real homes, real offices and real bags
attach real words and, if you like, a real face and voice

Do that, and your New Year gifts stop being “that thing we scramble for in December” and start becoming:

part of how you mark the rhythm of the year
part of how you treat your people
part of what your clients and team remember when they think about you

And if you ever feel stuck again, you can always come back to the simple pattern that quietly sits under everything in this guide:

One person.
One gift that fits their life.
One message that sounds like you.
One small wish for the year ahead.

Start there, and then scale it up.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Before You Even Look at Catalogs: Get the Basics Straight

1.1 Who are you actually gifting?

1.2 Pick a real budget (not a vague “reasonable”)

1.3 Choose a New Year theme instead of random “nice things”

1.4 Check your logistics reality (US geography isn’t small)

1.5 Decide how “personal” you’re willing to go

2. What a “Good” New Year Corporate Gift Looks Like in 2026

2.1 It’s actually useful

2.2 It feels decent in the hand

2.3 Branding is there, but not screaming

2.4 It’s inclusive by default

2.5 It’s sized for real life

2.6 It fits January energy

3. New Year Gift Ideas, USA Edition – Deep Dive by Category

Category A: Desk & Work Essentials – “Fresh Desk, Fresh Year”

A.1 Planners and notebooks that people actually use

A.2 Desk organisers & trays that prevent chaos

A.3 Tech helpers: stands, pads and little conveniences

Category B: Wellness & Self-Care – “Work Hard, Rest Better”

B.1 Simple wellness boxes that don’t get weirdly personal

B.2 “Workday reset” kits for people glued to screens

B.3 Digital wellness + one physical anchor

Category C: Food & Drink – “Treats That Don’t Feel Like Leftovers”

C.1 Snack boxes that actually get eaten

C.2 Coffee & tea kits: “Better mornings” in a box

C.3 “Family table” gifts for a small group of key people

Category D: Eco-Friendly & Low-Waste Gifts – “A Little Less Plastic This Year”

D.1 Reusable drinkware that doesn’t scream “promo”

D.2 Eco desk kits that still look good

D.3 Seed kits and tiny plants

4. Gift + Message + (If You Want) a Short Video

4.1 A simple way to write New Year messages that don’t sound generic

4.2 Where a video or AR greeting actually adds value

5. Ready-Made New Year Gift “Menus” by Budget (USA)

5.1 Under $20 per person – “Smart but Simple”

Option 1: “Fresh Notes” Kit

Option 2: “Desk Snack Boost”

Option 3: “Cable Chaos Helper”

Option 4: “Warm Mug, Simple Moment”

5.2 Around $20–$50 per person – “Thoughtful Mini Boxes”

Option 5: “Fresh Desk Starter”

Option 6: “Better Morning” Coffee/Tea Set

Option 7: “Workday Wellness” Box

Option 8: “Eco Desk Pack”

Option 9: “Remote Setup Helper”

5.3 Around $50–$150 per person – “VIP / Leadership / Key Clients”

Option 10: “Home Office Upgrade”

Option 11: “Weekend Reset” Gift

Option 12: “Learning & Growth” Bundle

Option 13: “Family Table” VIP Gift

6. Special Situations: Remote Teams, Mixed Workforces, Tiny Startups, Big Orgs

6.1 Fully Remote US Teams Across Time Zones

6.2 Mixed Workforce: Office + Warehouse + Retail + Field

6.3 Tiny Startups with Limited Budgets

6.4 Larger Corporates with Layers of Approval

7. New Year Message Library (Copy-Paste, Then Tweak)

7.1 Messages for Employees (General Team)

Short and simple (card space is tight)

Slightly longer (for inside a folded card)

7.2 Messages for High-Performing or Long-Tenure Employees

7.3 Messages for Newer Hires

7.4 Messages for Managers and Team Leads

7.5 Messages for Clients (General)

Short, neutral professional

Slightly warmer (for closer relationships)

7.6 Messages for Long-Term / VIP Clients

7.7 Messages for Partners, Agencies and Vendors

7.8 Messages for Investors and Advisors

7.9 Messages for “Tough Year” Situations

For employees after a hard year

For clients when projects were rocky

8. Turning All of This into an Actual Plan (Simple Checklist)

9. Real-World Scenarios: What to Do in Different Kinds of US Companies

9.1 A 40-Person US SaaS Startup (Mostly Remote)

9.2 A 200-Person Creative / Marketing Agency (Hybrid)

9.3 A 1,000+ Person US Company with Warehouse + Office Staff

9.4 A 25-Person Local US Service Business (Agency, Accounting Firm, Studio, etc.)

10. Using Video & AR Greetings in New Year Corporate Gifting (Without Being Awkward)

10.1 Where a video greeting makes sense