Being in the gifting industry since the past 20 years we have come across some really interesting mistakes people make and we thought we would share them so you don’t make the same mistake. All the corporate marketers and sales guys, ensure you use these tips effectively.

• Gifts should always be generic in nature and should not be constructed intimate in any way.
• One should always check the company protocol on gifting as some companies have gifting rules.
• The most common mistake made is the person’s name is misspelled. Avoid that.
• If you have a set of clients whom you send gifts every year, they need to be sent something different and better so as to look forward to next year’s gift.
• A logo is important but must not be splashed all over the gift it should be strategically placed.
• When you are sending a group gift make sure that the intended receipt ants know one another.
• On receiving a gift call the person or write a note thanking that person rather than sending a return gift.
• When gifting always send gifts to the gatekeepers and assistants because they will appreciate it and so will their bosses.
• When sending gifts overseas always look into the customs rules, thereby making sure you send the right gift and the receiver does not have to pay any delivery charges or face any other legal issues.
• Never give a gift to a formal client (atleast not in the beginning) it makes you look desperate for their business, sending them a card will be appropriate.

These are a few of the pointers that we have gained from our experience, please do share your experiences or tips by commenting on this post.

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Earlier corporate gifting played a major role in the Chinese markets. Today, however, gift giving or receiving is considered as a bribe and such an offense is punished severely. If one does wish to give a gift it needs to be given privately, it should not be something very expensive and should have a personal touch to it so that it seems like a gesture of friendship rather than a business gift.

Being a communist country gift giving and gifting to government officials became illegal. However, now the idea of gifting is picking up again.

• When gifting one should always remember that they should give a group gift i.e. a company should give another company a gift and not an individual a gift thus not being a bribe. It should be addressed to the head of the business team and shouldn’t be very expensive. When presenting the gift a few words about what it is and what significance it has should be mentioned.
• It is compulsory that the company logo should be present on the gift. Chinese will refuse a gift, sometimes repeatedly. It is expected, however, that the giver will persist and the recipient’s acceptance will eventually follow.
• Gifts should always be presented with two hands & should be should be given in pairs as this is considered as good luck.
• Never give a clock or any sharp object as a gift because the Chinese meaning for clock is death and when a knife or any sharp object is presented it means the cutting of relationships.
• Avoid wrapping gifts in white, blue or black, which are colors associated with funerals, and avoid writing in red ink, which symbolizes the end of a relationship. Red, yellow and pink are seen as joyful colors, and are acceptable for gift wrap.

If you plan on wrapping your gift, red wrapping paper is best. The Chinese have many superstitions surrounding color, and red is considered to be a relatively safe gift wrap color choice.

The Important Chinese festivals are -
• Chinese New Year/Lunar New Year (January/February)
• Spring Lantern Festival/ Yuen Siu Festival (January/February)
• Ching Ming Festival (March/April)
• Birthday of Tin Hau (April/May)
• Cheung Chau Bun Festival (April/May)
• Dragon Boat Festival (June)
• Hungry Ghost Festival (August/September)
• Mid-Autumn Festival (September/October)
• Chung Yeung Festival (September/October)

For detailed understanding of each festival click here

Appreciated Gifts by the Chinese -

• A good cognac, or other fine liqueur.
• A fine pen (not a pen with red ink-writing in red ink symbolizes severing ties)
• Solar calculators.
• Kitchen gadgets Stamps, if the recipient is interested in them (stamp collecting is very popular here)
• Acceptable gifts for a company include items from your country or city, such as handicrafts, or an illustrated book. Be sure to bring a supply of these items with you, so that you can reciprocate if it happens that you are presented with a gift.
• A banquet is usually a welcome gift, since it’s likely you will be invited to one, you will have to follow Chinese business protocol and reciprocate.
• Gifts of food are acceptable, but not at dinner parties or other occasions where appetizers and meals will be served. Candy and fruit baskets, however, are acceptable as thank-you gifts sent after these events.
• Eight is considered one of the luckiest numbers in Chinese culture. If you receive eight of any item, consider it a gesture of good will.
• Yixing pots make the best Chinese gifts. They can be simple and elegant, or exotic and elaborate. And everyone loves them because collecting teapots is a popular hobby in China these days.

Gifts to Avoid

• Scissors, knives, or other sharp objects can be interpreted as the severing of a friendship or other bond.
• Straw sandals, Clocks are to be avoided as they are associated with funerals.
• Handkerchiefs Four of any item (the Cantonese word for “four” sounds similar, in the same language, to “death”)
• Gifts or wrapping paper in white, black, or blue.

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Brands are the soul of all corporations may it be in form of product, service, organizations or individuals. Creating strong brands is extremely essential for business growth as well as sustenance.
The brand building process can be strengthened by the practice of corporate gifting, which help enhance public relations with both internal and external stakeholders. The most important aspect of building a brand involves understanding how to communicate the messages you want to communicate, both internally and externally.

