If you don't know your customers well and wait until the last minute to throw some gifts together you may end up offending them. Typically I think that concern is a bit overblown though. As long as you don't make a person too mad if your gift evokes any emotional response that means you are more likely to stick in your customers head.
When in doubt, avoid meat, dairy and alchohol. The Telegraph has a fun story about corporate gifts gone wrong:
But the trouble with Christmas corporate gifts is that they have become an etiquette minefield. Vegetarianism is still in its infancy in France, so maybe Airbus, the aircraft manufacturer, did not realise that people might be upset when, a couple of years ago, some British contacts were sent slabs of foie gras.
Parties sometimes go wrong too!
Many companies do not buy gifts for staff, preferring to pay for a party. That is where the real problems occur. For Mr Miskin the three inflammatory areas are: serving the wrong food (especially pork to Jews, Muslims and vegetarians), plying staff with alcohol, and issues about bringing same-sex partners to the event.
Read more 'Tis season for tacky gifts that wind up customers
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