The task of marketing and relationship building is partly executed through timely and appropriate gifts to key personnel holding senior positions in the hierarchy of a client firm.

The job does not get over only with finalizing the choice  of a gift item for a particular occasion. Once the modalities are finished internally, the next critical tasks for gifting strategists are sourcing the gifts from a reliable, quality resource; negotiating prices, and packaging them in an elegant manner.

All these steps involve a lot of research and planning. In this post, we shall consider how one may look for corporate gifting avenues. The choice will depend on the scale of gift-giving exercise, its overall nature and budget allocated for it.

Other important points to consider from your end when making choice of a gift company are as follows:

• Are you looking for customization?

• Do you want them to be generic?

• Do you desire drop-shipping to recipients?

You will need to handle the entire exercise in a thorough professional manner or else there will be goof-ups, resulting in embarrassment for the company. You might be required to outsource some of the tasks and coordinate between various agencies and people to ensure that deadlines are met.

Also, if you are purchasing gift items in bulk, the parameters will change. In the past, retail gift services were not equipped to handle major corporate assignments. A growing number of retail companies and department stores now have exclusive corporate departments to offer end-to-end services.

Make sure you interact with the corporate sales department. Bulk pricing is another critical factor. If you are a savvy shopper, you will certainly look for discounts for bulk purchase, resulting in significant savings.

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The Valentine’s Day is round the corner. It’s the most ‘loveable’ day of the year, literally. And this is your chance to express your feelings through some gorgeous gifts. Archies has come up with a fabulous range of Valentine’s goodies for your beloved. We recommend some of the cute combos to celebrate your everlasting love:

You can express yourself in a unique way with an exquisite love mug combo. It comes with a colorful ‘love Mug’ that carries musical and lighting effects.  A handwritten Valentine greeting card will make it truly personalized. You can express your heartfelt feelings. Add sweetness to it with ‘Five Seasons Premium’ chocolates.

There is another combo from Archies for you to thank your love for having filled your life with so much joy. You can do so this Valentine’s Day by expressing your warmth with this lovely combo: that comprises a cute ‘n’ charming bear proudly holding a red love heart. Again, a handwritten Valentine greeting card to go with the gift will add a personal touch to it.

For the bond that is full of lasting love, this is a true tribute. Wish someone close to your heart Happy Valentine’s Day with this heart throb combo that comprises musical love spring in a gorgeous gift box with a tender “I love you” message. It carries a handwritten personalized Valentine card. Add juicy sweetness in it with ‘Five Seasons Premium’ delicious chocolates range.

It’s just perfect for your darling who means so much to you. Gift him/her this lovely combo and unravel your innermost feelings. It will treasure his/her attractive photo in poly-resin heart shape cupid photo frame to make it personalized.

Every time you happen to be with him/her, there is a tinge of romance around. Why not thank your beloved for making your life rich with love with this combo. It carries a crystal love angel sitting pretty in a heart box with a nice love message.

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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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Dear readers,

Today, we are glad to bring you an interview with Neha Katyal, Associate, Elara Capital to state the marketers point of view with regards to corporate gifting.

Questionnaire For Marketers

1. Does Your Company do Corporate Gifting?
YES.

2. How much on an approximate basis does your company spend on corporate gifting?

30,000 INR.

3. What is the most unique gift that you have come across?

Strawberries dipped in chocolates.

4. As a promotional tool does corporate gifting impact sales? If yes
can you give an example?

Yes it would. Easier to bag a potential client.

5. What are the type of gifts you would normally receive? Which one has
been your favorite?

Clothes, Shoes, Champaign & Bags. My favorite one is a pair of DKNY Shoes.

6. What are the occasions on which you gift your clients? And what is
the gift?

Diwali, New Years, Office Anniversary & Christmas. Sweets & Drinks

7. Do you read blogs or go use Social networks like Orkut? Which one?

Yes. Orkut & facebook .etc.

8. Do you know that Giftex has Corporate Gifting Blog which talks about
latest gifting trends in India? (Blog.giftex.in)

Yes

9. Now that you know, would you visit the blog?

Yes, and I have been before today also.

Thank you Neha for giving us your views on corporate gifting with a marketers perspective. We are glad to hear from you.

If any other marketers/companies/sales people wish to tell us their views on corporate gifting, you can contact us by leaving your email ID and comments below.

Tags: Best business gifts, Worst gifts, promotional products, , Popular corporate gifts, Gifting events, corporate gifting for employees, Cheap corporate gifts, gifting etiquette, gifting india

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Dear readers,

Today, we are glad to bring you an interview with Priyadarshini Kohli, Sr. Manager Brand Communications, INX Media to state the marketers point of view with regards to corporate gifting.

