Corporate
gifts mean different things to different companies.
But the term is loosely applied to all kinds
of gifts presented by a company to its existing/potential
clients and/or employees. Before you can think
about what gift to give, it is important to
know that your gifts should never be construed
as a bribe. Instead, it should be accepted as
a token of your appreciation or as an incentive.
Some of things that will need your consideration
while sending out corporate gifts are given
below.
Your budget:
Every company has a certain budget laid out
for corporate gifts. For instance, your holiday
incentive to your employees will have a different
budget from the gifts you give away at a tradeshow.
You would need to check out your company guidelines
regarding corporate gifts before you figure
out the appropriate price range. Also check
out gifting policies that apply to the rank
and position. Different gifts are given to different
levels of people.
Gift ideas:
Determining what to give as the appropriate
gift is always a problem. You need to decide
on what the perfect gift could be based on the
occasion and the recipient. For instance, a
wine basket is a great gift for a client who
is a connoisseur of wine, but you would not
like to give it to an employee. Executive gifts
like pens, leather holders are excellent choices
for higher-ups in the company. These days, most
companies have started following a trend of
personalizing the gifts they send out. They
etch or imprint their logo or send out an important
message or slogan. This leaves a lasting impression
on the recipient, but only if the gift is appreciated.
Timing:
Corporate gifts are sent out at a particular
time of the year. Generally, these do the rounds
just before the holiday season. The most common
corporate gifts during the festive season are
gourmet food gifts and wine baskets. Some companies
have another strategy. They have a database
of important dates and send in their gifts at
the time of a birthday or wedding anniversary.
Such gifts have a greater impact.
Delivery:
Companies that regularly send corporate gifts
follow one cardinal rule: choose a delivery
service that is 100% prompt and reliable. The
ideal way to deliver gifts would be to hand
them over personally. But that is not always
possible, particularly in this era when business
and their clients are going global. So, a drop
ship service is probably the only choice. Fortunately,
there are a number of reliable companies that
do all the hard work for you. They have a large
repository of gift items that you can choose
from. They also provide personalization services.
Most importantly, they are well versed with
the niceties of gifting and they do understand
the importance of timely service. So, they won’t
include the cost of the item inadvertently or
send off the gift without a gift card. If you
decide to opt for the services of such a company,
remember to order your gifts well ahead of the
delivery date. Most companies favor certain
shipping methods and the time required for delivery
varies according to the destination.
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