There is no doubt about the fact that personalized gifts make a memorable and unique choice. However, the selection process and the ultimate act of choosing a gift that would appeal to the person cannot always be as simple as it looks.

In one of our recent posts, we focused on a unique venture of highly creative Nidhi Agrawal who makes gifts, which suit the receiver’s personality. As we found out, you just need to hand over a picture of your choice to her and she converts it into a dramatic present to reflect the person’s interests by applying her imagination.

There is another comprehensive resource more suited for corporate world when it comes to personalized gifting, merchandising and promotions. We are referring to ekco that stands out is their solid service and innovative ideas.

ekco implements entire product promotional campaigns for their clientele from across different businesses/ industry segments like FMCG, financial institutions, advertising agencies and pharmaceutical firms, among others on a turnkey basis.

ekco serves under the loyalty programs for which they work closely with right from the basic concept to the complete execution of the campaign all across India. Their specialization lies in providing innovative and concept-based gifting solutions.

They supply everything from chocolates, sweets, idols, designer candles, silverware to fancy Hampers. They also deal in items like windcheaters, umbrellas and diyas for various festivals like Diwali, Christmas and of course, the New Year.

Customization and personalization of gifting solutions is the forte of ekco. They undertake the gifting and promotional projects starting from manufacturing to personalizing products like T-Shirts, caps, mugs, clocks, watches, ceramic/ porcelain items, etc. They also execute customized print jobs like printing tattoos.

Some of the categories they deal in are Awards and Recognition; Branded Products; Eco friendly Products; Festival Gifting; Games; Handicrafts; Household Products; Office & personal products.

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There is enough evidence to firmly establish a link between festive corporate gifting and tangible increase in business activity. Should this proposition be enough to give you the confidence to make specific RoI (return-on-investment) projections in your marketing plan?

Several surveys conducted on corporate gift giving indicate that vendors who come up with innovative gifts were twice as likely to enhance their chances of being contacted by customers as those who didn’t have a well-thought gift program.

One simple thing you can do is composing a nice personalized, ideally handwritten note or card. This gesture can be as meaningful as the gorgeous gift itself, since it conveys to the recipient your genuine, non-business-like intentions and also the sincerity of your gift giving act.

Then there’s the vexing issue of whether to courier the gift or present in person. If the relationship warrants it, the idea of sending it to the recipient’s home can be considered to add a personal touch, especially when the gift commemorates your corporate friend’s personal occasion coinciding with a festival.

To put a logo or not to is another issue. Many businesses prefer customized gifts, believing it helps to retain the brand impression in the minds of recipients. When the item is a utility one likely to be used on day-to-day basis like a calendar, or coffee mug, this amounts to free advertising. So there is a tackiness quotient to consider.

The customized items with a logo may make great trade show premiums or perfect leave-behinds, but they could never be considered deeply heartfelt gifts. They will be sans a personal touch. It makes sense to avoid obvious self-promotion even when presenting a gift to create the impression that it is personal, and not a generic one!

Above are some of the key aspects that should be kept in mind during a festive corporate gift program.

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Indian art is slowly but surely becoming a crucial component of an alternate investment portfolio. This shift of strategy is largely being driven by the fact that Indian art is drawing attention and valuation that it thoroughly deserves.

Contemporary Indian art is gaining prominence worldwide. So it is not mere coincidence that Art Expo India has emerged as among the most prestigious art events to showcase Indian art for collectors and art lovers worldwide. It is among the most important art event in India, a cultural highlight for the country.

The three day long Art Expo India 2009 event, starting from 25th September, is a platform to launch Indian art in the international arena with meticulous selection of top galleries and well-conceived program of special exhibitions, seminars and other events.

Speakers Schedule at Art Expo India 2009
25th September

5:00 pm: The Key note address will be Mrs. Kay Saatchi in conversation with Malika Sagar Adwani on spotting young talent and building up an art collection.

26th September

•12:00 am – 1:00 pm: Art in Life: the daily pleasure of collecting, Dr. Rashmi Poddar in conversation with by Judith Greer.

•3:00 pm – 4:00 pm : The aesthetics of the erotic Dr. Alka Pande, Satish Manashinde moderator Anjolie Ela Menon.

•4:30 pm – 5:30 pm : (X)topia: A Search for Place, A Place for Search - A Conversation between Jitish Kallat and Ranjit Hoskote..

27th September
•12:00 am – 1:00 pm : Everything is Art a panel discussion between Bose Krishnamachari , architect Shantanu Poredi moderator Rajshree Pathy.

•3:00 pm – 4:00 pm : Sharan Apparao & Menaka Kumari Shah buying art in recessionary times Moderator Brian Brown.

•4:30 pm – 5:30 pm : Kirsty Ogg  in conversation with Abhay Sardesai on Indian Art in an international prospective.

Art Expo India 2009 serves as an opportunity to know more about adding art as an asset class in your portfolio, and also as an option for gifting at corporate and individual level.

