One thing about me: my closest friends and family call me “Carebear.” 

SO frequently that when someone says my government name, my nieces and nephew are like, “Who’s Carrie?”

With that kind of nickname, showing clients I care as a service-based business owner comes naturally to me. 

Over the 9 years (and counting) as the founder of Woven Copy Studio, I’ve given my fair share of gifts to interior designers, wedding vendors, photographers, and more creatives I’ve partnered with. 

Because I often get asked about my client gift choices, I figured I’d share my advice on showing appreciation for collaboration. 

The Language of Appreciation

Words are my thing. I weave them together, refine them, and trust them to make readers feel something. 

But some messages just need a little something more to land fully. Something that steps into the tactile environment. 

When I want to communicate, “I see the early mornings and late nights you’re pulling for this business,” “I recognize how vulnerable it feels to share your thoughts and goals,” or “I’m genuinely excited about where your brand is heading” – an object can show any or all of that in ways that words alone just…can’t. 

The right gesture becomes a physical reminder of care and recognition, outlasting project timelines and archived files. 

And in a world where SO many of our interactions happen through screens, taking things offline can seem a little rebellious. 

Count me in. 🙂 

It acknowledges that behind every email and Zoom meeting is a real person with real dreams, real challenges, and real determination to build and grow something that matters while sharing their God-given gifts with others. 

When Gifting Feels Right

Obviously, gift-giving isn’t the only way to show appreciation. But if it’s how you naturally show you care, the key is trusting your instincts to know when some extra attention would be welcomed versus when it might feel excessive or out of place. 

Consider showing your appreciation when: 

• A client has exceeded your expectations in collaboration – not only by being easy to work with, but by bringing their full attention and ideas to the process
• They’ve achieved a significant milestone, and you helped them reach it
• They’ve referred quality leads to your business
• Major holidays that align with your values and theirs

And there might be times when you opt for sending something personal shortly after they’ve booked a service with you. I’ve sent thank you notes at the start of projects to recognize the trust clients have placed in me while celebrating what’s beginning. It sets the tone of care that influences the entire partnership. So you have options!

The Investment Question

Speaking from experience, how much to spend leads to more overthinking than it should.

Let your gift investment reflect both the depth of the relationship and your capacity to keep things in proportion. 

A realistic approach might look like putting 0.5-1% of the project value toward smaller gestures, 1-2% to milestone celebrations, or 2-4% to significant appreciation moments, such as referrals. 

Whatever you go with, just remember you’re not out to impress. You’re not locked into maintaining the same level of gifting forever. And you’re also not competing with some imaginary standard of what appreciation should look like.

What matters is the consistency of care woven throughout your client relationships. It’s the common thread – and that’ll always mean more than the dollar amount or format of your gifts.

The Gifting

Creating Your Gifting Philosophy

Before choosing what to give, consider why you’re giving. 

At Woven Copy Studio, I give because:

• Business owners give endlessly to their clients and even their teams – they deserve someone giving back to them
• It grounds my work in something bigger than myself
• Small gestures create the kind of connections that sustain and inspire me
• It reminds me that business is ultimately about people serving people

Your philosophy might focus on:

• Supporting local businesses in your community
• Promoting sustainability and conscious consumption
• Encouraging rest and self-care
• Inviting learning and growth

Having this foundation makes decision-making easier and ensures your gifts always feel aligned with you and your brand values.

While my approach to client appreciation has evolved over the years, every decision I make still keeps my philosophy at the core – no surface-level pleasantries or surprises that feel like you’re trying too hard. That restraint kinda feels chic to me. 

Sourcing the Gift(s) of Choice

I used to send every one of my clients the same curated box of branded products, a printed version of their messaging handbook, and a handwritten note. 

It was a labor of love, creatively and logistically, so I was really ready to simplify (and personalize) after a year of packaging and mailing these out. 

The question that kept nagging at me was: how could my gifting possibly get “better” from such a high point? 

And this had become such a big part of my identity and work – wouldn’t it seem strange to dial it back?

Turns out, I was overthinking it. BIG time. 

People weren’t choosing me for the tangible gifts. Those were just a happy bonus to everything else, which meant simplifying was going to be perfectly okay. 

Instead of creating one beautiful but generic experience, I started paying attention to the small details that naturally came up in conversations. 

Clients would mention their morning coffee (or Earl Grey tea!) ritual, their favorite local bookshop, the candle scent that helps them focus, or the hobby they’re trying to make more time for. 

I began noting these threads, weaving them into gestures that felt specifically chosen for them.

Now, at meaningful moments in our collaboration, I might send a gift card to the coffee shop they mentioned loving, a product from a boutique in their town, or sometimes something as simple as a handwritten note on heavy cardstock with Woven’s signature bow debossed at the top. 

The shift from universal to personal has made each gesture feel more genuine for everyone. 

So how can you pull those personal details from clients? 

Ask the question directly in your onboarding process. Create space for clients to share what brings them joy, what they’re passionate about, what small luxuries make their days better. 

Depending on their response, my favorite places to source products include:

• CANVA – printing client materials (like messaging handbooks)
• Etsy – embroidered merch (hats)
• Brycie Prints – embroidered merch (sweatshirts) 
• Thnks – curated digital and physical gifts 

The Art of Presentation

How you present your gift matters as much as what you choose. Every detail becomes part of the message, an extension of both your brand and the care you’re showing. 

When a client receives something wrapped in materials that reflect your aesthetic, they’re already experiencing your thoughtfulness. It signals that this gesture wasn’t rushed or an afterthought – it was considered, intentional, and pulled together with them in mind.

Tips for a Memorable Presentation:

• Use sustainable, on-brand materials that can be repurposed
• Include a handwritten note that references specific details (something you admire about them and/or their business, a conversation that stuck with you)
• Think about the “unboxing” experience, creating moments of discovery and delight (like on-brand messages tucked away in the packaging itself)
  • On my previous brand packaging, I included copy that invited the recipient to share the unboxing moment to social media. 

My Go-To Packaging Resources: 

• noissue – eco-friendly mailers, stickers, and products
• Packlane – branded boxes 
• Amazon – packaging accessories (paper filler, bows and ribbons, label protectors)

The Ripple Effect

If you have any expectations attached to your gift-giving habits, it might be better if you let those go. 

But seriously, the gesture itself is the whole point. And another thing, sometimes thoughtful messages of gratitude will follow…sometimes they won’t. 

It stinks, but that’s part of it. 

From my experience though, the majority of the time, there’s a ripple effect that happens. 

Clients tend to share feedback (and those coveted testimonials!) more willingly. They naturally become advocates of your brand, sometimes even dear friends. When they refer you to others, it’s not only because of the wonderful work you’ve done, but because the entire experience felt personal in a world that often feels super transactional. 

Try it. Watch your client relationships light up in ways that fulfill you beyond your bank account. 

Weaving It All Together

Here’s what AI will never crack: genuine HUMAN connection. 

You’re the one who gets to have the real conversations with them, figuring out what they like (and dislike). These are the threads you can weave into meaningful gestures. 

If you’re not already showing client love, start small and stay real. 

What tiny act of appreciation would make them think, “Wow, they really value me”?

The businesses that last (especially in this era) understand something simple: your rates will fade from memory, but the way you make someone feel becomes part of their story. A thoughtful experience reflects the care and attention you bring to everything else.

Feeling inspired to show your clients some love? Let’s create a gifting approach (and the copy to pair with it) that makes sense for your business. Book a strategy hour to talk it out.