Client gift etiquette in India: when to send, how much to spend, what to write, and the lines not to crossClient gift etiquette in India: when to send, how much to spend, what to write, and the lines not to cross

The etiquette in eight lines

Client gifting in India is expected at festivals and welcomed after a good year, but it has unwritten rules. The ones that matter most:

1. Send before the occasion, not after. A Diwali gift that arrives the week after Diwali reads as an afterthought. Plan backwards from the festival.
2. Keep it modest. A gift should say thank you, not ask for something. Lavish gifts make clients uneasy and can look like an inducement.
3. Respect their gift policy. Many companies, banks and government bodies cap or forbid gifts. If you are unsure, ask your contact quietly, or send something of small value.
4. Never gift during a live negotiation or tender. Wait until the deal is closed or the tender is decided.
5. Remember the team. A gift for the person who signs, and a smaller shared gift for the team who did the work, is gracious.
6. Mind diet and faith. No alcohol, leather or non-veg food unless you know the client well. Match festival gifts to the festival the client celebrates.
7. Keep your logo small. On the card or the tag, not across the gift.
8. Add a line in your own hand, or at least a named, specific note. "Thank you for trusting us with the Pune launch" beats "Season's greetings".

Choosing what to send a client

The kinds of client gift Indian companies usually send, in general terms:

• Mithai and dry fruit boxes, the default at Diwali.
• Gourmet or tea hampers from hamper companies.
• Desk and executive accessories, often from corporate gifting companies.
• Local craft pieces, which carry a sense of place.
• A handmade decor piece. Raajkosh hand-pours soy wax candles in Jalandhar and puts your logo on the tag, the note card or a wax seal. Client picks at shop prices: the Floral Candle Duo, two peony candles, Rs 649; Vanilla Reverie, our one scented jar, Rs 549; for a team gift, Sunflower Tealights, ten for Rs 449.

Match the choice to the relationship. A new client gets something small and neutral. A long-standing client can get something more personal, like a piece chosen for their office or their home.

Etiquette by situation

How the gift should arrive

• Addressed by name, to the office or, if you know they work from home and they are comfortable sharing it, to the home.
• Well packed. A crushed box undoes the gesture. With us, damage reported within 24 hours of delivery is replaced or refunded.
• With your words and a small logo. We print the logo on the tag, the card or a wax seal, never on the candle.
• With an invoice your finance team can book. We give a GST invoice with your billing name, address and GSTIN; ours is 03AEMPG4934K1ZF.

The rest of our terms are on the Raajkosh corporate gifting answer page: from 10 gifts with no minimum order value, delivery to one office or every client address on your list, prepaid as set out in the quote, no cash on delivery, and branded gifts not returnable unless damaged, defective or wrong. We are a new, small maker; read who makes our candles before you send our work to your clients.

When a candle breaks the etiquette

If the client's office bans open flames, a candle is a decor gift only, and some clients will find that odd. If fragrance is a concern, avoid Vanilla Reverie and send a shaped piece. If the gift must land on an exact date, choose a supplier who can confirm one; we confirm timelines only in the quote and never promise a date in advance. And for a client who has said they accept no gifts, the correct gift is a warm, handwritten card.

If they light it: never leave it burning alone, trim the wick to about 5 mm, and keep each burn to 3 to 4 hours.

Send your client list, the occasion and the budget at raajkosh.com/corporate, or WhatsApp +91 85958 24586.