Men's Timex Waterbury (£89.99)

Corporate gift giving can be great for business, helping to strengthen relationships and ensure employees feel valued. A well-chosen gift lets the employee know you recognise their contribution to the business, be that through consistently performing well or going above and beyond to achieve results.

Gifts can be given at times of the year when they might be expected, such as holidays or birthdays, or they might be given in recognition of years of service. The trick is to make sure the gifts you are giving are well thought out, personal and appropriate. All things you can achieve with a watch.

Giving watches to employees

A watch is both attractive and practical and makes an excellent corporate gift idea. Watches are useful to almost everyone, so there is little risk of purchasing a completely inappropriate gift.

However, a choice of watch can also be personalised by including features and functions that suit a particular role within the company or come in handy for a hobby. Design features can also include a personal touch, such as noting that a certain employee always wears silver jewellery rather than gold and gifting a watch that ties in with that.

The Watch Hut offers exclusive discounts for companies purchasing five or more watches at once, and with hundreds of designer brands to choose from there is something for everyone. You can choose your corporate gifts online from a selection of thousands, or call one of our experts who will be able to help you make the best selections.

Up to £100

Up to £50 (for him)
Superdry watch in minimalist matt black (£29.99) - a funky analogue watch with quartz movement and water resistance up to 50 metres from popular high street brand Superdry.

Up to £50 (for her)
Sekonda Editions watch in stainless steel (£34.00) - an elegant accessory in silvery tones with jewel-embellished dial for a hint of glamour, ideal for transitioning from the office to a night out.

£50 - £100 (for him)
Timex Waterbury in stainless steel and black (£89.99) - a classic design with a modern twist, this two-tone men's bracelet watch is complemented by a rich blue analogue dial and is water resistant up to 50 metres.

£50 - £100 (for her)
Cath Kidston in Oxford bottle green leather (£38.00) - a stunning, ultra-feminine watch in iconic Kath Kidston style, with bird and flower embellishments and water resistance up to 30 metres.

Up to £350

£100 - £200 (for him)
Calvin Klein City in stainless steel (£179.00) - a trendy yet elegant bracelet-style watch from popular designer Calvin Klein, with the silver-toned strap complemented by deep green analogue dial with quartz movement.

£200 - £350 (for him)
Bulova Marine Star Chronograph in stainless steel (£296.00) - classic black on silver design with quartz movement and chronograph function, with water resistance up to 200 metres.

£200 - £350 (for her)
Calvin Klein Sensual Small in steel and rose plate (£299.00) - understated elegance from international fashion designer Calvin Klein, with a gorgeous rose gold and silver steel two-tone finish.

Up to £600

£350 - £600 (for him)
Victorinox Swiss Army I.N.O.X. in stainless steel (£589.00) - a professional diver's watch that can be submerged in depths of up to 200 metres, with blue on silver finish in metal bracelet style.

£350 - £600 (for her)
Gucci Plexi in resin and plastic (£570.00) - funky, quirky and highly individual, this Gucci watch features a skeleton dial with studded black strap and a unique, industrial design.

Up to £1,000

£600 - £1,000 (for him)
Maurice Lacroix Aikon in stainless steel and leather (£975.00) - a series of handsome contrasts characterise this stunning watch from Maurice Lacroix, with two-tone gold-on-silver casing surrounding a white dial and complemented by a rich deep brown leather strap.

£600 - £1,000 (for her)
Versace V-Helix in PVD gold plate and leather (£950) - a fabulous gift idea for theatre-lovers, this gorgeous watch from Versace has a rich gold-on-black design with gold mask centrepiece - a real showstopper!

Common corporate gifting mistakes

While well-chosen corporate gifts for employees can create all sorts of mutual advantages, a poorly thought out selection can quickly backfire. Here are some of the most common mistakes you should try to avoid when thinking up corporate gifts ideas:

• Overspending - Spend an inappropriate amount on a gift and the recipient may just end up feeling embarrassed.
• Underspending - Spend too little and the aim of having the employee feel valued goes right out of the window.
• Gifting during a bidding process - Even if the bidding is taking place over a major holiday, it is never a good idea to start distributing gifts as this could be construed as bribery.
• Getting too personal - Good corporate gifts will reflect the personality of the recipient, but they will not be overly personal in a way that could make them feel uncomfortable.
• Not being personal enough - Giving a new golfing bag to an employee who has never played golf, for example, says that you haven't taken the time to get to know who it is you are gifting.

Presentation is also important if you want to make the right impression. Take the time to wrap your gift in quality paper or choose a watch that comes in a stylish presentation box. Be sure to include a hand-written card that lets the employee know exactly why they are being presented with this gift to ensure they feel valued.