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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Corporate gifts is a perfect way of expressing appreciation since convey your genuine sentiments. It can be anything from a pen set, a calendar, and a diary to more expensive items such as plaques, personalized consumer products, crystal ware and gadgets. But the core idea should always be to create a lasting impression in the mind of the people directly or indirectly attached to your organization and imbibing in them a feeling of pride to be a part of your business.

The gesture of corporate gifting helps build goodwill and in turn make the prospects aware of your brand. A Corporate gifting and incentive plan is also necessary to enhance team building. This can be achieved in numerous ways. Choose a corporate gift idea that would be appreciated by the recipient and will be cherished for a long time.

As companies try to make sure that their employees give their best to sustain their growth rate in today’s challenging times, they must take steps to ‘motivate’ them by offering small but timely and ‘real’ incentives so they deliver quality results. After all, motivation is what makes a business grow.

The best way of motivating people associated with your business is to offer products of their choice as special incentives like T-shirts, pens, cell phones, diaries, bags, a holiday package or even a treat to their favorite restaurant. This will prompt everyone to view your business favorably.

A gift properly wrapped in a silver shining paper laced with a superb ribbon will add extra glitter to it. It would be a good idea to write a small handwritten note appreciating the person along with the gift. Ultimately what really matters is the sincere efforts made by you to bond all the members as part of a spirited and united team.

Remember that anything you do to motivate your business stakeholders will have a rewarding effect in the long term. A corporate gifting plan is your best option for this. A customized and properly presented gift will do wonders for your business

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Sunflowers, lilies, orchids, roses etc, they all seem be in full bloom on the streets of Mumbai. Well, we are referring to some trendy hair accessories that have given way to new ‘flower girls’ in 2012. You may be wondering what this piece of information has got to do with gifting…Read on!!!

The point this writer is trying to make that you cannot ignore the current trends and the in-things while deciding what to gift and in which form? Now a drop of hint here: As far as hair accessories are concerned, the ravishing retro look has found another expression in them as well. You might have noticed this if take a casual stroll down the city’s main fashion alleys.

You will get to see an array of fascinating floral hair clips, hair clutches and head bands - in feather, cotton, silk, or chiffon.  The fabulous floral hair accessories - large and small, minimalist or otherwise – are clearly the fashion du jour. Most experts and ardent fashion trend watchers reveal that a maxi dress coupled with a floral hair clip can make a perfect pair.

Tie-up head bands mixed with floral accessories is also a unique fashion statement. Floral pins can well be teamed up with an outfit as a befitting brooch or they can form part of your sizzling shoes, lending a feminine touch to the overall appearance. What adds to their popularity is the wide range of captivating colors in which they are available.

You may consider hair accessories like floral head bands of all kinds to suit your woman’s look and outfit, which jell with her personality. This, I am sure, will sure warm her heart. It makes her realize that you are taking efforts to make her feel special. If one of your friends or relatives is visiting a foreign country, you can ask them to get such accessories as a memento that you may opt to gift later.

Fashion is a way of expressing your attitude. And gifting some amazing accessories on an occasion or just casually is always a nice gesture.

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Women are increasingly dominating the corporate world and gradually taking over the reins from men at the workplace, which is indeed a healthy trend. According to experts, they are doing exceedingly well! In fact, gone are those days when having a female ‘boss’ was considered an oddity. As is evident, more and more women are leading the charge in every sphere of life.

There was a time when men felt apprehensive of their being pushed to the sidelines, but this perception has changed with the greater acceptance of the women march into the professional arena. Along with the changed scenario, the context of corporate gifting has changed too. Just to elaborate, there are certain unspoken rules or norms for gifting a female boss simply because women are different from men.

One doesn’t necessarily have to give them anything that is gender-based; the defining aspect is the utility of a gift. For instance, consider a classy leather purse that has more compartments. Women like to compartmentalize everything and have a special place for their lipstick, pens and hand sanitizer. So go for a sleek handbag that packs a punch.

On eve of her birthday politely ask your female colleague/ boss what kind of tastes they have and the kind of hobbies they pursue. Surf the net for new trends and buy an appropriate present accordingly. There are many snazzy options to select from as leading brands aptly ‘feminize’ their products.

Decorative objects and works of art with women-centric themes can also be a great idea. Something like a personalized coffee mug, white tea for health, flower infusions for relaxation, flavored teas, aromas and perfumes for the trend-conscious will also be perfect. Tall elegant floor vases for her office cabin will also a good gift.

