Custom Personalized Corporate Gifts

There are four areas to consider when giving corporate gifts:

Proper Identification

So, what is the right etiquette for giving business gifts?  Corporate gift-giving etiquette is merely a collection of certain rules of the trade to be followed when gifts are given during typical times such as holidays or when a reward for a job well done seems the appropriate thing to do.  However, even if the gift is given with the best of intentions, it could be viewed out of context and taken as an offense by the recipient.  Such seeming faults might be the misspelling of the recipient’s name, which ‘seems’ to validate to the recipient that management doesn’t really know who they are.  Oh, and never give someone of the opposite gender a gift that might seem too intimate. 

What Are the Corporate Benefits? 

At the right time and place, an appropriate gift can often build morale within the company and can also deepen respect and friendship with the clientele.  The reason that gifts are often sent out during the holidays is to help establish a culture of thoughtfulness.  Maybe not solely because of the gift, but a client might wish to extend his business arrangements with the giver.

What Type of Gifts Work Best?

It is best to focus on non-gender gifts.  These could be pens, mugs, keychains, portfolios, imprinted USB drives, plants, candy, etc.  Stay away from jewelry and alcohol as gifts.  They often send the wrong message to the recipient and the act could backfire.  In the global economy, we deal with many names that are different from just a few decades ago.  These names must have verified spellings in the corporate system such that gifts are appropriately tagged with the correct spelling.  Consider the religion and the type of diet a recipient might be employing for his health and lifestyle.  Sending chocolates to a diabetic might seem insensitive and produce the opposite desired effect.  Gifts given amongst co-workers should be relatively inexpensive because different households have different financial parameters that they work under.  If it’s corporate management giving a gift, the occasion sort of dictates the gift that will be given.  A company promotion might net a simply congratulatory card.  A birthday, however, might deserve something a bit more substantial.  Make sure that signals are sent such that gift reciprocation is not expected.

When Should Corporate Gifts Be Given?

If it’s not holiday time or other special occasions, sending a gift might appear that there are ulterior motives in play.  For example, never send gifts to another corporate entity or client that is in mutual contract negotiations.  Also, sending gifts to people or companies with which no current relationship might look like an attempt to buy their business.