Corporate Gift Giving
Guidelines
By Susan Kurth Clot deBroissia Gift giving is an excellent way to build
or maintain business relations, whether with an
important client or a valued employee.
Before sending corporate gifts,
be sure to check the corporate policy on gift
giving. Some companies have strict policies
concerning gift giving. For example, many
companies place restrictions on the value of the
gift or on the situations in which gifts may be
given. Ask the personnel department for the
company's guidelines.
Once you have checked the
corporate policy on gift giving, keep in mind
that gifts should reflect careful attention paid
to the recipient's tastes. Try to choose gifts
fitting to the client or employee's hobbies,
interests, or employment.
Gift
Occasions...
While the holiday season is the
standard time of the year for corporate gift
giving, many other occasions merit gift giving
and will make an impact on the recipient:
To Promote:
- Your company's products or
services
To Show Appreciation To:
- A hard-working employee
- A client for new or
continued business
- Someone who has referred
business to you
To Motivate or Encourage:
- Employees facing boring,
unpleasant or difficult tasks An ill
client or employee
To Celebrate or
Congratulate:
- A business anniversary
- The birth of a baby
- A birthday
- A retirement
- A new job or promotion
- Completion of an important
project
- The opening of a new
office
Etiquette to
remember in gift giving...
- Appropriateness
Keep in mind the closeness of
the business relationship. If you have a
client who is not particularly open or
friendly, do not think that by sending a
gift the individual will loosen up. This
often backfires. oBe careful not to
create the wrong impression with a gift.
oAvoid extravagant gifts that could be
misinterpreted as bribery. It is
important that the recipient not feel
uncomfortable when accepting the gift.
Any gift seen as inappropriate could
quickly damage or even destroy a business
relationship.
- Personality
Gifts should reflect the
interests and tastes of the recipient
whenever possible.
- Timing
Frequency of gift giving should
be limited to major holidays and special
occasions. Depending on the nature of the
relationship, it is appropriate to send
gifts on personal occasions, such as to
mark the birth of a child. oAvoid gift
giving during a bidding process.
- Presentation
Nice wrapping paper and
presentation are very important. Remember
to enclose a personal note with the gift.
- Customizing
While the corporate logo on a
gift provides free advertising, it could
be interpreted as tacky. It is more
appropriate to leave logo customization
to gifts that will be used daily such as
mugs, keychains, notebooks, etc. Never
put a company logo on a gift when you
want to leave the impression that it is
coming personally from you.
Some
appropriate business gifts include...
- Desk accessories, such as
pens, desk blotters, letter openers,
clocks, business card holders,
calculators
- Travel accessories, such
as travel alarm clocks, carrying cases
- Food or gift baskets
- Picnic Baskets
- Electronic gifts
- Entertainment tickets to
sporting events, the theatre, the opera,
etc.
Done properly, gift giving is
an excellent way of showing appreciation to
long-standing customers and valued employees.
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Susan Kurth Clot de
Broissia works for Netique Gift Boutique, a
one-stop internet source for rare, unique and
elegant gifts, including a nice selection of
executive and business accessories. Netique
extends special terms and services to corporate
gift buyers. Visit Netique at http://www.netique.com or call toll-free at
1-888-WEB-GIFT.
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