A popular form of a gift card is the one issued by retail establishments. A retailer will give a card instead of a voucher. This type of card is an improved version of a gift voucher, as it allows multiple transactions to be carried out. Landmark, for instance, has similar cards on offer.

On such occasions, shopping reaches its peak across India. A festive season is obviously one for shopping clothes, accessories, furniture, gadgets and much more as there are lots of discounts, cool deals and offers available during this period. Keeping this in mind, gift certificates are ideal for grand festive occasions like Diwali, the festival of lights that brings a large family, a group of friends or even a work unit together. And obviously when a group of people meets at one place during a major festival, there is bound to be some gossip, partying as well as exchange of wishes and gifts…

Gift vouchers are in keeping with the tradition of gifting during a festival as part of the time-tested ritual of wishing each other joy and prosperity as well as exhibiting the spirit of sharing and caring. Every person, who looks to make a gifting gesture, also makes an effort to save money. From this angle as well, a gift voucher is a smart corporate gift option. An individual can present it to family members, friends, colleagues, employees and relatives.

Gift vouchers are widely presented on festive occasions as they entail a lot of benefits. First of all, they would enable the receiver to buy a gift of his or her own choice. Next, they also enable the receiver to save money that would have been spent in buying their choice of gift anyway. On the other hand, gift vouchers allow the giver to save the hassle of customizing a gift. Whichever way you look at it, a gift-voucher is a smart way to gift during a festive occasion. So what are you waiting for?

To sum up, keep in mind the following keys to successful gifting:
1. Define the Purpose of Giveaways

2. Set Your Budget and Quantity

3. Logo or no long and personalization

4. How will you distribute? - In person, mail, trade shows

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A well-executed corporate gifting program serves as a the most effective way of expressing your heartfelt emotions that are pivotal to any business related or organizational activity. Brand building experts have realized the immense value that corporate gifting carries in terms of building a strong brand as well as developing relationships of trust and loyalty amongst the internal and external stakeholders.

Catchy gift ideas remind the customers and business associates of the fact that you are grateful to them for their cooperation and you value their association with your organization. Corporate gifts are also given to both current and potential customers as well as the employees to build lasting and trustworthy relationships.

Generally such gifts are brand promotion tools since they have the company’s name or logo engraved on them in some way or another, so that the recall value is extremely high whenever the gift comes into view. The careful selection of gifts based on who is the potential recipient, is extremely important. It is not only a mere object of appreciation but a part of your company’s identity that will stay with the people for a period of time.

Corporate gifting is actually an old marketing technique which has been found very effective and therefore companies these days are willing to invest in these gifts because the benefits they reap and at the end definitely outweigh the costs involved. The ultimate aim is to achieve higher profits.

In the current business marketing dynamics, the concept has come a long way. Today the corporate gifts are not regarded as mere objects of publicity or ornamental showpieces. There is a lot of thought that goes behind choosing the right kind of gifts for a specific audience, so that a gesture of thankfulness is embedded into it in order to strike a chord with the potential clients or business stakeholders in the future. The relationship formed thereby would take the essence beyond the mere existence of a gift to personal and professional trust and faith.

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Corporate gifting has gained in prominence in terms of relationship building with clients, customers and employees.
Here are few useful keys to successful corporate gifting:

1. Create an occasion than waiting for some holidays when corporate gifts are expected, make corporate gifting a regular practice.

2. Identify the key dates of your clients. For example, send gifts to your clients on their birthdays, anniversaries or some important and special days.

3. One must remember that corporate gifting is a great way to say thank you and also to promote your business, products or services, to show respect, to express an apology, over all it helps to enhance companies image and reputation.

4. Choose an appropriate gift that suits the recipient’s taste and preferences and not yours. For example, contact others who are aware about the recipient. Ask them about favorite food, color preference, special interest, if they collect anything, favorite sports team, books, authors, musicians.

5. Write a personal note or a card to accompany the corporate gift. Hand written notes are much preferred. Send the gift through a reliable source.

