End of financial year has a particular kind of energy in the business world. Budgets are being reviewed, invoices are being cleared, and somewhere in the mix is the question that comes up every single year without fail: what are we giving clients?

The pressure is real. A good EOFY gift says thank you meaningfully, keeps your brand front of mind, and ideally does something for the relationship beyond the moment it's unwrapped. A bad one ends up in the recycling, in the back of a cupboard, or worse, on a desk as a politely ignored reminder that someone didn't think very hard.

Here's a better option.

Why EOFY Is the Right Time to Think Differently About Gifting

The end of financial year is actually one of the best moments in the business calendar to make a gifting impression. Here's why.

Your clients and key contacts are wrapping up a year of work. They're reflecting on relationships, thinking about who they want to keep working with, and noticing who took the time to acknowledge them. A thoughtful gift at exactly this moment carries more weight than the same gift sent at a random point in the year

At the same time, most businesses are doing the same thing: a hamper, a bottle of wine, a branded pen set that nobody asked for. Standing out from that field isn't hard, it just requires a bit of imagination.

An outdoor game as an EOFY gift does both things at once. It's unexpected enough to be genuinely memorable and useful enough to earn a permanent spot in someone's home or office, not a drawer.

The Case for an Outdoor Game Over a Hamper

Let's be direct about this. A hamper is consumed and forgotten. A premium outdoor game is used for years.

Every time your client pulls out that Cornhole set for a barbecue, sets up Kubb at a team day, or plays Giant Connect Four at their next event, your brand is in the room. Not in a passive, logo-on-a-pen way. In an active, participatory, "hey where did you get this?" way. That's the kind of brand recall that a hamper simply can't create.

Custom branded games from Backyard Games NZ take this a step further. Logo laser engraved, your brand colours in the design, your name on the game that becomes the centrepiece of their next gathering. It's a gift that works as a relationship builder, a brand asset, and a genuine experience all at once.

And unlike single-use gifting, the per-use ROI on a branded game increases every time it comes out. For a business that runs regular events or entertains clients, it could come out dozens of times over the life of the relationship.

What to Consider When Choosing the Right Game

Not every game suits every client or context. Here's a quick guide to matching the right game to the right recipient.

For clients who entertain regularly, host events, or have outdoor space: the Natural Wood Cornhole Set or the Giant Kubb Set are brilliant choices. Both are built from premium hardwood, look impressive in any setting, and work for groups of all sizes. A custom branded version with their company name or your logo turns it into something truly memorable.

For clients in the hospitality or events space: a Custom Giant Connect Four or a Custom Tumbling Tower is a gift they can actually use at their venue or events. It earns its place immediately and keeps your brand visible every time it comes out

For staff recognition and team gifts: the Backyard Bundles is a generous option that covers every occasion and energy level. It says "we want you to have fun together" which lands brilliantly as an end of year team gift.

For a smaller budget or a larger client list: the compact games range from Backyard Games NZ, including Sling Puck, Hook and Ring Toss, and travel-friendly options, delivers a quality gift at a lower price point without feeling like a compromise.

Timing: Why You Need to Move on This Now

EOFY is the 31st of March in New Zealand. If you're reading this in April, the financial year has just turned and you're in prime position for the new year's first gifting opportunity. If you're planning ahead for next year, even better.

Either way, here's the timing reality for custom branded games: they need lead time. Artwork approval, production, and delivery all take time, and the closer you get to the end of the year the tighter that window becomes. The businesses that get the best outcome from EOFY gifting are the ones who lock it in early, brief the team at Backyard Games NZ with their logo and requirements, and get the order confirmed with enough runway for production.

For non-custom orders, turnaround is faster. But even here, getting organised before the final crunch of the financial year means you're not scrambling and your gifts arrive looking considered rather than last-minute.

Make It Count This Year

EOFY gifting is one of those things that's easy to leave until it's almost too late and then done in a rush. The businesses that do it well are the ones that treat it as a genuine relationship investment rather than an obligation to tick off.

An outdoor game from Backyard Games NZ is the gift that earns its keep long after the financial year is closed. Premium quality, genuinely useful, and available with custom branding that keeps your name in the room every time it comes out.

Get in touch with the Backyard Games NZ team to talk through options, custom branding, and timing for your EOFY gifting this year.