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Gifting is essential to motivate people and build long lasting relationships with esteemed clients. It’s a practice generally followed to celebrate a festival or an occasion or to mark the company’s success. A celebration motivates people and prompts to work harder to achieve bigger goals.

Why most businesses are on a gifting spree during the festive season? What makes them shower their clients, employees and representatives with gifts? Well, the answer is ‘motivation’. Corporate entities are driven by committed employees with good job skills. But what is it that motivates them – incentives and gifts? Right! “Gifts make a person happy…”

The thought process has changed a bit, though. Corporate houses now tend to employ gifting as a hardcore marketing tool rather than as a mere motivational tool. In today’s highly competitive business world, the emphasis is on building strong corporate relationships over the longer term. In some cases, corporate gifting becomes a sheer marketing gimmick.

Whichever way you look at it, gifting is essential to motivate people in-house as well as to forge a lasting relationship with esteemed clients. Aspirational value is important too and the best gifts are those that are aspirational in nature. A foreign holiday for instance. Such gifts are usually often the result of long-term loyalty program’s and are becoming part and parcel of the marketing strategies of airlines and the retail sector.

Of course, it’s the content or the actual gift that makes the most impact. The more it is thought through and well executed, better it will work. The facets to consider are the look of a gift, the packaging and the thank you card. Imprinted cards have a better impact as they convey a thank you message and also help in the branding.

There are several innovative mix-n-match gift ideas that you may try out. For instance, you may go for a deftly designed, classic candle stand crafted out of wrought iron. Accentuate it with scented candles. To add a mystical touch to the home décor and ambience, they include fragrances that create a soothing effect.

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Swiss Military Products S. A. is a renowned organization, which has been instrumental in introducing several Premium Swiss Lifestyle Products. The products have been brought to the Indian markets under the brand ‘Swiss Military’ & ‘Alpine Club of Switzerland’.

The firm is the Master Franchisee for the brands that also sells its Hanowa watches in 40 different countries as well as its whole range of quality products through over 700 outlets in Switzerland.

The exquisite products being marketed in India make a premium lifestyle & gift accessories. These include Baggage, Watches, Writing Instruments, and Accessories such as Cigarette Lighters, Mugs, Torches, Key Chains, Hip Flasks, etc.

To segregate the distinct product categories ‘Alpine club of Switzerland’ includes various Accessories, Baggage & Garments, whereas Swiss Military comprises Watches, Writing Instruments, Baggage & Garments. The former caters to the more outgoing, adventurous and casual segment, whereas ‘Swiss Military’ has more professional and formal image. So, it addresses a different target audience.

The bandwidth helps the franchisee to be able to offer product varieties for each and every customer in the corporate environment. The brands are available at their exclusive outlets run under the banner of ‘SWISS JUNCTION’.

Marketing such brands has stemmed from the very realization that there exists a huge and significant gap between the high-end products that are available in the market with exorbitant prices and those aiming for mass scale production but with little room for  quality and finish. 

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Here are two off-beat and unusual mobile phone models that you can definitely consider for the purpose of gifting to those with a peculiar personality traits. These are two mobile models that are conceived to cater to those with adventurous and spiritual streak.
Bleu466x: one for the spiritually inclined
If you think that a celestial theme for gifting is cool, the Sagem Bleu466x is the ultimate choice. The device comes in a Ramayan themed box that comprises a spiritually inclined user’s manual! With this hand-set, the makers have blended technology with spirituality. The company has exclusive rights for Ramanand Sagar’s once highly popular TV serial, which they are trying to leverage – cleverly and successfully.
It has Ramayan wallpapers, animations, and also incorporates the mobile version of the Ramayan serial video, lasting well over an hour, more than two hours of songs, hymns and a power-boosting Hanuman Chalisa! The phone is available at Rs 4,000 plus.

The C902, Cyber-shot series: Ideal gift for James Bond buffs
It was reported in the media that Sony Ericsson has plans to roll out exclusive James Bond edition of their C902 phone. The firm has finally announced the launch of the limited edition of the James Bond device in the Indian market. The special edition of the C902 is based on the Bond movie ‘Quantum of Solace’.

Apart from the usual features, it is packed with exclusive content like wallpapers and screen savers, full color trailer of the film and behind-the-scenes interviews with the actors. James Bond fans in India will be able to buy the phone for Rs 21,000 plus for a limited period of time.

