What You Need To Know About Corporate Gifting
The art of corporate gifting is something that should be part of a smart, strategic plan of any growth-oriented company that seriously wants to stay at the top of its game. The benefits and gains that a business can yield from such corporate tradition cannot only smoothly cement solid ties with loyal clients and customers — it also speaks volumes of what kind of organization you have come to build through the years. Your choice of corporate gift serves as not only a mere token of appreciation to your valued client and partners — it can also bridge an invisible gap that corporate relationships inevitably have to confront with eventually. Irene Devos in her article titled “Why Corporate gifts are important for your business” specified the relevance of investing on corporate gifts and why it is considered as an integral marketing and advertising tool of progressive businesses, “In marketing, there is something known as a “drip campaign,” in which companies make sure they keep touching their customers via email or mail to nurture the relationship and encourage future business. Certain benefits come from this constant contact. The same principle holds true in corporate giving”. Sally Brostch, an Marketing Director from Singapore , often in charge of yearly clients’ and associates’ corporate gift, also believes in a simple credo of the so-called drip campaign “give to receive”, “ Our relationships with people who make our business grow exponentially does not happen overnight — just like any other relationship, it needs to be nurtured.”
One of the challenges though of corporate gifting is finding the right item/s for your desired recipient. According to a recent study of American Express Semi-Annual Small Business Monitor, these are the top corporate gifts in the recent years:
- Cards or calendars (49%)’
- Gift certificates for retail or restaurants (26%)
- Company branded items (23%)
- Fruit/food basket or charity donation (both 18%)
- Flowers/plants and wine/liquor (tied at 10%)
However, you cannot merely base your gift of choice on mere statistics — a personal and more hands-on strategy must be followed in order to find the best corporate gift to your partners and clients
First off, find out about the company’s corporate policy: Some company may not accept gifts like gift certificates or anything perishable. It would save you a lot of time and effort if you first call about this concern before purchasing. This also shows how careful and respectful you are with regards to your clients’ or partners’ rules and customs. Have patience in doing so as you will definitely learn a lot about different corporate cultures that you never thought existed. Yes, even seemingly simple activity like this is very educational and enriching.
Second, set a specific budget for these corporate gifts: To avoid going overboard, it will definitely help to set a limit on how much you are willing to spend. Be realistic on how much the company can shell out — and avoid needlessly spending on extravagant gifts that are not even pragmatic for the recipient. It truly pays to be wise.
Third, do not be afraid of finding alternative gifts: Your creativity is challenged when you go out of your way to discover gift selections you may have never thought to be available in the market nowadays. For instance, it is unconventional to buy corporate gifts like lamps, decorative paintings, and the like — but you’ll never know what will pique the clients’ interests. Sometimes, people like receiving things that they never expected to.
Fourth, do a quick survey: the best way to find out how people will react to your gift is through a random survey. At least 50 pax will do. Add a question about what is their impression of the items and their preference. Consider the demographics when assessing the result of the survey.
Lastly, find a special wrap: The gift is as important as the wrapper itself — definitely one thing that we often neglect. First impressions matter — whether you consider that arguable or not. If the gift is wrapped lovingly, the person who’s to receive it will definitely feel that pensiveness that you expressed through the wrapping. It can be a simple yellow ribbon or a more elaborately enveloped present — use your creativity, or better yet, find someone skilled enough to help you out.