Questionnaire For Marketers

1. Does Your Company do Corporate Gifting?
YES

2. How much on an approximate basis does your company spend on corporate gifting?

NA

3. What is the most unique gift that you have come across?

A very sleek and compact calculator. It had a silver cover and the moment it was touched, it used to open up on its own stand

4. As a promotional tool does corporate gifting impact sales? If yes
can you give an example?

If it is a good looking piece/ if its very useful, it does indirectly impact sales by creating brand recall and keeping the brand top of mind, which indirectly impact sales

5. What are the type of gifts you would normally receive? Which one has
been your favorite?

Over the past have received calculators, drinking glasses, nut bowls, mobile chargers, pens etc. The favourite has been a pocket compact mirror for ladies. Extremely sleek, small and in silver colour in its individual, hot pink, satin case

6. What are the occasions on which you gift your clients? And what is
the gift?

I do not personally give gifts, but I would send a gift for either, Diwali, New Year or a new product launch. Gift would vary based on the budget, the level of the client in terms of hierarchy in the company, etc.

7. Do you read blogs or go use Social networks like Orkut? Which one?

NO

8. Do you know that Giftex has Corporate Gifting Blog which talks about
latest gifting trends in India? (Blog.giftex.in)

NO

9. Now that you know, would you visit the blog?

Yes

Thank you Priyadarshini for giving us your views on corporate gifting with a marketers perspective. We are glad to hear from you.

If any other marketers/companies/sales people wish to tell us their views on corporate gifting, you can contact us by leaving your email ID and comments below.

Tags: Business etiquette, Corporate gifting India, Gifting occasions, business gifting, low cost gifts, Business Gifting
Corporate gifting, corporate gifts companies, gifting india, Gifting events, Popular corporate gifts

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Hello Readers,

Today, we are glad to bring you an interview with Mr. Siddharth Somani, MD - Everplus Plastics Pvt Ltd to state the marketers point of view with regards to corporate gifting. Marketers of corporate gifts have to make a choice. They have to make a decision about what gift should be delivered to whom and when. They are the one’s who facilitate the happenings within the corporate gifting world. And certainly..

It is important for marketers of corporate gifting to know what other marketers think, why and how? Here’s a little questionnaire that gives a brief about a corporate gifting marketers viewpoint.

Questionnaire For Marketers

1. Does Your Company do Corporate Gifting?

Yes.

2. How much on an approximate basis does your company spend on corporate gifting?

Total combined of about Rs 30,000/- (Approximately US $750, US $1.00=INR 40.00) .

3. What is the most unique gift that you have come across?

Some of the clocks and lamps that I have seen are really smart and unique in their designs.

4. As a promotional tool does corporate gifting impact sales? If yes, can you give an example?

Yes, it does. Gifting is used as a tool for the company to reach various levels of any company, right from the top management to the lower clerical staff. The main idea is company recall. People remember such companies. It becomes part of sales promotion. We do this as a means to improve relations with our clients.

5. What are the type of gifts you would normally receive? Which one has been your favorite?

Gifts vary like consumer electronics, leather bags, teasets, dinner sets, etc. The ones that I really like are useful office stationery - office sets and bags.

6. What are the occasions on which you gift your clients? And what is the gift?

Usually for us Diwali is the main season for gifting. Our gifts are usually rockery, leather bags, teasets, dry fruits and silver plated items.

7. Do you read blogs or go use Social networks like Orkut? Which one?

Yes. Orkut, facebook, etc.

8. Do you know that there is an Indian Corporate Gifting Blog (http://blog.giftex.in) ? Would you visit the blog?

Yes and I have been before today also.

Thank you Mr. Somani for giving us your views on corporate gifting with a marketers perspective. We are glad to hear from you. If any other marketers/companies/sales people wish to tell us their views on corporate gifting, you can contact us by leaving your email ID and comments below.

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Hello Readers,

We are glad to bring you an interview with Mr. Nitin Suri - VMware, a technology company. The reason we are doing this interview is for the marketers, sales people and all our faithful readers to make them understand corporate gifting from the company’s point of view.

Here’s the interview:

1. Does Your Company do Corporate Gifting?

Yes we do.

2. How much on an approximate basis does your company spend on corporate gifting?

Dont know but our gifts are mainly technology oriented. Mice, usbs etc.

3. What is the most unique gift that you have come across?

Personalised USB key.

4. As a promotional tool does corporate gifting impact sales? If yes, can you give an example?

People like receiving gifts. It doesn’t impact per se but it leaves a good impression.

5. What are the type of gifts you would normally receive? Which one has been your favorite?

Normally I would get gifts which would be either calendars, mice, usb keys, stress balls etc.

6. What are the occasions on which you gift your clients? And what is the gift?

Depends on who the client is. We might address a large number of clients and give them gifts or it might be something more personal.

We hope you liked the interview. Please give us your feedback with regards to these interviews on our blog and let us know if you would like to read more of these interviews.

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