Tags: Corporate gifting India, promotional products, Cheap corporate gifts, Best corporate gifts, gifting india, Gifting occasions, gifting etiquette, Corporate gifting, Popular corporate gifts, Business etiquette

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Nokia E71: a perfect business device
Make the most of your precious time with convenient email solutions offered by feature-rich Nokia E71, a perfect business device. Nokia E71 is probably one of the slimmest business-oriented devices currently on the market. Its features include: quad-band GSM connectivity (850/ 900/ 1800/ 1900 MHz) with GPRS and EDGE, Push-to-talk, built-in GPS, FM radio.

Other add-ons that make it an attractive buy are a 3.15 Megapixel camera with auto focus/ flash/ video recording facilities, Nokia Maps, Wi-Fi, Office document viewer and editor, advanced Web and email capabilities, Music and Video players, Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP, USB 2.0, and microSD card support for up to 8GB. Nokia E71 has a retail price of Rs 23,000.

Check Nokia E71 features
http://www.nokia.co.in/A41155326

Nokia E66: make the most of your work time
Just as Nokia E71, this will also serve as a handy business accessory. It will allow you to make the most of your work time with efficient email solutions. The features of Nokia E66 are pretty much like those of E71, but it brings some enhancements, including an accelerometer for auto-rotate, turn-to-mute ability and VoIP capabilities. Like the E71, this model comes in two attractive color versions (white and gray). Its retail price is a bit higher at Re. 23,5000 plus.

Check Nokia E66 features
http://www.nokia.co.in/link?cid=PLAIN_TEXT_1055997

Nokia N96: Perfect for mobile phone enthusiasts
The feature-packed, awesome Nokia N96 is scheduled for a ravishing release. The Nokia N96 is the new flagship product from Nokia Nseries. It combines many great features from the Nseries into a dual-sliding, long & thick form factor.

The multimedia phone will come loaded with powerful content from Bollywood, music videos, music tracks and 3 N-Gage games (with an unlimited license for Asphalt Urban GT 3), and 3-months free navigation for Nokia Maps and pre-loaded maps. It comes with a built-in music player, standard 3.5mm headphone port, FM Radio, 3D stereo speakers, Visual Radio, and TV-out support. The retail price is expected to be between Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 36,000.

Check Nokia N96 features
http://www.nokia.co.in/N96

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

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Here are a few (affordable and higher end) cell phones that you can consider for gifting: These are mobile models that are made in order to help a user deal with everyday personal and business-tasks more successfully.
Fly LX610 Mega: a perfect work and entertainment combo
This is one of the premium brand Fly models in the line of their business telephones. It scores on both looks and functionality. The miniature, light-weight device lies comfortably in your palms. The steel frame in the rich black color in the combination with the chromium-plated details and control key of the multimedia abilities make it appear stunning.

Fly LX610 Mega comes with 2 mpix camera with auto-focus. This telephone is ready for shooting both video (maintaining formats: MPEG4 and 3GP) and photos with the full resolution 1600×1200 pix. It contains the special camera’s work modes like multi shooting, auto-timer and digital zoom. The multimedia files may be stored in the embedded memory (88 MB) or by using the micro SD card. The melodies may be downloaded in any format both from Internet and from PC. The downloaded or embedded JAVA-games will help you relax.

The browser WAP 2.0 allows access to the WAP resources and for Internet-surfing. The admirers of the mobile office will appreciate the GPRS-modem function. Priced at Rs 8000 plus, it is a perfect gift for the young working men and women.

Intex IN3333: for those who want to gift a simple yet fabulous phone
For those who want to gift a simple phone with no complicated controls, this could be the perfect choice. It’s a simple candy-bar that can be used as an USB PC webcam and doubles up as an integrated webcam.
User-friendly Intex IN3333 mobile phone features and accessories include 1000 number phonebook, 100 SMS memory, 300 SMS storage, GPRS Class 10, Bluetooth v2.0 connection, MP3 Audio Player, FM Radio Tuner, Live Recording, Video Recording, 1.3 Megapixels Digital Camera, Up to 5 unwanted caller block, Java Games and Handsfree Speakphone
It also comprises applications like Alarm, Calendar, Stop Watch, Calculator, Unit Converter, Currency Converter, To-do-list, World Clock and Bio-rhythms. Hinglish Messaging provides language support in Hindi and English. The new Intex IN3333 mobile phone is available for Rs 5,000 plus. This device is as simple to operate as a basic electronic gadget can get.
Check more Intex models here
http://www.intextechnologies.com/mobile-phones.aspx

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