6. Make sure your gift is distinctively packed. Promotional gifts packed in special boxes from prestigious stores creates high impact because of its status.

Festivals in India are just as vibrant as its cultural fabric. Companies treat festivals as the best occasion to reach out to their clients and employees. October marks the start of a long festive season, including Ganesh Chathurthi, Navaratri, Ramzaan, Diwali, Christmas and New Year.

It’s the best opportunity for companies to strengthen relationships not only with their customers but also with their employees. Most corporate houses use it to create a sense of bonding amongst employees. Festivals indeed can act as the best way for employees to connect with each other and the management. In a way, gifting as a concept has attained a whole new dimension in the corporate realm.

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Shining and sizzling silver has an uncanny knack of adapting to every fashion trend - traditional to bold and dramatic; classic to contemporary. Silver signifies faith and purity as a color, and is as glamorous as gold. The metal is not looked upon as a mere luxury symbol world over. The Chinese, for instance, believe a silver locket around a child’s neck would drive away any evil spirits, whereas the Incas of Peru have called it ‘the tears of the moon’.

You can make your choice from a wide array of designs, and even personalize your jewelry and accessories in silver. While going for a gorgeous gift for your loved one, you can buy cufflinks, buckles, hip flasks, collar stays or key rings that make a perfect fashion statement.

Gifting of silverware is an idea that jells perfectly with Indian tradition. Silver thalis are now a must-have at ceremonies. Cute silver boxes are there for holding mouth fresheners and silver coins are now commonly presented in embroidered bags. While silver watches, belts and jewelry are more suitable as generic presents, utensils in silver are ideal for traditional or festive occasions.

The mellifluous metal signifies status and wealth. It is perceived to fetch good luck. Importantly, it can indeed get cool and fashionable. An elegant pendant, opulent choker, or handsome hair ornament of traditional white or pastel colored pearls set in sterling white metal will make a fashionable gift to suit one’s tastes, style quotient and sentiments. Attractively colored pearls set in sterling silver will make an exquisite, glittering gift! Even the men’s jewelry is now getting popular. New-generation uber-cool men now flaunt to love accessories! For men, you may also consider stick to watches, silver coins or a silver household object.

One indeed is spoiled for choice here!

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There is a definite link between festive corporate gifting and tangible increase in business. Should this proposition be enough to give you the confidence to make specific RoI (return-on-investment) projections in your marketing plan? Well, 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.  In this context, here are some key aspects of a festive corporate gift program that are often overlooked:

Understanding the “Occasion” and “Theme”

Creative ideas are desirable when it comes to the “theme” and the “occasion” of gifting to clients, employees and trade partners. It becomes imperative for the vendor to develop innovative themes and packaging ideas that not only suit to the occasion but also encapsulate the corporate identity.

Based on a peculiar scenario, a manufacturer/vendor automatically makes some assumptions like:
a. The gift cannot be perhaps too expensive if the recipients are large in number.

b. The target audience has focused domain knowledge; therefore give something that would help the receiver in his or her work.

c. It has to be something really meaningful as stakeholders are evangelists of the firm in question.
To put a logo or not?

Many businesses prefer customized gifts, which carry a logo, hoping to create a lasting 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, 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. It makes sense to indulge in blatant self-promotion.

Make it a ‘personalized’ present

One simple thing you can do is composing a nice personalized, ideally handwritten note or card. It will create an impression that it’s personal gift, and not a generic one! 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.

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Adding a natural touch to one’s home or office settings will make a perfect gesture and a great gift! To make your task easier, many nurseries are now innovating. As a result, there is ample choice to add to the green quotient of your friend’s or colleague’s office or home environ. Here are some Gorgeous ‘green’ gift ideas:

