Christmas Gifts for Clients and Employees: Why October Is the Time to Start

October 2, 2026

We know, thinking about Christmas already can feel a little early. But when it comes to branded gifts for your clients, customers and employees, October is the right time to get started.


Planning now gives you time to choose something thoughtful, explore your options and have everything ready before the holiday rush. At Behind Your Design, we can help you find promotional products and branded merch that fit your budget and feel like a sincere thank-you to the people who support your business.


Choose a Gift They Will Enjoy Using


A great business gift starts with the recipient. What would make their workday easier, suit their interests or bring a little comfort to their day?


For employees, that might mean something cozy to enjoy at home. For clients and customers, it could be a useful travel accessory or a festive treat paired with a personal message. Your logo helps connect the gift to your business, but choosing something they will enjoy is what makes it feel thoughtful.


Need a starting point? Here are a few ideas from The Heart of the Season holiday catalog:



Click here to browse the full holiday catalog for more inspiration.



Your Holiday Gift Planning Timeline


October: Plan and Explore


Think about who you are buying for, your budget and the kinds of gifts they would enjoy using. Start with an estimated quantity and the date you want gifts in hand. Remember to allow for packaging and shipping when planning your budget.


Need ideas? Browse our holiday catalog, visit our website or email Nina at orders@behindyourdesign.com for suggestions and samples.


Late October to Early November: Place Your Order


Once you have found the right gift, place your order early. Popular products can sell out, and production and shipping times tend to grow as the holidays get closer.


Ordering ahead gives us more time to get the details right, from your artwork and product selections to your delivery plans. Share your deadline with us at the start so we can help you choose options that work with your schedule.


Late November to Early December: Give Your Gifts and Enjoy the Season


Whether you are shipping gifts to clients, thanking customers or handing out branded merch at a staff party, having everything ready ahead of time means one less thing on your holiday to-do list.


Add a personal note to let recipients know how much you appreciate their business, loyalty or hard work. A few sincere words can make the gift feel even more meaningful.


Let Us Help You Get Started


You do not need to have the perfect gift picked out before reaching out. Bring us your audience, budget and ideas, and we can help you explore the possibilities.


Start with our holiday catalog, then email Nina at orders@behindyourdesign.com to begin planning your Christmas gifts with Behind Your Design.

Inside and Out: Custom Umbrellas for Crim Fitness Foundation

September 30, 2026
A great staff appreciation gift should be thoughtful, useful and connected to the organization. For the Crim Fitness Foundation , custom reverse umbrellas combined function with standout branding. These 46-inch umbrellas feature full-color sublimation on both sides of the canopy, giving the Crim brand plenty of room to make an impact. Branded Inside and Out The outside features the Crim Fitness Foundation logo and brand colors. Open the umbrella, and custom artwork of runners making their way through Flint is revealed inside. Using colors from the Crim brand, the artwork celebrates the organization’s connection to running, movement and the Flint community. Full sublimation on both sides of the canopy allows branded umbrellas to go beyond a logo. Colors, patterns, illustrations and original artwork can become part of the design.

Custom Jerseys Put a New Spin on Spirit Wear

September 29, 2026
Custom jerseys are a fun way to take spirit wear beyond the standard T-shirt or sweatshirt. With fully customizable designs, they can be created around your school, team, organization or event and made to feel completely unique. At Behind Your Design, we can customize jerseys with your colors, logos, graphics, names, numbers and more. Full-color dye sublimation gives you plenty of freedom to create bold designs across the entire jersey while keeping the finished piece comfortable and wearable. We’ve created several custom jersey styles for our clients, including football and baseball jerseys for Michigan State University Fall Fest. Each offered a different look while giving MSU a memorable piece of custom spirit wear that still felt true to their brand.

A Successful Day at the 2026 MSU Vendor Fair

September 29, 2026
We had a fantastic time at the 2026 Michigan State University Vendor Fair ! It was a great day of connecting with so many wonderful people including current customers, new faces and plenty of potential future clients from departments and organizations across campus. One of the biggest hits at our booth was our T-shirt bags , which definitely got people talking. We also had lots of interest in the fully sublimated, two-sided umbrella we created for the CRIM Fitness Foundation. It was a great example of how a promotional product can go beyond simply adding a logo and become something truly custom and memorable.

Plan Ahead, Gift Better: Custom Client Gifts for the Holiday Season

September 29, 2026
There’s something special about taking the time to recognize the people who support your business throughout the year. Whether you’re thanking loyal clients or celebrating your employees, a thoughtful holiday gift is a simple way to show your appreciation. We love working with Hackney Jones Wealth Management , and this year, we’re helping their team get an early start on their holiday client gifts. Together, we curated several gift package options so they can choose something that feels just right for each recipient. Their custom gifts include cappuccino/soup mugs, stemless wine glasses, blankets and travel mugs. Each item was chosen with quality and function in mind because a great branded gift doesn’t have to be elaborate. Sometimes the most appreciated gifts are simply the ones people will use again and again.

Join Us for the 2026 LAFF Pathways Pancake Breakfast

September 28, 2026
Behind Your Design is once again working with LAFF Pathways to help bring its annual Pancake Breakfast to life. The 2026 LAFF Pathways Pancake Breakfast takes place Sunday, October 18, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Serendipity Spa of Linden, 129 E. Broad Street in Linden, Michigan. Our team has been working behind the scenes on event coordination, permits, schedules, timelines, setup and marketing to keep the details organized leading up to the event.

A Better Way to Box It: Custom Corrugated Boxes for Ridgeline CNC

September 25, 2026
When Ridgeline CNC in Flint, Michigan, was having trouble finding custom corrugated shipping boxes at a reasonable price, they reached out to Behind Your Design for another option. We worked with their team to create three box sizes featuring Ridgeline CNC branding and tailored to the needs of their shipping department. The result was professional custom packaging that gave them exactly what they needed for everyday operations.
Show More