Corporate gifts / bespoke chess for business
Corporate gifting is changing. More and more companies come to ChessboArt with one clear request: they do not want another generic gadget, but a chess gift that is unique, personalised and clearly made with care.
By Michał Fudalej / ChessboArt · Updated 1 July 2026 · Corporate enquiries only
What corporate clients really look for
Most corporate enquiries start similarly: “We want something special, not a standard promotional item.” The request is almost never about mass-produced gadgets. It is about a small series of objects that feel specific, not generic.
In practice, this often means 30–50 pieces: solid wood chess boards with a company logo, a clear inscription and sometimes even poured coloured epoxy resin that matches the brand or a particular project. These are not items that can be produced on autopilot in a gadgets factory. They require a workshop, wood and time.
This is precisely where ChessboArt lives. We are not just a brand that “uses chess” as a motif. We genuinely know chess — as a game, as an object and as a culture that belongs on tables, shelves and walls. That knowledge matters when a corporate gift is supposed to say something about strategy, attention and long-term relationships.
Solid wood chess boards for executives
A very natural starting point for corporate gifts is a compact solid wood board that can live on a desk, shelf or coffee table in an office or meeting space. It should be serious enough for real play, and at the same time easy to keep inside a normal corporate interior.[page:1]
Our solid wood walnut and ash chess board in 36 × 36 × 2 cm is a clear example of that format. It is cut entirely from American walnut and European ash — solid wood, not veneer — with 45 mm squares for Staunton size 3 pieces and a hand-applied natural penetrating oil finish that keeps the feel close to real wood, not plastic.
This kind of board is compact without becoming toy-like. It fits the corner of a meeting table, a manager’s desk or a shelf in a game room, and it can carry a logo or inscription without losing its character. For corporate series, we often begin here and then adjust margins, engraving and small design details to match the company.
Reference board: Solid Wood Chess Board – Walnut & Ash – 36 × 36 × 2 cm — Staunton size 3, limited run, handmade in Poland.[page:1]
Wall-mounted chess sets as “WOW” gifts
The second strong direction for corporate gifts are wall-mounted chess sets. They are often chosen for very particular occasions: recognition for sponsors, gifts for city mayors and company presidents, or one-off presents for people leaving a firm after many years, for example at retirement.
Our wall chess system is built around magnetic boards designed for real play on a vertical surface. You configure the board, add magnetic pieces and optionally epoxy resin upgrades and engraving. The result is a set that lives permanently on a wall in a boardroom, office or corporate game room.
In this context, chess is not “another game in a cupboard”. It is a visible, daily object that anchors a space: executives see it as they enter a room, guests notice it immediately, and anyone who wants to play can simply walk up to the board and make a move.
Wall chess configuration: Build Your Wall Chess Set — custom magnetic boards, pieces and epoxy upgrades made to order in Europe.[page:2]
Logos, mottos and private dedications
Personalisation is usually where corporate gifts become very clearly “yours”. With both solid wood boards and wall sets, we see two recurring approaches: logos and short text on the front, and longer private dedications on the back.
On the front, we engrave company logos, short mottos, project names or dates along the frame or margin. This works especially well for sponsor boards, tournament gifts or internal series made for a specific initiative. The branding is discreet but visible, and it feels built into the object rather than applied on top.
On the back, we often use a hidden space — the area where we normally sign our boards — for longer, heartfelt messages. Here, the people giving the gift can add their own note, either engraved or hand-written. Combining the maker’s signature with a personal dedication from the team, board or partners creates a very strong effect: the board feels like a one-off, not a generic present.
Chess in game rooms and offices
Corporate chess gifts do not have to stay locked in a cabinet. Many companies place boards and wall sets in game rooms, creative spaces or quiet corners of the office, where people can play during breaks or after hours.
A solid wood board on a table, a vertical set on the wall and perhaps a vintage clock nearby can turn a simple room into a place with character. It sends a clear message: this is a company that values thinking time, slow conversation and games that reward attention.
In some cases, corporate gifts become shared objects: instead of going home with one person, they anchor a space inside the organisation. A retirement board might hang near the team that worked with that person; a sponsor board might live in a project room. This is where chess gifts stop being one-off moments and start becoming part of the company’s daily environment.
How collaboration with ChessboArt works
If you are already looking for exceptional corporate gifts and you have found your way to ChessboArt, you are in the right place. Our process is simple, but intentionally not generic: we talk first, we design with you, and then we build.
There are a few honest points we always share with corporate clients. We are flexible on pricing, especially for small series, but we are not a mass-production factory and we do not operate like a gadgets company. We make our own products and we want to make good, beautiful chess objects. You will almost never receive something “off the shelf” from us.
In return, the people receiving your gifts notice the difference immediately. A solid wood board or a wall-mounted set with a real story and a real dedication feels substantial, intentional and lasting. It is not a disposable object; it is something people keep — on a desk, on a shelf, on a wall.
And yes, you will not reach a helpdesk — you will reach me, FM Michał Fudalej. I design and make these boards by hand, and I am happy to discuss your idea directly.
Plan your next corporate chess gifts
Whether you need a small series of solid wood boards for executives or a wall-mounted chess set as a “WOW” gift for sponsors or retirement, we can design and build it together.
View the solid wood board Build your wall chess set Contact Michał about corporate gifts
Text: Michał Fudalej / ChessboArt. Product references: Solid Wood Chess Board – Walnut & Ash and Build Your Wall Chess Set. Images: ChessboArt gallery and sponsor gifts.