Christmas message to clients: how to write a note for a business gift

In December, many parcels land on a client's desk. The one they remember is the one that comes with a sincere, personal line. A well-written Christmas message to clients turns a business gift from an ordinary product into a thank-you that shows the cooperation has been noticed and valued. In this article we give you a practical structure, sample greetings for different situations and advice on where to place the message and in which language.

Even the most carefully chosen client gifts need a few accompanying words. It is the card or tag that says why the gift was given and who it comes from.

Why the message is the most personal part of the gift

The product carries your logo, but the message carries your voice. A gift can be picked from a catalogue, but a greeting cannot be copied – it has to grow out of the story you share with the client. When the card includes the client's name, a reference to a joint project and a handwritten signature, the recipient senses that the gift is not part of a mass mailing.

The message also helps the gift to be understood correctly. A quality pen or notebook without any words may remain just a promotional item. The same object with the sentence "Thank you for writing so many success stories with us this year" becomes meaningful.

A good greeting also supports your brand. When the design, colours and tone of the card match your company's visual identity, the client recognises the sender at first glance. Yet the message must stay human: the client is not waiting for advertising copy, but for thanks from the people they have worked with all year. That balance – a professional form and personal content – is what makes a Christmas greeting memorable.

The structure of a good Christmas message to clients

A short and effective greeting usually has five parts:

1. Salutation – the name of the client or contact person, for example "Dear Kadri" or "Hello Margus".
2. Specific thanks – what exactly you are thanking them for: a joint project, a long partnership, trust in a difficult time.
3. A look ahead – one sentence about what you are looking forward to next year.
4. A wish – peaceful holidays, good health, time with loved ones.
5. Signature – a person's name, not just the company name, ideally handwritten.

You do not always have to use every part, but specific thanks and a personal signature are the two that make the greeting truly your own.

Who should sign the card?

It is most natural for the card to be signed by the person the client deals with every day – for example the account manager or project manager. For key clients you can add the managing director's signature, which shows that the cooperation is valued across the whole company. A card with several signatures suits a small team, but avoid ten names making the card unreadable.

How to keep the greeting personal for many clients

If hundreds of clients receive gifts, writing a completely new text for each of them is not realistic. You can still keep it personal if you work systematically:

1. Divide clients into groups – long-term clients, new clients, partners and international contacts.
2. Write a core text for each group that suits the nature of that group's cooperation.
3. Add one personal line to every card – a reference to a specific project, meeting or shared achievement.
4. Let the account manager sign the cards, as they know the client best.
5. Check names and job titles before printing, especially if the data comes from an old client register.

This approach keeps the workload reasonable while giving each recipient the feeling that the card was written just for them.

Sample greetings

The examples below are meant as a starting point. Always adapt them to the client, the cooperation and your company's tone.

For a long-standing client

• "Dear Kadri, thank you for being with us for so many years. Every joint project has helped us grow. We wish you peaceful holidays and plenty of energy for the new year!"
• "Dear Margus, your trust is the best recognition of our work. Thank you for the cooperation – we look forward to our next plans together. Merry Christmas!"
• "Thank you for choosing us year after year. We wish you and your team a warm Christmas season and a successful new year."

For a new client

• "Dear Liis, we are glad that we started working together this year. Thank you for your trust – we hope this is only the beginning. Happy holidays!"
• "Thank you for giving us the opportunity. Our first project together was a pleasure, and we are already looking forward to the next one. A peaceful Christmas to you!"

For a partner

• "Dear partners, together we went further this year than either of us could have alone. Thank you for the cooperation and best wishes for a successful new year!"
• "Thank you for a reliable partnership. We wish your team peaceful holidays and look forward to new challenges together."

For an international client

• "Dear Anna, thank you for a year of great cooperation. We look forward to working with you again in the new year. Wishing you and your team a peaceful holiday season!"
• "Thank you for your trust this year. Warm wishes for the holidays and a successful new year from all of us."

What to avoid

• Generic mass text – "Season's greetings from Company X" says nothing about why this particular client received a gift.
• A sales pitch – offers and discounts do not belong on a thank-you card. Save them for January.
• A wrong name or typo – check the list carefully before printing. One wrong letter can undo the whole effect of the gift.
• A greeting that does not fit the culture – not all clients celebrate Christmas. For international partners a more neutral "Happy holidays" or a New Year greeting often works better.
• Text that is too long – a card is not an annual report. Two to four sentences are enough.

Where to put the message: card, tag, packaging or product

Where the message goes depends on the gift and the number of recipients:

• Printed card – a classic Christmas card in your company design, with room for a handwritten line and signature.
• Tag – works well for gift sets and boxes where a large card does not fit.
• Packaging – a short greeting on the lid of the gift box or on a sticker is visible even before opening.
• Message on the product – laser engraving or UV printing lets you add a short word of thanks or the year directly to the product, for example a pen or a water bottle.
• QR code – a QR code printed on the card can lead to a video greeting from the managing director or a Christmas photo of the team.

The gift itself can encourage writing too: a quality writing instrument together with a handwritten card forms a natural whole. You will find a wider choice of seasonal products among our Christmas gifts and the full range in our product catalogue.

Language and tone on the Estonian market

Estonian companies often have a multilingual client base. If you communicate with a client in Russian or English every day, write the greeting in that language as well. A bilingual card, with Estonian and Russian or Estonian and English text side by side, is a good option when the recipients are mixed and you do not want to prepare several separate versions.

In formal business communication in Estonia it is customary to use the polite form of address. If your relationship with a client has become friendly over the years, the greeting can be warmer, but still keep it polite and short. Our advertising design team can help you plan the card layout and texts, matching the card to your brand colours and typefaces.

Frequently asked questions

Should the card be handwritten or printed?

A good solution is a printed card with the client's name and signature added by hand. That way the card is of consistent quality but still personal.

How long should a Christmas greeting be?

Two to four sentences. That is enough for a salutation, specific thanks, a wish and a signature.

Can the message be printed or engraved directly on the gift?

Yes. A short word of thanks, the year or the client's name can be added by engraving or printing. Ask in your quote which method suits the specific product.

When should the gift and greeting arrive?

Before the client's holiday break, so that the gift does not sit waiting in an empty office. As cards and branding need preparation, start planning early and confirm the production time in your quote.

Logotrade has been helping companies choose and brand client gifts since 2004. For inspiration, see our past projects, read other blog articles, explore our services or request a quote.

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