Corporate gift delivery: how to ship client gifts internationally without delays or unwelcome fees

But when corporate gifting goes wrong, it can quickly undo that goodwill. Delayed deliveries, customs issues, unexpected charges or missed parcels can frustrate clients and damage the trust you’ve built, impacting your client relations and overall brand reputation.

This guide explains how to ship corporate gifts internationally from the UK while avoiding customs delays, unexpected charges, failed deliveries and reputational damage. In this article:

• Common mistakes when shipping corporate gifts internationally
• Best practice customs guidelines for sending corporate gifts overseas
• How to ship corporate gifts abroad from the UK with confidence

#Why corporate gift delivery is harder than it looks

Chocolates, biscuits, wine, branded merchandise, stationery and wellness items are all popular choices for corporate gift boxes and hampers. But what happens if that gift doesn’t arrive on time — or at all?

What if it’s delayed in customs? What if your client has to chase a “mystery parcel”? Or worse, what if they’re asked to pay unexpected delivery charges?

These scenarios are far more common than you might expect — particularly when sending corporate gifts abroad. And instead of delighting your client, the experience can become inconvenient, awkward and damaging to your brand.

#Common problems when shipping corporate gifts internationally

Below are the most common challenges businesses face when shipping corporate gifts overseas — and how to solve them.

#1. Mixed gift boxes create customs complications

Mixed-product gift boxes often trigger customs delays because different items fall under different import rules.**

Different countries have strict and often complex regulations around specific items — especially food, drink and wellness products. A single restricted item can cause delays, inspections or outright rejection of the entire shipment.

Two regions where businesses frequently encounter problems are:

• The United States, where overseas shipping rules and FDA regulations have tightened in recent years
• The European Union, where 27 member states each apply their own customs interpretations and requirements

What you can do:

- Research destination-specific regulations For example, the US enforces strict FDA rules and bans certain items (such as Kinder Surprise eggs), while Australia only permits commercially prepared and packaged food to protect biosecurity.

- Consult a shipping expert before sending An experienced delivery partner can advise on corporate gift customs regulations per country — saving you time, cost and embarrassment.

#2. Duties, taxes and admin fees can sour the surprise

If duties and taxes aren’t handled correctly, recipients may be asked to pay to receive a corporate gift.

If you’re sending a surprise gift, the last thing you want is for your client to pay VAT, customs duties or courier admin charges to receive it. Because corporate gifts are sent business-to-consumer, each individual parcel can incur taxes and fees — unless this is handled correctly in advance.

The safest option is Delivery Duty Paid (DDP), where all charges are billed to you as the sender. However, if DDP isn’t arranged properly — or if the contents are incorrectly declared — costs can still be passed on to the recipient.

What you can do:

- Always ship corporate gifts DDP This ensures your client never pays to receive your gift. - Declare contents clearly and accurately A bespoke shipping provider can flag risks early and ensure paperwork is completed correctly to avoid costly surprises.

#3. Unexpected Corporate Gift Deliveries Often Go Unreceived

Even with tracking emails or automated delivery notifications, busy clients often miss or ignore unexpected messages — especially if they weren’t aware a gift was coming.

As a result, parcels are frequently redirected to collection points or returned to sender without the recipient realising a gift was ever sent.

We see this problem often. One client came to us after discovering only 50% of their corporate gifts were being successfully delivered. With better monitoring, communication and delivery management, we increased their successful delivery rate to over 96%.

What you can do:

- Centralise delivery notifications We recommend setting up a dedicated email address that receives all shipping updates and is monitored by a real person. - Actively manage deliveries This allows issues to be resolved quickly, parcels to be traced, and alternative delivery arrangements to be made when needed.

#Why working with a specialist corporate gift shipping partner matters

Let’s be honest: corporate gift shipping can be deceptively complex. A well-intentioned gesture can easily become a burden for your client if it’s delayed, unwanted or inconvenient.

The solution is to pre-empt problems before they happen by working with a personalised shipping partner that understands the nuances of corporate gifting.

That’s where SAMOS comes in.

#Why SAMOS is different

We specialise in helping e-commerce businesses send corporate gifts internationally — smoothly, compliantly and without surprises. We don’t just deliver your parcels, we ensure they arrive safely with your client and help manage the process every step of the way.

Get in touch with SAMOS today to speak to an international corporate gift shipping expert.

Grab a coffee, let's chat about delivering corporate gifts, globally by making it simple and affordable. Pick a time that suits you.

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