3J Mystery Holiday Gift

3J Consulting delivers a unique client holiday gift each year to ensure our gift stands out from the rest of the baskets and cards typically received. Their 2023 holiday gift, "3J Mystery," transformed a typical holiday gesture into an interactive experience, fostering client connection and team building.

Clients were presented with a captivating challenge –3J’s annual holiday competition was being sabotaged, and we needed their help to unveil the culprit. The mystery unfolded through a series of clues hidden in our branded merchandise dubbed “pieces of evidence”, and clients were tasked with identifying the culprit from the six fictional suspects, each named after 3J’s services.

Year
2023

Client
3J Consulting

Awards
National SMPS Marketing Communications Awards - Certificate of Merit

Unravel the Mystery

Assorted espionage-themed items including a box of cookies labeled 'Confidential,' a red safe, playing cards, a magnifying glass, a sealed envelope marked 'Top Secret,' a notebook labeled 'Detective,' a puzzle box, a bottle of whiskey, a key, a tag labeled 'Clue,' a box of cigars, pens, and a paper with a red 'Confidential' stamp, all arranged on a black surface.

The mystery unfolded through a series of clues hidden in branded merchandise dubbed “pieces of evidence,” along with snacks and drinks to fuel our detectives through their search.

  • Detective’s Notebook

  • Magnifying Glass

  • Playing Cards

  • Pop-Up Lantern

  • An Antique Key Bottle Opener

  • A Faux Book Containing Rolo “Cigars”

  • Custom Clue board-inspired Puzzle, based on 3J’s actual office

Let’s Examine the Evidence

A collection of playing cards, including a red card with a silhouette of a tennis player, a white card with scattered footprints, and a black card with a fingerprint and the text 'CONSPIRACY'. The cards are arranged in a fan-like display against a neutral background.

The custom playing cards included unique mystery-inspired suits and faces.

Six playing cards and a deck of cards on a beige surface. The cards include a Jack of Spades, an Ace of Clubs, a Joker, a 10 of Spades, and an 8 of Diamonds. The deck is black with partial fingerprint and barcode design.
A black box labeled "3J Consulting" with fingerprint and circuit design. A gray card titled "DEAD DROP" displays a silhouette of a person with a hat and a coat, with the word "STAGGER" at the bottom.

The gift included a detective notebook, complete with coffee stains and classified credentials.

A mystery puzzle and spy-themed game kit inside a cardboard box. The kit includes a box labeled 'Confidential Top Secret' with cookies inside, a small container labeled '33 Consulting,' a bottle of Maker's Mark whiskey, three red pens, a small red plastic barrel, a miniature key, a puzzle box with 285 pieces, and a sheet of paper with case details. A colorful, illustrated infographic is attached to the inside of the box lid.
A tabletop with a jigsaw puzzle, puzzle pieces, clue notes, and game components. The puzzle box shows a 285-piece puzzle related to consulting. Clue cards with questions and instructions are scattered on the table. A red lantern-shaped container and a wooden box filled with small bottles are also visible.

With a design that was equal parts Clue and 3J, the puzzle contained a hidden clue not on the box, requiring clients to finish the puzzle to find it!

Puzzle of an office layout for 35 Consulting with labeled rooms: Research, Engineering, Admin Marketing, Backyard, Copy Room, Conference Room, Gym, Planning, concept, and a central logo of 35 Consulting.
Puzzle box depicting an office layout with labeled rooms: Reception, Engineering, Admin Marketing, Copy Room, Conference Room, Backyard, and Planning.
Instruction sheet for a holiday mystery game with steps for reviewing suspects, identifying clues, recording letter fragments, decoding a final clue, and making deductions; includes a red-bordered box with a clue and a QR code for submitting answers.

The Suspects

Clients were presented with six fictional suspects, each named after our services. Based on the evidence they collected, they were tasked with submitting their chosen suspect through an online portal.

The Final Verdict

Four people, three men and one woman, stand around a white table with an open red and brown cardboard box on it. The box contains various items, including a cardboard tube and papers. One man on the right is holding a wrapped gift, while another man is holding a beverage. The woman on the left is giving a thumbs-up, and all are smiling in a bright, modern office setting with artwork on the wall.

The success of the gift was evident in the overwhelming response from clients and partners. The gift not only engaged individual clients but also spurred team-building nights and garnered praise for its creativity. This distinctive holiday gift goes beyond conventional offerings, creating a memorable experience that solidifies 3J as a company that goes the extra mile.

Man leaning over a tabletop board game while another person stands nearby in an office setting.
People gathered around a table working on various jigsaw puzzles with some cookie boxes, notebooks, and a coffee tumbler.

What Clients had to Say:

  • "Hey all! I wanted to say a quick thanks for the cool games and treats - what a cool idea! Our office is planning to set up a game night soon so we can break out into groups and play."

    3J Client

  • “Thanks again for a fantastic holiday gift. We have almost solved it, but we unleashed the office on the jigsaw for that final clue. The whiskey will be poured for the team tomorrow afternoon! Let’s find a project to work on together next year for sure.”

    3J Client

  • “Thank you so much for the wonderful Mystery Box with all the wonderful clues! You guys always seem to outdo yourselves and definitely take the prize for the most creative gifts!!!!! We really appreciate our long-standing friendship and working relationship with 3J and I’m looking forward to continuing that well into the future.”

    3J Client

  • “We finally had some time for some team building so finally got to play the 3J holiday game. It was a lot of fun, especially the video clip and the bloopers!”

    3J Client

  • "Thank you so much for the holiday mystery game you dropped off. Staff did team building yesterday to work on and complete the mystery. It was a lot of fun and very creative. We have event staff that put on major regional events for a living that could not stop taking about how great it was."

    3J Client