Below are the vital factors that are extremely essential for chalking out a corporate gift program:

1. Determine your budget first to get a clear understanding of your corporate gift program. Once you set your budget and scope, next you should define the exact purpose of giveaways.  This will depend on what domain you are and your end user.  Your budget will though, will largely dictate how much you should allocate for the gifting program.
2. When deciding how much to spend, key thing to take into account is the intrinsic value of your business relationship. Based on it, you should make sure you give an ‘appropriate’ gift. Also, consider specific guidelines of that corporate entity and industry. You would never want it to appear as a favor.
3. Just reverse the roles. What if you receive an over-expensive gift? Talk to the giver in person if you think that the gift is too costly, too personal or not really suitable to the occasion or the relationship you share with the person. However, never discuss these things in public with the person concerned.
4. Corporate gifts can serve various roles like Thank You gifts for clients and colleagues; motivational gifts; recognition gifts for employees; new client acquisition; retention of business clients; building brand awareness; promotional products; holiday gifts for clients; trade show giveaways; premiums incentives and incentive programs; award programs; advertising specialties; service and safety awards; and general purpose business gifts and awards.
5. One discreet way to place your logo is leather portfolios. It is normally de-bossed on the cover. Some people prefer to customize with the recipients initials. If you believe you have selected a gift that will make a lasting impression on the recipient, there is absolutely no need to place your logo on the gift. The person will remember you by the gorgeous gift itself.  Also work out how you will distribute it - in person or by courier mail.

In other words, sourcing, packaging and dispatching the gifts demand an on-time and high quality solution providers to manage the specialized gifting related tasks on continual basis.

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The year 2011 is almost behind us and 2012 has started! The year gone by had some sad moments and a few memorable milestones. Even as we tend to learn from the history, this is not the time to cling to the past as we wish GOODBYE to a year gone by and say HELLO to the new year. We should all welcome it with a smile on our faces and share our joy through exchanging wishes and gifts. Here are some tips for giving a New Year gift:

1. Do not simply repeat the last year’s gift to the same person. It is a matter of common sense not to repeat previously given gifts or something which other employees have already given as a present.

2. Give something new and innovative: The gift should not be boring and pedestrian. Let there be some surprise element to it. When the receiver unwraps the gift, he or she should exclaim ‘wow!’

3. Give a personalized touch: Give some personalized gifts, like a coffee mug set with a message inscribed on it, which will give it a unique touch and surely draw everyone’s attention. This will involve extra efforts, but the end result will be worth it.

4. Stick to your budget: It is only a misconception that you have to spend a lot of money to get a good gift. Keep your budget in mind and try to get the best possible gift in that range.

5. Play safe if you cannot be innovative. You can opt for online shopping if time is a constraint. Check out for discounts and free shipping offers.

Remember, the whole idea of celebrating the New Year is for the hope and cheer it brings. There’s something special about the New Year gift that just has to instill the spirit for a fresh beginning, which always give us the hope for a better year ahead.

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An exciting festive season that will extend to Christmas right into the new year has set upon us. The shopping frenzy reaches its crescendo during this period.

Shopping for corporate gifts invariably reaches its peak as marketers try everything possible to woo customers with some unbelievable offers and great discounts. Many of the special offers are available online for tech-savvy buyers.

While online shopping is easy, simple and fast; one must take care of certain things. We have listed some of them for you below:
First and foremost, make sure that you buy gifts only from websites you know are reputed. Ensure you use a credit card to purchase a gift. In case, you do not receive the ordered purchase from the website you ordered, you can apply for a charge back with your credit card company.

Next, do not forget to take a printout of the receipt for the purchase made. Retain it with you till the transaction is complete. Make sure you inspect the item when you receive it. If the item is not up to the mark, get back to the online merchants website or contact them by telephone and let them know your concern or even ask for a refund or a replacement.