Tags: gifting to clients, Worst gifts, Corporate gifting, Gifting events, gifting etiquette, Corporate gifting India, Gifting occasions, Business Gifting
Corporate gifting, promotional products, promotional gifts

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If you want to gift someone a piece of art, you need to follow certain steps so that you buy the right artwork of a good artist at the correct cost in the context of current market scenario.Of course, buying art either for collecting or for gifting purpose has now become much easier thanks to the fact that the art market has certainly become more matured and more transparent.

The process of buying art has become more ‘democratic’, so to say. The whole process of buying and gifting art can be invigorating, educative and exciting. It’s largely about spotting the potential early in a budding artist.

This may also be subjective since the person you want to gift the artwork would have his or her own choices and tastes. Accordingly, he or she would identify with a particular style of work and would fancy. This point needs to be kept in mind when you are buying an artwork from a gifting angle.

Before you buy an artwork for gifting purpose, it makes sense to approach experienced art advisors for understanding intricacies of the art market. Expert inputs are indeed crucial from point of view of understanding artistic significance and market potential of a particular piece.

Of course, you may conduct your own study of the art market. This is not difficult since information about individual artists and broader art market trends is now available online.

Indian art market, still in an early growth phase, offers good scope for appreciation in value at this juncture! So, it’s the perfect time to diversify your gifting portfolio, and make art a part of it.

Buy a piece of art for someone dear to you. It may well prove to be the most precious possession a few years later!

Tags: Best corporate gifts, , Corporate gifting India, Popular corporate gifts, corporate gifts companies, Cheap corporate gifts, gifting india, Business etiquette, Business Gifting
Corporate gifting, Worst gifts

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For an added personalized touch to make your gift truly innovative and indeed unique, we suggest you one of its kind avenue! Gifted Lifestyles offers you a selection of mouth watering chocolates, jewelry or flowers to enhance the aura of your present.

Also on offer are wonderful wrapping services to enhance the beauty of your gift. Personal consultation is another value-add to the gifting service. Tarana Khubchandani, Kanchan Khubchandani, Armaiti Bhagwagar and Rashna Talati launched Gifted Lifestyles with the very purpose.

They all have combined their passion and professional skills in conceiving Gifted Lifestyles in November 2007. It’s a full-fledged boutique that has on offer a wide array of charming gifts that can be perfect for every occasion – social or personal.

Their collection of gifting items has been an outcome of proactive search and in-depth research done over two years after traveling to a host of fairs and events apart from visits to internationally acclaimed markets of Paris, Hong Kong, Florence, Barcelona, Dubai Milan, etc that has gave rise to this fabulous range of gifts.

Gifted Lifestyles is indeed a treasure trove of exciting gifts like mahogany desk boxes, silk mannequins, filigree lamps, golden fortune cookies and hand embroidered lap trays. What you get on the shelves of this cozy, captivating store is a range of exclusive home décor products and amazing accessories, as well as personal luxury items plus a distinctive display for men.

Another admirable aspect is the constant revamp of the extensive merchandise on offer to suit the different moods and seasons like Diwali and Christmas. The creative team gives inputs to come up with gift hampers, to match any occasion.

If you are searching for a unique gift that would suit your budget and also reflect the recipient’s personality and tastes, Gifted Lifestyles is your best option.

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Gift cards are just one among the various types of prepaid cards that are offered by banks. Other types comprise forex cards like those offered by HDFC and SBI. They can be utilized for purchases and cash withdrawals in the requisite foreign currency overseas.

Other prepaid cards are meant primarily for corporate entities and not individuals. For getting a gift card, you need to fill a basic form and hand over the identity proof plus the cash to any local bank branch. You will be issued it on the same day.

You need to check about the fees and limits, if any. Processing your gift card application incurs a fee. The amount is in the range of Rs 100 to Rs 200. It varies from one bank to another. The amount is higher in banks such as IDBI and Axis, where the activation fees are one percent of the amount that is loaded onto the card provided the card value is more than Rs 10,000.

You can get a gift card for any denomination, from Rs 500. The ceiling on the gifting amount varies depending on the bank you approach. The cap roughly ranges between Rs 10,000 (at banks likes HDFC) and Rs 50,000 (at Axis and ICICI).

Though the gift cards are supposed to be easily available at all local bank branches, this is not always the case. Smaller bank branches may not stock gift cards at all times. The personnel there may ask you to visit the main branch. Also, your cheque may take an additional day to be processed and the card will be activated only after that.

If the gift card has been presented before the activation has been done and if the receiver immediately uses it, the transaction will be declined.

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We have already discussed how to use a gift card, but you may want to know how and where to purchase one.

Purchasing a gift card is indeed hassle-free. You just need to visit your local bank branch, fill in a form and pay cash or issue a cheque. You are not even required to have an account in the local bank branch in order to get a gift card. You do need to, however, carry xerox copies of identification and address proof along with passport size photographs.

You need to carry the cash equivalent to the worth of the card you intend to gift. Once you pay the cash, it will be loaded onto the card. Of course, the job will get that much simpler if you have already an account in the bank because then no proof is required. Also, the amount will be directly transferred out of your account, from your account in the bank.