There are two sides of a brand, Rational & Emotional. A brand gives customers reasons to be associated with certain products or services, and even companies. Each customer identifies your brand with the  overall experience he or she has had right from knowing your brand and then every time they used it. A successful brand will carry the connotations that people think of when working with you.

When a client has a good experience, they will associate that with your brand. It is clear that the power of a brand can change customer perceptions very effectively in favor of your company.

But how does one know what gift to give?
It is crucial that your brand represents and projects the image you want your audience to remember. Does your brand stand for trust? Or it signifies traditional and cultural values? Customers make clear associations with existing brands and relate those perceptions with all communication from that particular brand. Thus it is important that your corporate gift stands for what your audience perceives of your company or brand.

Let’s take an example, a brand like Cadbury’s Dairy Milk would stand for fun, enjoyment and celebration whereas a Bajaj Pulsor signifies endurance and speed. So a corporate gift should suit these brand characteristics in order to have a strong appeal for the recipient.

How does it help in Brand Building?

Unlike print or broadcast advertising, promotional items do not quickly expire. A promotional product remains valuable as long as the item can be used.
The customer will always remember the product right throughout the lifecycle of the product.
Promotional items such as pens, diaries, calendars, mugs and other merchandise can be used very effectively as corporate gifts and thereby brand building. This indirectly showcases the corporate identity and therefore manages the brand equity overtime.

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Corporate gifts are used as promotional tools by most of the business world. Most corporations order large amounts of corporate branded articles in order to reward customers, employees and trade partners, not just for one but many reasons.

The reasons can be different but always extremely interesting ideas that touch all the stakeholders of the organization. From giant corporations to small business, the trend of corporate gifting is well received. The items branded with the company name or logo or even the identity colour represents a sense of association with the company each time the item is used or viewed.

This gift is accepted with a sense of appreciation on behalf of the receivers and simultaneously it helps to imbibe the corporation in their minds. A good example can be any item like a pen, calendar or a diary, which are generally used as corporate gifts by many organizations. These items can be branded and purchased at a reasonable price in a creative manner.

As a company’s marketing initiative, you can thus ensure that each time the pen, the calendar or the diary is used, the recipient will feel strongly for the brand. Also it does not stop at just that, but often these items are passed from one person to another at different places, the curiosity of the holder will make him or to enquire about the company and what it does.
When the gifts are branded, they carry with them a sense of value, especially the values that the company stands for. These values are then transferred through the client as word of mouth and it has been shown that this method of advertising is an excellent way to build a brand and achieve overall business success with client satisfaction.

Statistically speaking, more than 75% of the people and companies being rewarded with such items are more likely to continue doing business with the rewarding company than if nothing was received.

Sometimes it is observed that money is not everything when it comes to business. The emotional connect that corporate gifts build with the clients and employees, as well as trade partners is extremely inspiring.

Companies often place orders of corporate gifts for employees in particular. From a financial standpoint, branded items are usually discounted when ordered in bulk and can thereby bring down the cost in comparison to purchasing non – branded items which would make a weaker impact.

When the gifts are of great quality and high utility, they provide the employees a sense of company importance and value as other areas of business. Rewarding employees with such items often shows solid company structure to the employee’s family, friends, and business contacts.

Often as we enter a corporate office, we see a wide range of the place beautified with logos, company name and its punch line. Also offices are decorated with branded items may it be the clock at the manager’s desk, the calendar hanging on the cubicle wall, the pen stand at the reception, the coffee vending machine in the canteen or the business card holders. These flashy items are a convincing way to impress business contacts into proving they are dealing with a serious entity and they are remembered each time there is a mention about the company.

All of it may sound or seem like a small aspect of business but it surely plays a very rewarding role for the company as well its stakeholders. If you want to make the brand experience more cherishable than usual, then Corporate Gifting is the best game to play.

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Varying cultures & traditions across countries also applies to gift giving, what may be considered appropriate in one country may be a cultural ‘faux pas’ in another.

Within the interdependent, global and multi-cultural marketplace of the 21st century, cross cultural differences in the approaches to and practices of business people across the world are important to learn.

Every week we will be covering one country/nation/continent and we will provide a good understanding of the gift giving practices across these countries as to help you cultivate a worthwhile relationship with your business colleagues.

Gift giving in Japan:

• Gift giving and receiving is considered very important in Japanese culture and it is viewed as a mark of respect or appreciation.
• The gift need not be extravagant
• Be sure to gift senior colleagues better or more expensive gifts than their juniors
• The best time to give the gift is at the end of your stay
• Ensure that the gift is neatly wrapped but not in white or bright colours.
• Do present individual gifts in private, in case you are giving a group gift then ensure that all the members are present before doing so.
• The correct etiquette would be to present the gift with both hands
• Gifts that are unique or reflecting the receiver’s interests are highly appreciated.

Occasions -
The most popular gift giving occasions in Japan are oseibo, which falls at the end of the year and O-chugen which falls during the middle of the year.

Gifts -
Good gift ideas include top choice beef, fruit and alcohol such as brandy, quality whiskey and Bourbon along with excellent wines.
They also appreciate gifts from high-end department stores like Saks and Neiman Marcus.