1. If you’re looking for wonderful ways to add a tinge of green to your friends’ or coveted client’s living or working space, we recommend you some gorgeous ways of helping your corporate friends to go green.
2. You can get beautiful Bonsais, succulents and cacti based on your budget and also the person whom you are gifting it. Potted plants such as adenium or desert rose and lavender are worth a buy.
3. If you are looking at bright, colorful varieties, bird of paradise, orchids and are recommended. Benjamina or starlight are preferred options in smaller garden plants.
4. If you want to pick exotic varieties, landscaping will help in accentuating the plants. Seeking help of a landscape consultant is a good idea to understand how to do it. The choice of plant depends on the kind of space available.
5. If it is for the interior surroundings, the decor of the space matters. You need to take into account the size of the plant. For instance, if you are getting bonsai, suggest that they be placed in front of the bigger, taller greens.
6. For home garden gifting, there are a wide range of ornamental, aromatic and medicinal plants available. You may consider creepers for wide spaces, though they may not be exotic. Of course, everything exotic need not be expensive!
7. A wide variety of them are generally seeded in October. Sunflowers and Zinnia elegans are among the available options; they bloom well in this season.
8. You can go for the willowy, tall lupins in purple that are easily available in pots as well as seeds at most nurseries. Other more exotic varieties are anthuriums or orchids. Mody Exotica, a cultivation facility, redecorates open spaces if you can afford it.

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Technology is an integral part of today’s everyday life. Are you looking for some unique gadgets to gift for someone who is a real fitness freak? Here we pick an exciting idea dedicated to the concept, as recommended by tech writer Gopal Sathe of The Mint India.
Just to elaborate, Fitbit Ultra is a light and unobtrusive device that comes with an accelerometer built in, to count every step you take. An altimeter tells it how high you are, to measure the flights of stairs you climbed.

In it, a small LED notifier shows the number of steps you’ve taken, and the calories you burnt. Fitbit Ultra is actually a small plastic clip that looks like a Bluetooth headset.  The way it works is simple— switch it on, clip it to your clothes, and that’s about it. You also need to maintain a food diary, which you can enter into the Fitbit website. Here are its other features:

1. Data pertaining to your walking can be submitted to the website by plugging your Fitbit into the computer. The site then analyses your dietary entries and your walk data and gives you a detailed breakdown of how this is affecting your overall health.

2. The Web interface is easy to use and understand, but you need to be prepared to enter a lot of information manually. For people who already have a fitness routine and want a little help tracking the details, the Fitbit is an excellent option. The display also shows a clock and can function as a stopwatch.

3. Another handy feature of the Fitbit is sleep analysis. You need to press a button when you go to bed, and another when you get up, and the device will then be able to tell you how often you woke up during the night, and how restfully you were sleeping. It’s a nice touch, though it can’t really tell if you’re asleep, or just lying fairly still.

4. A problem area perhaps is that the food listings do not account for Indian cuisine— they cater specifically to Americans. Those here will have to make do without the calorie input and output analysis from the website, limiting one of the features. Another downside is it can’t track exercise outside of walking/running. The session you put in at the gym doesn’t reflect in the tracking charts, unless you enter it manually.

(Fitbit Ultra is priced at $100 (around Rs 5,300) plus shipping charges.)

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Specific rules and norms are set by respective advertising standards authorities in different countries. The same are monitored by committees that keep a tab over advertising practices that can often be misleading. These bodies are independently administered and serve like a watchdog.

For example, Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) functions as a self regulatory voluntary organization. The role and functioning of ASCI encompasses addressing complaints received from consumers and industry against advertisements and claims that are considered as false or misleading. It is important in this context that we consider the difference, albeit subtle, between a prize (awarded to a lucky few winners) and a gift (available to all or a majority of entrants to a promotion irrespective of the fact whether they win or lose).

This distinction should always be made amply clear to consumers who are being targeted or approached through the promotions offer in form of prizes or gifts. If all or almost all participants are entitled to an award in a promotion, it should not be termed a prize. In such a case, it may be denoted as a ‘gift’, ‘reward’, ‘award’ or a similar term as long as the context does not get misleading to consumers. 

For example, promoters should not make a claim that respondents can get to ‘win’ a ‘reward’ because the terminology is improper, confusing and inconsistent. In other words, respondents get to ‘win’ a ‘prize’ but are ‘awarded’, ‘allocated’ or ‘given’ a ‘gift’. Let’s take a practical case. A few years ago, the UK based Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) mulled over a rather complicated promotion that involved the promoter offering several prizes and gifts.