Activation of your gift card will take a day or so. In case the money is paid through a cheque, it will take one more day before the cheque is cleared and the card is activated.

You need to visit your local bank branch, fill in a form and pay the money for a gift card to be activated. Are there any hassles in the process that you need to be aware of before getting a gift card?

Well, not all banks, especially cooperative banks, offer the facility of prepaid gift cards. Most leading banks do offer this facility, just to mention a few - IDBI, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, ICICI Bank, IndusInd Bank, and SBI, among others.

Though the whole procedure is simple and, theoretically, should not take more than an hour, you can run into practical issues like identity proof. So avoid getting a gift card at the very last moment.

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In one of our previous blog posts, we checked the various features of a gift card that make it user-friendly. We shall continue with our informative series on gift cards that are perfect for personal and corporate gifting.

As we have explained, a gift card offers flexibility to both the receiver as well as the giver. Importantly, it is not limited to one time usage. It is valid to be used on more than one occasion, and at different shopping avenues, for purchasing items of varying amounts until, of course, the card exhausts its value.

Check for their validity as these cards invariably come with an expiry date. Of course, the time span allowed to use it is quite extensive. It can be anywhere between a year to five years depending on the issuing authority.

However, it makes sense to use a gift card without delay because rising inflation can eat into its value as the cost of something you want to purchase might well increase before you know it.

If you fail to use its full value and there’s any amount balance on the card after the date of expiry, the bank will most probably return the amount pending after deducting certain fixed charges.

Also, banks usually impose a time limit after the expiry date within which the gift card must be returned to it in order to collect the balance amount. If the outstanding amount on the gift card has been used up fully before expiry, you should return the card to the bank.

If the card carries substantial amount of value, it may become a tedious task to constantly keep track of the amount spent and the balance remaining on it. To overcome this issue, each card carries the Internet banking user name and secret password, as well as a personal ATM pin.

The balance amount may be checked either through the issuing bank’s ATM services or its net banking facilities. We have discussed how to use a gift card, but you may want to know how and where to purchase one. We shall check the details in the next blog…

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This year the Ganesh festival celebrations have been clouded by a spate of calamities and crises including swine flu, drought and prolonged economic recession. People are a bit nervous and weary.

Corporate entities can use this auspicious occasion as an opportunity to revive the spirit of their employees. This is the time to wish for peace and prosperity to your near and dear ones as well as your business associates/colleagues.
Corporate gifting helps build business relations.

It’s one way of not only pleasing your key clients, employees and partners but also reminding them that you wish to enjoy the true spirit of the festival with them. It is a good idea to send warm wishes to everyone including suppliers, manufacturers etc.

Variety of gifts can be sent on this occasion. For example, you may send religious greeting cards, Ganesha key chains, small statues and sweet boxes. A gift need not be enormous or fancy.

To capture the spirit of Ganesh Chaturthi, invariably all leading mobile service providers come up with a bouquet of interesting Ganesha offerings for their subscribers. The packs include wonderful wallpapers, animations, ring tones and video clips.

One can download popular ring tones such as Shendur Lal Chadhayo, Sukhakarta Dukhaharta, Sukhakarta Dukhaharta, Jai Ganesh Deva and Morya Re Bappa. You can gift ring tones like Sohum Dhyaan, Hum Gaaye Guru, Mere Gannayak and Dukhharta Banke Sukhkarta to a Ganesha devotee. There can be no better way of celebrating the festival and spreading its joy around.

A gift that expresses genuine feelings can work wonders. So don’t miss this opportunity to spread goodwill on this occasion. Do let us know on what you have gifted. Did you send a greeting card, box of sweets or did you come up with something like a Ganesha fridge magnets, CD’s or mouse pads?

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In our previous blog, we referred to the fact that gift cards can make a useful gift on festive occasions. As we found out, it can be a perfect Rakhi gift.

If you want to avoid the hassle of customizing your gift owing to lack of time or some other reason, you sure can consider gift card. In this post, we shall check their handy features that make them user friendly.

First of all, as you would realize, it is extremely convenient in terms of the flexibility that it offers to both the receiver as well as the giver. The former has the freedom in respect to what he or she can actually shop for, as well as where to shop.

On the other hand, the giver need not waste time in shopping and yet make the person happy for what he or she has been offered. In that sense, a gift card is unique! It may look very much like a ubiquitous debit or credit card. But not get deceived by its innocuous looks. What makes it truly attractive to give as a gift is its long duration and multiple usage facility.

Any shopping establishment that accepts a credit or debit card will naturally accept a gift card as well. It can even be employed for online purchases. It comes with a magnetic strip plus signature panel on its back. The panel has to be signed by the individual who is going to use it. However, keep in mind the fact that a gift card may be utilized for material purchases only.

You are not allowed to withdraw cash by using the card. Do not think of inserting it into your bank ATM. It will simply show you the balance on the card with a THANK YOU.

The card also cannot be topped up, meaning, once a certain amount loaded is loaded and the same has been exhausted, extra amount cannot be loaded onto it. It lets reusing but no reloading…

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