As the rupee is depreciating against dollar, many people are shopping high value products online from international sites. Electronic and consumer items such as iPod’s, mobile phones, digicams, laptops, desktops, pen drives come cheap in dollar that is still falling.
Amongst other sought after items bought for corporate gifting purposes are idols of gods and goddesses, sweets, clothes, jewelry, diamonds and flowers.

There are a host of corporate items available online to choose from for gifting purposes. Make it a point to select a utility item instead of just a luxury gift with high face value but little functionality quotient.

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Candles have been used for ages to light up the interiors and bring a romantic touch to your celebration in contemporary times. To add a mystical touch to the décor and ambiance, they now contain fragrances, and pigments for color. Candles are now employed more as a source of mood lighting.

Indeed, fragrance of perfumed candle is soft and inviting. They spread light amidst sensuous aromas. Light them up on any special occasion for that extra special aura and aroma. The charm of candlelight builds a warm atmosphere, and totally transforms a setting. Scented candles add a personal touch and can make a gorgeous accessory.

L’Occitane, Shangri la, Forest Essential and Good Earth apart from Dimple Kapadia’s ‘Faraway Tree’ are among the major brands of aromatic and scented candles available on the market. You can accentuate the effect with an attractive candle holder. Candle holders come in various sizes, shapes and materials (wood, metal, plastic, glass, crystal. etc.) these days. You can choose from many elaborate candle stands. Holders can be free-standing or can be attached to a wall.

There are several home décor shops you can visit to take a look at their collection of fine candle holders and candelabras to pick one that matches your tastes.  For example, you may opt for elegant brass candle stands. Taking a cue from India’s ancient crafts, these elegant stands add a classy touch to home décor.

The Dhokra craft, employed for the candle stands, is extremely skill-intensive. It is also termed the ‘Lost wax’ process in which pure brass along with scraps of different metals are added to get an alloy with an antique and exquisite finish.

You can also opt for wrought iron candle stands with colorful candles. They are often made in the shapes of various animals and birds like horse, parrot and peacock to add a curious, mystical touch to them.

Tags: Popular corporate gifts, Business etiquette, corporate gifts companies, low cost gifts, gifting india, Corporate gifting, promotional products, Corporate gifting India, , gifting to clients

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Diwali, the festival of lights, is celebrated all over India and around the globe where NRIs are settled in larger numbers. Diwali, also known as ‘Deepawali’, originates from the word ‘deep’ meaning the light from a row of tiny diyas in order to brighten the lives of each and every one as well as to spread positivity around. In essence, Diwali is celebrated to spread the light of love and hope.

To add value to your gift giving ritual, The Mint publication unveiled more than hundred enterprising ideas. It carried a special edition of the Lounge section devoted entirely to the tradition of gift giving in Diwali.

A series of special features covered a whole gamut of ideas - from environment-friendly products and almost-free gift ideas to splurge-worthy goodie. The idea was to find festive bounty for every budget.

The introductory essay noted: “No matter how lean the year, this is not the time to scrimp. In fact, it’s the season for some serious retail therapy. That’s why we went shopping for some beautiful goodies. There’re price tags suitable for every pocket.”

They made a conscious effort to steer clear of the diyas and candles. Their list covered the whole gamut of items from nice eco-friendly products and jewelry to beautiful handicrafts and fabulous almost-free gifting ideas.

Enlarging the spirit of gifting and giving, the Lounge team noted: “We also believe Diwali is not merely about exchanging gifts. It’s also a time to share our good fortune with those who may not perhaps have as much. Hence they also covered various ideas on giving gifts that have the power to change lives.

The Mint accumulated for readers to gift your near and dear ones to bring smiles on their faces. Click on the link below to check about enterprising gift ideas:

http://www.livemint.com/2009/10/09203732/104-ideas-to-be-everyone8217.html#

Tags: corporate gifting for employees, Corporate gifting India, corporate gifts companies, gifting india, business gift baskets, Gifting occasions, gifting etiquette, Worst gifts, low cost gifts, promotional gifts

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“Gifts should be so presented that they suit the receiver’s personality.”