The promoter considered that since recipients got one of two or three gifts on offer with no single gift going to ‘all or most’ of them, each gift could well be described as a prize. However, the authorities stipulated that since the vast majority of respondents would get one of two or three low-value items, they should be termed as gifts. The promoter thus had to withdraw the claim that these were rather prizes, and not gifts.

So make sure that you promote the program in a proper context so that it is not perceived to be misleading consumers.

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Signifying the link between opulence, luxury and the gifting industry, an insightful news report points out that industrialists, businessmen and celebs are lavishly spending on a spate of ultra-luxury gifts. In fact, almost 60% of all the luxury items sold are essentially gifts, it asserts.

The news report by Ravi Teja Sharma of The ET Bureau starts off by stating: “Opulence has no limit. You can be happy with your hardworking employees and dole out a bonus for them, or you can bring in some style.” Here are the instances of the above trend, revealed as a matter of case study:

In one company, the management gave away gift vouchers of 1-2 lakh to a bunch of top performers to buy bespoke suits.

Last year, Shah Rukh Khan gifted Tag Heuer watches to all members of his Kolkata Knight Riders cricket team, when it reached the last four of the Indian Premier League.

An industrialist gave the select employees Versace mobile phones, each costing 3.5 lakh, as one top industrialist recently did to six of his senior execs for clinching a difficult deal

These gestures of generosity, as the writer mentions, may not muster support in these difficult times, but they come as a fresh lease of life for many luxury brands in India, who are now planning to expand their business. Gifts made up for 60% of luxury goods sales in 2011, as mentioned above.

The general manager at Genesis Luxury (that represents brands like Canali, Jimmy Choo and Bottega Veneta and also has a joint venture with Burberry in India), Roasie Ahluwalia, has been quoted as saying: “While many Indians have started spending on self, there are many who would still prefer someone splurge on them. It may be a matter of family bonds, which still run deep in the Indian society.”

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Underlining how the gesture of a ubiquitous gift has transformed into a dazzling and dynamic trend, a news report by Ravi Teja Sharma of The ET Bureau brings out some interesting facts as follows:

• Ten years ago, for someone to gift a luxury product would require him to travel abroad. Today, disposable incomes have risen and aspirations are high. The entry of several international brands makes it easier for the high-spender.
• The airport stores of luxury firm Swarovski, for instance, are doing brisk business. “Our stores at airports in Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad are growing at 20% a year as this is the best place to pick up such gifts,” says Sukanya Dutta Roy, director, consumer goods business at Swarovski India.
• The really high-value gifts are coming from industrialists, celebs, politicians and diplomats who are spending on gifting ultra-luxury cars and watches worth 5 lakh and even homes.
• About 10-15% of business for luxury firm Shreyans, that sells Ferrari, Maserati, Porsche and Ducati in India, comes from gifting, says Ashish Chordia, chairman of Shreyans.
• As part of personal gifting men are picking up iconic Alexander McQueen clutches that cost over a lakh rupees for their wives, girlfriends and others.
• Women are gifting 50,000 cufflinks to their men. Fathers-in-law are gifting entire wardrobe makeovers for their son-in-laws.
• Businessmen are buying expensive watches and pens to please the wily policy-makers.”We recently had a businessman gift two luxury apartments costing 5 crore and above to his daughters,” revealed the president (marketing) at Gurgaon-based M3M Group, Kunal Banerji.
• Most luxury goods sale happens during the festival season or on occasions such as the Valentine’s Day, as this is the time when people find a reason to splurge for someone he loves or wants to reward. According to executive director of Blues Clothing Company (representing brands such as Versace, Corneliani, Cadini and John Smedley in India) Abhay Gupta, there isn’t a doubt at all sales shoot up during the October-December period, which is the festival and wedding season.

Industry puts the share of the festival revenues to overall revenues of luxury good sales in India to as much as 70%.

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