15 GENERAL TIPS FOR BUYING GREAT CORPORATE GIFTS

Gifting only adds value when it’s done 100% right, therefore giving the perfect gift should be seen as a really great opportunity to connect even deeper with your clients and suppliers. However, gift-giving should be conducted with great thought, research, and attention to detail.

Here are some tips we have put together for your client to consider when buying corporate gifts:

1. Personalisation

Personalisation goes a long way as it shows appreciation in a unique way and focuses on strengthening a valued working relationship. Use Handwritten Cards and for a more lasting impression, add a handwritten note sharing your thoughts.

Everyone loves to see their name on anything and if the budget does not extend to branding, the same feel-good effect can be achieved through something as simple as a personalised gift message. For example, sending out a gift hamper every month on a subscription basis (see our Just Wrapped range of treats for more ideas) together with a little gift tag message on it bearing the client’s name. This gets shared with colleagues and makes the recipient feel like the office hero! branded cupcakes to the entire office are also great fun, the choices are endless!

2. Check Corporate Policies

Many companies and government offices will have a gift policy limiting the value of a gift or even prohibiting gifts. Be sure to check this to determine the limitations of gift giving so they don’t have to return the gift. Check your client’s company’s policies regarding gift-giving. Many companies, for example, have policies restricting the giving or accepting of gifts in an attempt to avoid any appearance of bribery.

3. Understand The Protocol

Regarding gifts in a country where you will be doing business-Exchanging gifts is a highly valued custom in some cultures, while in others it may be unimportant, inappropriate, or at times unlucky or insulting.

4. When To Present Your Gift

Find out when the time would be appropriate to present your gift for example, in a meeting or outside of the office, in a social setting.

5. Determine Wants

Knowing what to buy a corporate client is the biggest challenge of business gift buying. It’s difficult to know your clients on a personal level in many cases. The gift you choose for a valued client says a lot about the type of relationship you have and where exactly you want that relationship to go. The best bet is to call your customers and ask them what they like, their hobbies, etc., to give you a great idea of what to buy.

6. Consider Cultural Differences

Each country and culture will have its own rules for corporate gift buying. Whether your client celebrates the Christian holiday of Christmas, the Jewish tradition of Hanukkah, or some other seasonal event, exchanging gifts to loved ones, colleagues or friends is a custom throughout the year in many cultures. While there is hardly anyone that does not enjoy receiving a gift, it can be tricky to find the right one, especially when the friend, colleague, or boss comes from another part of the world or different culture, it is therefore important to understand the dos and don’ts of gift-giving around the world and culture-specific.

7. Go For Quality

Any business gift you send reflects on the image of your company. Avoid lower quality gifts that can impair your image. Purchase quality products without breaking your budget.

8. Spend On Packaging

As important as choosing the right corporate gift for your client is the packaging of the gift itself. Spend the time and money on the wrapping to reflect your value on client relationships. If you lack the talent for gift-wrapping or have no time, use the many gift-wrapping services available.

9. Deliver Personally

If your business gift list isn’t too large, consider personally delivering the gift to the intended party. A personally delivered gift will keep you at the top-of-the-mind with your clients.

10 . Find Something That Is Practical

If the gift has no use other than acting as an item of clutter, it will achieve nothing, sit in a drawer for ages and is destined for the dustbin at the next clear-out. You want to find something they will want to use, for example, if you know your client likes coffee, buy them a superb grinder or perhaps a coffee subscription that will be put to good use.

11. Aim To Find Something That Will Last

Sometimes a small gift with no obvious intention is ideal and a great way to say thanks. Other times you may want to find something that will last, and this doesn’t mean something like a plaque that sits on the wall collecting dust. It would be better to buy a monthly subscription of gift baskets for a year that will be shared around the office and even be a conversational piece and remind them of how generous and thoughtful you are!

12. Don’t Just Focus On The Client

Give a gift that the client can enjoy themselves and also by their family and team. A gift that can be shared is likely to make a better impression all around.

13. Go For The Unexpected

While giving a gift at end of year is a must, giving a gift throughout the year, almost randomly, will help make a lasting impression and help the gift to stand out. Remember a client maybe receiving dozens of gifts at the end of year but none during dreary January when he will definitely be appreciating a pick-me-up.

14. Find A Conversation Starter

Talking about a personalised knife can be difficult and out of most people’s area of interest while a gift that everybody can relate to, like a gourmet gift, is much easier to find common ground to start a conversation.

15. Keep It Classy

Be aware of the image a gift will give. A gift message with subtle branding gets your brand on their mind without going down the “cringe-worthy and tacky” such as a branded-photo-logo on anything. Your gifts should never be seen as a bribe or a means of influence but as a genuine sign of a respected relationship.