..so thinks Nidhi Agrawal. Importantly, she acts upon what she preaches. Want to know more about her passion that culminates business and hobby? Well, just hand over a picture of your choice to her and she will apply her imagination to convert it into a dramatic present to reflect the person’s interests.

It can be anything from a Hello magazine cover for someone who is an aspiring model, a book of personal achievements for a dotting husband celebrating his birthday, to a calendar with key dates marked on it, a fine family video, or an apron for a person who relishes cooking.

It was about three years back that the idea struck this aspiring fashion designer. She was confused as to what to offer as a gift to one of her relatives. Se then decided to opt for something innovative as well as highly personal. She presented a wrist watch that carried a picture of the recipient on the dazzling dial. The idea was received very well and she extended it into a small venture for offering functional and useful gifts.

Nidhi Agrawal’s personalized gifts make a memorable and unique choice. Using watches, cushions and even blankets as mediums of her expression, she has now moved on to visiting cards, candles mouse pads, towels and baby books. She has even tried the idea on a jigsaw puzzle.

She first designs the idea on her personal computer. She makes modifications to it till the customer approves it. She secures most of her work through word of mouth publicity. 

For example, she has devised a clock with its hands fixed at a specific time to represent ‘memorable moments in one’s life with the pictures in place of the numbers. What’s more the creator has on offer a satisfaction guarantee the gifts.

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Have you been striving for long to discover the secret to wealth creation? Have you been unable to do so, and have started believing you will never be able to fulfill your dreams? How can you turn around your constant struggle into a lasting success? What really is the secret of wealth building?

To start with, you need to grasp a few basic theories that act as a stepping stone to become wealthy.

Change your beliefs and thought process 
To become wealthy, your habits, thoughts, self-image, emotions and motivation must all be aligned towards fulfilling that single goal. Remember, success hinges invariably on your frame of mind. All riches begin as a state of mind. The key is not the mindless pursuit of wealth, but changing your attitudes and beliefs.

Success is a matter of mental attitude
The author of ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’, Stephen Covey, has rightly mentioned:” Because they are consistent, often unconscious patterns constantly express our character and (thus) produce our effectiveness or ineffectiveness. If your self-instructions are negative, your achievements will always be negative. Conversely, when your self-instructions are positive, you will achieve much more.

Ability to choose a money-making vehicle
Apart from developing a positive mindset, other keys to wealth creation are ability to choose a money-making vehicle and to learn how it works, and then to actually make it work. Wealth creation is not about mere luck; it is the byproduct of implementing an appropriate strategy. Remember, applied knowledge is power.

Information without action is of no worth
Information without action is of no worth. We are great at giving excuses like lack of time and lack of money to invest. The real reason is we fail to turn knowledge into action. We do not really utilize what we have learned. 

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

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The truth is no time is a perfect or imperfect time when it’s a matter of fine-tuning a working professional’s job-oriented skills! Especially when corporate growth is slowing and job losses are given, you can make a meaningful contribution to your colleague’s work life with a nice timely gift.

Why not prompt them to update skills, and reorient themselves to tackle unfavorable situation and turn it to their advantage – personally and professionally. Why not help them draw valuable lessons from other’s success stories?

One of the recent releases you can consider gifting is ‘The Fine Print of Life: How Panna Lal Found Happiness Wisdom and Mishri Devi’. The book is written by a “successful life skills facilitator’, showing how to live life in the ‘here & now’ with curiosity, energy and enthusiasm. Perhaps this book will help one of your friends or colleagues help cope with impending job trouble.

Managers might need something steelier so think of gifting Tata McGraw-Hill’s super-timely Leadership in the Era of Economic Uncertainty: The New Rules for Getting the Right Things Done in Difficult Times, by Ram Charan.

