At Monster PR, we’ve tried every client engagement trick in the book to try and convert our prospects into clients – from handwritten cards to surprise cupcakes, branded pens to pop-up video messages, plastic feet (yes, seriously), to persistent email campaigns and digital stalking ads. Some landed. Some… not so much.
It’s fair to say that we’ve tried most things, both to bring in business, and as marketing outreach strategies for our customers. But nothing, and I mean nothing, has had the impact of a curated gift from WellBox. Such was the immediate and noticeable uplift in responses, enquiries and love, we decided to share our experience.
Before we get into it, it’s important to point out that we were actually planning on testing and writing a generic article about corporate gifts, but we were so impressed by WellBox, the service, and the results, we decided to dedicate the article to them.
In case you’ve never heard of their service before, WellBox supplies branded corporate gifts, employee gifts, thank you gifts, etc – but, with a socially responsible and ethical focus.
Last quarter, we sent out a curated selection of gift boxes from WellBox to a mix of our prospective clients, and a number of our previous clients who haven’t used us for a while. We wanted to test whether a truly thoughtful gift, with wellbeing at its heart, could move the needle on client engagement.
Spoiler: it did, and the results blew our minds.
Why we chose WellBox in the first place
Corporate gifts often fall into one of two camps: expensive and impersonal, or cheap and forgettable. We wanted neither. In particular, we didn’t want anything that would end up in landfill after a week (especially after our ‘plastic feet’ debacle, which we quickly realised was not only confusing, but was an environmental disaster!).
After some research into corporate gifting, we were drawn to WellBox because they’re:
- Ethical – A focus on eco-friendly suppliers and sustainability, and crucially, every gift box gives back to the community.
- Thoughtful – Each box feels handpicked, not mass-produced.
- Wellbeing-focused – A rare gem in the corporate world.
- Customisable – We could add notes, branding, and choose themes that matched our clients.
- Fast to turnaround – WellBoxes have impressive turnaround times, even for branded gifts.
For us, it wasn’t just about sending a “gift.” It was about sending a message: we see you, and we don’t just want work ‘from’ you, we want to work ‘with you’, and we want to make your day better.
Corporate gifts, employee gifts, thank you gifts, and ethical gifts start from around £15 at WellBox, which we think is generally good value as a sales prospecting tool.
Source: WellBox
The reactions were instant
No sooner had Wellbox delivered our sustainable corporate gifts, did our inbox light up.
One client replied within minutes of receiving theirs:
“I opened the box thinking it would be a branded stress ball or something… but wow. A proper treat. Honestly made my day. I showed the gift to my team and it made me think about you guys. I’ll be in touch about a campaign you might be able to help with next week.”
Another sent a photo of the box in their home office with the caption, “This is exactly what I needed after a rough week. Thank you so much.”
In one case, a prospect we’d been gently nudging for months finally booked a meeting the same day their box arrived. But it didn’t end there.
The results: Engagement up, Relationships stronger
We tracked responses, call bookings, replies, and social tags. Compared to our previous gifting campaigns:
- Client responses increased tenfold.
- Repeat engagement (follow-up calls, warm leads) jumped by a whopping 400%.
- Two clients posted their WellBox gift on LinkedIn, organically boosting our brand visibility.
- Four clients even asked how they could send WellBox gifts to their clients, so now we’re connecting them directly and incorporating their corporate gifts into a wider marketing strategy.
Why it works (or at least, why WE think it works)
We think the magic comes down to three things:
1. It feels personal
The unboxing experience is tactile, sensory, and full of pleasant surprises. Unlike standard corporate gifts, there’s no hard sell – just genuine thoughtfulness. Not only that, it’s not filled with pointless junk.
2. It spreads joy and supports wellbeing
It feels like the world has quickly shifted from one of collaboration and connections, to hard nose business. We wanted to reverse that trend and spread a little bit of happiness. From herbal teas to calming treats, these gifts feel restorative. In a high-speed, increasingly cut-throat world, that’s rare – and deeply appreciated.
In addition, every WellBox gift supports a local charity, whether it’s supporting mental health, or buying a meal at a food bank. Our clients loved this touch.
3. It builds trust
When people feel seen and appreciated, they’re more likely to trust you, engage with you, and remember you. That’s just human nature.
Yes, of course we want them to engage with us in return, but it sets up a two-way relationship that begins with something positive.
Worth trying as a prospecting tool
If you’re a brand, agency or business looking to build better relationships – whether with clients, staff or prospects, WellBox has our full recommendation.
Please feel free to get in touch with us at Monster PR, and we’d happily introduce you, or contact WellBox directly.
We’ll be sending more next quarter, so we’re hoping for the same level of success. You never know, you might even be on our list.
