Corporate gifting has significantly evolved over the years. Just like other trends, it has now entered the phase of “quality over quantity”. No more just generic gift baskets and branded mugs to say thank you. Nowadays, people prefer gifts that are thoughtful, artisan-made, and personalized.

And this is where craft makers can really show their skills.

If you are a chocolatier, baker, brewer, or small-scale maker working with cacao, then December is a big opportunity for you to grow your business. Every sort of business is in need of artisan partners for their holiday (and for other corporate events too) gifting. 

You will be the one to provide companies with the customizable experiences that are made from real, high-quality cacao ingredients—beautiful and delicious food turned into gifts that they can proudly put their name on and give to their clients.

A full guide is provided here to assist in your endeavor.

 

Custom Chocolate Bars: The Corporate Gifting Classic (But Make It Better)

Corporate custom chocolate bars are a common sight. Honestly, they are mostly generic and not very appealing. Moreover, artisan makers have an advantage here as they use genuine, top-notch cacao: fine-aroma, single-origin cacao beans, cacao liquor, cacao butter, cacao nibs, or cacao powder. Craft makers take their time to create something that is unique and of high quality. 

If you are an artisan maker, this is the time to let your love for the craft speak loudly. Also, it is an opportunity to continue to prove to the world that it is way better to support small businesses rather than large corporations.

Your custom labels should include:

1. Company logo

2. Thank-you message or holiday greeting

A short note about the origin of the cacao (this aspect is very much appreciated as it reflects transparency and elevates the product’s perception while making it more intentional)

You can also make exclusive flavors for a limited time on your bars. Use cacao nibs, cacao butter infusions, or flavored cacao powder blends to come up with flavors such as:

• Coconut-nib-crunch
• Andean salt and dark cacao
• Espresso bar with cacao
• Cacao nib and chili brittle
  

Cookies, Bonbons & Confections

Many firms prefer a mixture of goods, so creating curated gift boxes is a brilliant idea.

Do not hesitate to make bold offers, for example, double cacao cookies (using cacao powder and melted cacao liquor). You might also include bonbon assortments with unusual fillings such as cacao pulp "caramel" or spiced cacao ganache. Something that would surprise people.

Companies are fond of the bundles which they can internally offer to teams or give to clients. Small, portion-controlled gifts also seem personal.

 

Branded Cacao Gift Sets for Wellness, Tech & Hospitality

Many businesses today are looking for gifts that convey "healthy," "mindful," or align with the ever-growing wellness culture. As you might be aware, our top-quality, minimally processed Ecuadorian cacao stands out in this trend.

Here are some suggestions for different sectors ordering from you:

• "Focus & Creativity Boxes" (Tech Industry)

            - Trail mix with cacao nibs

            - Hot mixture of cacao powder and panela

            - A brief guide about cacao as a mood enhancer

• "Welcome Kits" (Hospitality Industry)

            - Mini sachets of cacao tea

            - Cacao nib brittle

            - Single origin mini bars wrapped in elegant wrappers

• "Grounding Ritual Kits" (Yoga/ wellness industry)

            - Organic cacao liquor/paste for the ceremonial drinks

           -  A wooden spoon and stick of cinnamon

            - A card with brewing steps and a thank you note

Cacao is such a flexible product that it can easily fit into any type of business client’s profile, i.e., wellness, technology, hospitality, finance, real estate, and so on. Who wouldn’t want chocolate! 

Cacao Powder for Custom Drinks and Holiday Mixes

If you are making drinking chocolate or instant cacao mixes, the entire gifting period is a big opportunity for you, and this applies to all sectors.

What you would include for this proposal:

1. Your cacao powder blend (if you don’t have a formula, you could use natural or alkalized cacao powder mixed with ground vanilla beans, and sugar or panela). 

2. A printed card with the cacao origin, mixing instructions, and other interesting facts.

3. Gifts with stories feel personal. 

 

Mini Bar Flights & “Tasting Journeys” for High-End Clients

Some companies prefer gifts that are a little more luxurious, experiential, or premium. This is where the cacao origin flights come into play.

Take:

- Packs of a few mini bars, each from different origins

- A tasting guide

- Information on the cacao variety and flavor profiles, what the pod looks like, etc.

Packaging

The packaging has to be as careful as the product that it contains. You would try to make it as neutral as possible, with plain or minimalist labels, not congested. Make sure there is enough room for the logo, and make it visually pleasant. A QR code linking to your story or facts about the cacao’s origin can be included as well. Just remember, clean packaging is more corporate-friendly. 

How to Position Yourself for Corporate Gifting Season

The bulk of artisans lose out on this opportunity since the companies are not aware of their gifting options.

A simple one-page gifting catalog could be created, which facilitates the process of order placement for companies.

• Capture top-notch images of your goods and have samples ready
• Definitely mention your minimum order quantity and delivery times clearly
• Start a “Corporate Gifting” highlight on your social media accounts

Simply let the quality of your product be the selling point. And if your product is packed in a way that seems intimate and considerate, then it is the kind of gift that the clients would not only receive but also remember and talk about.