To help them build virtual communities in the era of Facebook and Twitter, ‘Know Me, Like Me, Follow Me: What Online Social Networking Means for You’ and ‘Your Business’ (again Hachette), by Penny & Thomas Power, can well come in handy.

If you believe your struggling friend needs some lessons in influencing people, there’s ‘7 Secrets of Influence’ by Elaina Zucker. The book outlines how this vital ‘portable power’ can be acquired, implemented, and mastered. Penguin has another book by Subroto Bagchi entitled simply ‘The Professional’.

And then there are those peculiar self-improvement books, entrepreneurship guides, innovation & change management handbooks, to make apt gifts in the current challenging market. You only need to glance at the new releases to see that the right choice is made.

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Global slowdown has failed to damp the spirits of the ‘mobile’ spirits. However, the budgets have curtailed a bit, and one of the important decisions is how much to spend on a new handset apart from what features to look for. As you would know, more the features, higher the price tag of your phone.

If you are looking to give a handset as a gift, we suggest some good handsets for basic users. We can broadly club major half of the new-generation mobile phone users as basic types.

What a basic user really needs is ample phonebook memory for stashing away his or her contacts, an intuitive user interface for organizing SMS and phonebook, a solid service, with a steady SMS platform, and a good keypad.

When it comes to gifting a mobile phone to such a user, you have a wide array of choice, in terms of price and model. One such basic ‘emergency’ phone for talking and texting purpose is MotoYuva EM325 from Motorola. Available at a best-buy price of roughly Rs 5,000, this slider phone offers many practical functions, such as FM Radio and one-touch access to music library.

This entry-level handset does not leave you without a handy camera. The EM325 includes a 1.3 megapixel camera and a USB port for quick data transfer as well as back-ups, Bluetooth and a 1.8” color screen. Its battery time is just up to 7.5 hours.

If you want to give a more funky-looking model, nice Nokia sets are available at Rs 5,800. Seek Nokia 5130 XpressMusic. It’s considered a mass-market handset that caters to on-the-go music lovers.

A 2-inch TFT display plus a stereo, FM radio, a 3.5mm std. audio jack for earphones, a 2-megapixel camera and,  make this an efficient candybar phone. It has a 1GB internal memory expandable to 8GB via microSD slot that comes at an extra cost).

Tags: business gift baskets, Gifting events, gifting india, corporate gifting for employees, Best corporate gifts, promotional products, promotional gifts, Gifting occasions, Corporate gifting, business gifting

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If you thought a ubiquitous travelling case was a mere utility just suited for carrying your clothes and essentials, it’s time think again. The same iron trunk makes an artistic transformation in the deft hands of designer-artist Rashmi Dogra. It becomes a high-end luxury item perfect for gifting. 

After nearly three years of professional painting, the creative artist has moved from working on canvas to lifestyle with her brand Fluke Design to make a ravishing range of bags and fabulous travel accessories, including clutches, big iron trunks, handbags, and much more. She wanted to reach out to more eclectic and art-savvy people with her art hence she conceived the label utilizing an eye for fashion.

The first product took almost a year to finalize as it was very important to ensure the durability and quality of the ingredients and color over seasonal changes, encompassing utility as well. After getting a choice clientele list of Bollywood actors, showbiz celebrities and eclectic international buyers, Rashmi Dogra turned her attention to iron trunks with her creative touch.

Her quirky albeit subtle sense of fashion reflects in the final product, which is conceived out of an iron trunk. It makes an original and highly individualized style statement, which will guarantee curious looks around. The creator states while she would not wish to typecast her buyers, those who tend to travel long distances with heavier equipment and still are keen on maintaining a style statement of their own swear by her flamboyant trunks.

So, if you want to charm of your friends or colleague with a surprising gift, there can be no better choice than Rashmi Dogra’s mesmerizing bags. Her usual trunks are about 20 inches in length, also depending on the specifications. Many people buy small sizes. They want to employ it as a household accessory rather than as a travel accessory.

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