You must bear in mind that the above listing is not exhaustive and is only meant to serve as an initial guidance. It would be advisable to do a bit more research before you choose a gift. Always remember that thoughtfulness in choosing a gift would be more appreciated than the cost or size of the gift!!

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Gifting can be a simple task in daily life if the recipient is a friend, relative or anyone close to you. But, this simple task can turn into a nerve wrecking thinking process when the person who is being gifted is your boss, an employee or a very precious client.

Corporate gifts need a lot of care while chosen because they speak a lot more than just a gesture of appreciation. They need to send across the right feeling in the best possible way which solves a predetermined purpose. Thus selection of corporate gifts must be undertaken with special attention to many aspects, which we shall examine now on.The first criterion for any corporate gifting gesture is the “reason” behind doing so. Different organizations will have specific reasons for presenting gifts to their clients or employees, that too depending on various parameters.

It is essential that each marketing manager understands the core purpose behind gifting and whether it fits into the pre planned strategy. The reasons can be anything such as recognizing dedication of your company’s workforce, motivating teams, educating clients about your brand or even a simple thank you to all the people associated with your organization. Whatever the reason is, one must ensure that a gift speaks of the message very vividly.

Another important aspect to be kept in mind is the audiences you want to cater to while you send out corporate gifts. More than likely, your recipients will be from different backgrounds. Your ultimate gift should keep diversity in mind and be enjoyable for a broad spectrum of people. The character of your gift should be mindful of the many traditions and cultural beliefs in India. Gifts can become a very sensitive issue if not well thought of, and end up hurting emotions if wrongly addressed.

Unique, Creative and Appealing are the three most critical features to any kind of gift, especially a corporate gift since it carries with itself a lasting identity. While you select a perfect gift for a specific audience, do indulge in a bit of research and analyze what appeals to them and most likely is desirable. In an era when everyone wants to engage in the business of gifting, the only thing that will make your gift stand out from the clutter is the unique way of combining its utility with the corporate values and identity.

After all the other aspects are looked into, the final decision that helps the gift hit the right spot is to know what is important for your recipients.

Is it spending time with their family?
Enjoying the finer things in life such as art, craft and expensive articles?
Having a sense of motivation and pride in their performance and work life?

Your gift should make a connection with what your audience perceives as valuable. This positive perception may be ultimately associated with your company.

With these guidelines in mind, your mission to seek and find the ultimate corporate gift will be a successful one and it surely will HIT the Right Spot which matters the most - the hearts of your recipients.

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‘Gifting’ is a simple concept, associated with giving, warmth and relationship building. It however gets a few categories attached to it once the word ‘corporate’ is added to it.

Corporate gifting is no more an art, it is a science. The Rs 1,500-crore (Rs 15-billion) corporate gift market is looking up. It is expected to grow by between 5 and 7 per cent this year after two bad years of slowdown that hit the industry. Interestingly, people in the business say that of the Rs 1,500 crore blown up on corporate gifts, the pharmaceutical industry contributes nearly Rs 650 crore (Rs 6.5 billion). Among the other big spenders are the IT and FMCG companies.

Despite gifting assuming an important place in the customer relations management plans of most multi-national companies, Indian companies are still dithering and unsure. Their efforts are half hearted and as a result the corporate gifts business has yet not blossomed the way it ought to have. The optimism about the corporate gifts business is born out of two developments. One, the growth in the pharmaceutical industry - which is the single largest consumer of corporate gifts; and secondly growth of retail chains leading to increasing customer focus.

What is the best way to guarantee your next marketing campaign will be a success?
Study after study reveals companies that incorporate promotional products into their marketing mix, achieve dramatic results. More and more companies are including promotional products in their marketing budget because they are cost effective and extremely versatile.

Increasingly, gifting, as a concept, is being used by companies as a marketing tool, to create brand awareness. T-shirts, caps, umbrellas, bags, etc. — all of these may work well when it comes to creating awareness about brands, which are jostling with one another to create an impression on the potential consumer. As marketing concepts evolve within the corporate world in India, brand recall — not merely for FMCGs but also for sectors such as banking, insurance, television channels and some of their individual serials — is gaining importance.

Has “corporate gift shopping” suddenly appeared on your “To Do” list? Well, you’re not alone. Many professionals have been challenged with the task of selecting gifts for key clients and employees, planning a holiday event or awards banquet or even just preparing for a sales meeting. This assignment usually makes even the most seasoned professionals scratch their heads. Traditional gifts, such as logo-emblazoned coffee mugs, crystal paperweights and other novelty items, are overused and no longer impress executive clients or your top-performing employees. Even more, these gifts have little impact after the wrapping paper is discarded. Personalization of the product and tailor-made items are now very much in the offing.

Mahatma Gandhi puts in the final word, “It is a never-ending business. Gifts though tangible in form have intangible results attached to it.”

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Useful tips on how to choose a Corporate Gift

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Welcome to Giftex Blog. The best blog on Corporate Gifting and B2B Gifting!

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