Let’s be honest: with remote work, sending a corporate gift “to the office” isn’t as simple as it used to be. And when you want to ship directly to a client’s home, you’re often faced with that slightly delicate question:
“How do I ask for a home address without it sounding awkward… or intrusive?”
The good news? It can be done—and done well. All it takes is being clear, human, and following a few best practices, both in terms of relationship-building and privacy.
Why it’s sensitive (and why it’s worth doing right)
A home address is personal information. Even if your intention is 100% positive (sending a little wow in a gift box), the recipient needs to clearly understand:
-
why you’re asking for their address
-
how it will be used
-
who will have access to it (you, your shipping provider, your gifting partner, etc.)
-
how long you’ll keep it
Across Canada, the principles of consent and limited data collection are central to personal information obligations. The law sets a maximum retention period of six years.
1) Start by confirming where the person actually works
Don’t assume they’re working from home full time. Many people split their time between home, the office, coworking spaces, or travel.
Your first objective is to give them a choice.
Examples of options you can offer:
-
“Would you prefer to receive the package at the office or at home?”
-
“Is there a delivery address you usually like to use for packages?”
This immediately sets the tone as collaborative, not interrogative.
2) Be transparent: clearly explain what you’re planning to do
Avoid the “surprise at all costs” approach. A gift delivered to someone’s home is great—but not if they’re left wondering why you’re asking for their address.
Transparency means:
-
saying it’s for a gift
-
clarifying that it’s something small and simple, with no extra steps required
-
offering the option to decline (or choose an alternative)
Ça respecte le principe de consentement “éclairé” (la personne comprend à quoi elle consent). Et évite que le colis soit refusé par le client lors de la livraison!
3) Share the timing (because no one’s home all the time)
Packages have a life of their own—they arrive early or late, sometimes require a signature, or end up in a locker.
Set a realistic window:
-
“We’re planning delivery during the week of…”
-
“Is there a period we should avoid?”
This helps reduce missed deliveries and the back-and-forth that often follows.
4) Keep it short (but visible)
The trap: writing a long, super-warm message where the address request gets lost in the middle.
The winning formula:
-
3 to 6 lines max before the question
-
one clear question
-
one reassuring sentence about how the address will be used
Pro tip: put the question in bold on its own line—people will catch it instantly when scanning the message.
5) Be friendly (and adapt to the relationship)
Asking for an address from someone you’ve worked with for four years versus a new client you met last week doesn’t come with the same comfort level.
A few guidelines:
-
Newer relationships: lean toward offering office delivery first
-
Well-established relationships: home delivery is usually well received, when asked tactfully
-
In all cases, if the person hesitates, respect it. There’s no need to push.
(Important) A quick word on privacy: keep it simple, but do it right
Without turning your email into a legal document, you can add a reassuring line such as:
-
“We’ll use the address only for this delivery.”
-
“The address won’t be kept after the shipment.”
-
“It will only be shared with the carrier / our shipping partner.”
Why this helps: laws and best practices emphasize:
-
consent
-
limited data collection (only what’s necessary)
-
protection of personal information
Ready-to-send email template
Hello [First name],
I hope you’re having a great week!
We’ve truly enjoyed working with you over the past year, and we’d love to send you a small token of appreciation to say thank you.
Are you currently working from home or from the office? Is there a delivery address you prefer for receiving a small gift?
We expect delivery to take place around the week of [insert expected week], and someone would simply need to be available to receive the package.Please don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any questions, or if another timing or address would be more convenient for you.
Thank you again for your trust! As a valued client for over [X] years, your collaboration truly means a lot to us.
Wishing you a wonderful week,
[Your name]
[Your company]
Alternatives if the person doesn’t want to share their address
Because yes, it happens. And that’s totally okay.
Here are a few options that keep the intention intact (recognition, gratitude, relationship):
-
delivery to the office (if possible)
-
a pickup point or reception address (coworking space, front desk, etc.)
-
a digital gift (gift card, experience, etc.)
-
sending a secure form (if your internal process allows it), with a short explanation
The key is to stay in this mindset: “We want to treat you in the simplest way possible for you.”
How Shop moi ça makes corporate gifting easy (no headaches)
When you’re sending gift boxes to clients, employees, or hybrid teams, the real challenge isn’t choosing something beautiful. It’s keeping the experience smooth and as turnkey as possible.
That’s exactly where our approach comes in: local corporate gift ideas, a real WOW moment at unboxing, and logistics designed for real life (the kind where not everyone is in the office on Tuesdays).
If you’d like, just tell us who you’re sending gifts to (clients, employees, leadership, project teams) and how many— nd we’ll suggest options that fit your context, without making things complicated.
👉 Discover our corporate solutions for Employee Appreciation Day
