3 Main Elements of a Good Corporate Holiday Gift

For individuals and families the holiday season is probably the most expensive time of the year. Parties here and there, visits and vacation, and gift giving everywhere; all these contribute to the ever growing list of what to buy, what to do, and where to go. But spending big during the holiday season is not limited to private citizens alone; businesses also anticipate this time of the year to give corporate gifts as a way of strengthen ties with their clients and partners, and as a means to give thanks to the support and patronage to their services or products. But unlike private individuals who tailor their gifts to each person, businesses often give one and the same corporate holiday gift to every intended receiver-at least to a certain types of businesses. Some businesses on the other hand give individualized corporate holiday gift to each recipient. Just the same, all corporate holiday gifts circulating everywhere, whether it is individualized or mass produced, have the tendency to give a useless gift or insult some of the recipients. So what now are the elements of a good corporate holiday gift? There are 3: 1.The right gift with the right intention, 2.The right gift to the right receiver, and 3.Timing Any company does not invest money and give away corporate gifts for nothing. They do it for several reasons. And those are: to give thanks to clients or costumer, to keep a good business relationship with partners, and to promote their business to as many people as they can, which is why the right gift should send the right message to the recipient. A corporate holiday gift with marketing purposes may contain a company logo that is discreetly located on the item. An obvious marketing strategy featuring a large company logo on the gift may provide a different impression-often negative. For personal corporate holiday gift, the company should be able their purpose and send transmit it to the receiver through the gift. What is the right gift to the right receiver? Perhaps many companies are having trouble with this question. But the simple rules in gift giving should always apply: know the recipient very well; his likes and dislikes; his interests and favorite brands; his cultural background and traditions; and his preferences. For general holiday gift, the item should appeal to the general recipient. No matter how expensive or attractive your gift is, giving it on a wrong timing will ruin it all. Of course, gifts are not given by someone who knocks at somebody else's doorsteps in the middle of the night. Timing is essential so as the approach. If it is a personal gift to a partner, give it when the mood is good and when the day is pleasant. A gift given in the busiest time of the day would easily be forgotten. A gift given late during the day where the recipient is too tired can be left out. As a general practice, a corporate holiday gift is given in the morning or during personal visits and parties. Of course, the rightness and wrongness of timing should depend on how well the business knows the recipient. There is no early or late time to give someone gifts but if it is for the holidays, send it during the holiday, not before and definitely not after.

Simple Rules on Giving Corporate Gifts to Your Employees

Give gifts to everyone and dont play favorites. This means that you have to give gifts from your assistant to the utility. Treat them all equal. If you plan to give different items to each of them, the value should only be within a couple of dollars. If you are giving gifts to selected few, be discreet. If in case you only plan to give gifts to a chosen few like your assistant, few clerks, and the receptionists, do not tell everyone about your plan. Keep it silent and hand your gifts when no one else who can see; it may be out of the office. You can be charged with favoritism if you are not careful enough. Be fair to everyone and consistent. A personalized gift to one employee means personalized gift to all. Do not give special gift to someone and a uniform token to the rest. Doing this will create negative feedbacks against you. Choose appropriate gifts There is a thick line that divides the appropriate gifts from the inappropriate ones. However, even if it may seem so hard to cross this border, there are still some who want to test the un-chartered terrain. Leave that task to those who want to take the unnecessary risks. For your employees, make sure that what you choose as a corporate gift suits the person. Be safe and use common sense. You know very well that the gift items you can give to your wife/husband are different from the gift items you can give to your employees. Also, your diabetic employees should not receive chocolates or cookies; your overweight employees should not receive clothes that will not fit them; and so on. Avoid gender discrimination Of course, you will choose your gift according to gender but make sure that you treat each of them equally. Do not buy a $50-gift for men and a $10 gift for women. Keep it equal. Better yet, choose an item that will suit both men and women and give it to all. A gift is different from a party Do not think that once you have given your employees a party, you have already given them your gift. A party is a party; a gift is a gift plain and simple. Take gift returns easily. Receiving returned gifts may be quite an embarrassing experience but make sure you do not go ballistic that would end that employee an added figure in the unemployment rate. You will only scare everyone if you do that. Keep them comfortable and appreciate their honesty. Take into account the important matters Do not just give what you want; give what is right. Consider your employees' religion, ethnicity, health, personal ethics, cultural background, etc. Make sure you take note of these things so that you avoid hurting your employees in the process or having your gifts returned. Work related Gift items should be avoided Any corporate gift item not related to work is very much appreciated since your employees are not compelled to use it at the office or where you can see it. Dont give double-meaning gift items "Idiot guide to counting from one to ten correctly", "better understanding about work and professionalism", "easy guide to lose pounds", "book on Labor Code", and anything of the same sort can insult anyone. These items must be avoided at all cost.

Corporate Gift Promotional Product: Why is It Important?

The subtle power of small promotional product can easily be underestimated, but in playing field of business marketing, promotional product is one of the driving forces why companies succeed. This is the main reason why many companies invest on promotional products just to make at least a slight edge over their competitors. It may seem a risky investment but the result will definitely yield a good harvest in the long run. Does it mean that a promotional product as simple as keychain can make a big difference to a company? Keychain itself (or any other type of promotional products) is not the reason why some companies excel. It is the way it is being used by these companies. Companies promote their new products. They introduce it in many ways; billboards, newspaper ads, television commercial, etc. And of course, promotional products. While it may seem not as obvious as any other types of advertisements, promotional products play a unique role by getting the company directly at the hands of the potential consumer. Keychain for example is important and is carried everyday by anyone. Once keychain is used as a promotional product where company logo or company product is printed, it becomes a living advertisement. The company and product will then go where the people take it. Any other items use as a promotional product will send a message that the company, product, or service do exist. Meanwhile, promotional product intended as a gift gives creates a long lasting effect on the client, partner, employees, and costumers. A client who receives from a company a gift for his or her contribution to the business welcomes a vibrant relationship. Also there is a great chance that the relationship will thrive into a much better one. Also, a partner receiving a gift from a company will result to better future deals. The simple gesture of gift giving will be remembered for a long time. Giving promotional product as a corporate gift to an employee for a job well done also creates a bilateral effect. First, the employee will feel that his or her work is appreciated that will boost his or her drive to achieve more. On the side of the company, better efficiency is achieved. There is a study suggesting that giving corporate gift to employees who have done well in their tasks reduces absenteeism and improve productivity. This only shows that when the employees are appreciated and receive something from the company in exchange for good work, the company will thrive more. Costumers on the other hand who receive a useful promotional item will remember the company where the item came from. Regardless of the price and as long as it is useful, with quality, and sends the right message to the intended receiver be it a client, partner, employee, or costumer, promotional product is an effective way improve relationship at the same time, increase the chances that the product or services that the company offers is known. Giving away promotional product as a corporate gift though is not a 100% assurance that the product or service company offers will be known. The right use of promotional product is also important. It should be in the want that is related to the business or product and will reach the right persons who have the potential to become costumers.