A velvet jacket with exquisite Swarovski detailing, a corduroy mini skirt, a double-breasted denim jacket, a pinstriped shirt, a trendy knit tie, a nice neon green belt studded with dazzling diamantés and fabulous pink ballerinas.

It’s wrong to think it’s only the high street that’s really street-smart! In fact, you can now hit Puma, Reebok, Lacoste, Nike and Adidas stores for latest fashion apparel and accessories.

These fantastic fashion apparel and amazing accessories will make a wonderful gift for someone who is sporty and contemporary in attitude and outlook, which reflects in the person’s appearance and dressing style.

To offer you ample scope for selection, Lacoste has on offer a range of funky as well as formal shirts and jazzy jackets for both men and women, besides jeans, trousers, and ties. On the other hand, the Nike Sportswear (NSW) range comprises sizzling sports-inspired fashion product portfolio with prints, exquisite embroidery and just more than a little bit of bling you are looking for.

You will find that shelves at Puma are decked with sunglasses, comic strip-printed handbags, beautiful ballerinas, metallic sneakers, belts in neon colors with crystal buckles, and gold clutches. Their superb sports lifestyle collection is not for the field action, of course.

Gorgeous gym wear is another category worth considering. Metallic boots from Adidas are available at Rs7,999. As is apparent, the popular brand’s business strategy for the evolving Indian market is to focus on sports trendy lifestyle rather than churning hard-core sporting accessories and equipment.

As amply made clear by managing director of Puma Sports India Pvt. Ltd., Rajiv Mehta, in an interview, it gives them a clear edge over other leading sports brands. The brand has already tied up with designer Alexander McQueen internationally for a fashion line.

Bookmark to:

This one’s indeed a cool exhibition. At the Institute of Contemporary Indian art (ICIA) shop, you can well find ceramic egg sculptures in attractive shapes and sizes. The exhibit started just in time for fabulous festive Easter weekend.

Nine ceramic artists from Mumbai and New Delhi are displaying nearly 70 different art works related to Easter, priced in the range of Rs500 to Rs3,000.
 
‘The beautiful oval’ is a ceramic creation at the ICIA exhibit. One of the participating artists, Anjali Khanna, has been quoted as saying: “The idea here is that the egg is perceived as a symbol of renewal.  I’ve focused on the same. I’ve made sweet looking bunny rabbits as well as chickens with egg. I have focused on the ‘cosmic egg’ aspect as well as the symbol of birth & death through an egg.”

Delhi based Apeksha Mathur echoed the same thought, “The egg here is a symbol of a new life. I was experiencing positive vibrations and energy while working on these art works and enjoyed it all thoroughly.” 

Set up by Mr Vickram Sethi, The Arts Trust and ICIA have been engaged in promoting Contemporary Indian Art. They focus on the promotion of art by established and young artists. The viewers at the exhibit have increased tremendously in the last few years, as awareness and interest in contemporary art has developed.

The Arts Trust was started in 1990. Events presented range from shows that cater to large audiences and single-evening events for select people. ICIA besides organizing exhibitions, provide art lovers and patrons with an opportunity to view works in different genres.  The latest exhibition is a case in point! It is on till the end of April.

Tags: promotional gifts, Business etiquette, Cheap corporate gifts, corporate gifting for employees, gifting to clients, Popular corporate gifts, corporate gifts companies, gifting etiquette, low cost gifts, Corporate gifting

Bookmark to:

Of all the things that are now associated with Easter - jelly beans, Easter bonnets, bunny rabbits, and other tasty treats - the egg is probably the most significant.

It stands for fertility as well as new beginnings, in line with Easter (The resurrection of Christ) Biblical significance.

The festival gets its name from the goddess of Spring and dawn, Eostre, worshipped by pre-Christian Saxons. Her sacred animal was stated to be the hare that explains the Easter bunny’s importance as well.

It’s more of a cultural significance, which has seeped into our lives. People often tend to equate Easter eggs with new life, quite in the same way the Christ rose from the dead for starting a new life.

Easter eggs and sweets have somehow diminished the Easter’s significance, some believe. Easter eggs, the think, are a practice adopted from the West and commercialized, taking away the real meaning and spirit of the occasion.

Bookmark to:

In the previous blog, we checked how plans can make a perfect idea on eve of the International Plant Appreciation Day on April 13. In this article, we try to find out how to pick a perfect plant for gifting.

You may be considering annuals, biennials, bulbous plants, cacti, bonsai, succulents, climbers, ferns and creepers, grasses, bamboos, palms, cycads, or flowers’ hanging baskets. Whichever type you go for, you need to be meticulous in your selection. Here are some tips for picking a perfect plant to gift:

You should invariably get healthy, fresh plants while considering them for gifting either to your client, business friend or colleague, or else the ‘green’ gift would turn meaningless. Healthy perennials or shimmering shrubs grow fast, and seem pleasing to the eyes.

Knock the plant you select gently out of its pot. Also, check the roots. A healthy plant will give a filling look to the pot, but it won’t be ‘pot bound’. Avoid those with circling roots or are densely packed and no compost being visible. Leaves of the plant you choose need to be lush green. Watch for pests and infections. Warning signs are discolored leaves, ragged edges or holes in leaves. Avoid plants that carry broken branches or stems.

Ornamental shrubs won’t flower. They are for attractive outlay. Because of their evergreen foliage and ornamental look, they draw visitors. They can be trimmed into various attractive shapes and sizes. Among the popular varieties are Juniperus, Eranthemum, Tuja compacta, Crotons and Aralia.

Hybridized rose plants also make a good gift. Their varieties are miniatures (just a foot or so tall), climbing types (can climb well up to 50 feet), standard tree roses, yellow roses (tapered buds, spicy fragrance) and pink roses (glossy, dark green foliage). White and reds roses are also a visual delight!

Tags: Business etiquette, Gifting events, Gifting occasions, Best corporate gifts, , Corporate gifting India, business gift baskets, promotional gifts, corporate gifting for employees, Best business gifts

Bookmark to:

It’s a day when one must remain vigilant because he or she may be the victim of the All Fools’ Day innocuous prank! Those performed today can range from the very basic and simple pranks like saying, “Oh! your shoe is untied!,” to the more refined ones.  You may set alarm clock of your roommate back by a couple of hours. You can look for some uncommon gags. Whatever may the prank, the idea is to ‘April Fool’ the victim.

On the first of April, it may be a good idea to look the other way if you see a purse lying on the sidewalk. It may well be empty and you’ll become an ‘April Fool’.  The festival of  Holi also involves such tricks and pranks. Unlike most other non-foolish holidays, the April Fool’s Day history is not clearly defined.

There wasn’t a so-called first Fool’s Day you can pinpoint on the calendar. It is believed that the day just sort of evolved in several cultures, from celebrations on the first day of spring. The closest known year that can be identified to mark the day was in 1582, in France. Prior to 1582, the New Year celebrations took place for eight long days, March 25 onwards.

The celebrations culminated on April 1. However, with the changes in the calendar, the Gregorian calendar came into being. The New Year was moved to January. However, many did not know the change for several years owing to poor communication.

Others, the more obstinate ones, simply refused to accept it and continued to mark the New Year on April 1. They were labeled as ‘fools’ and were often were made the butt of practical jokes. This evolved into a light-hearted tradition of prank playing on the day. It eventually spread to other parts of the world.

Tags: Corporate gifting India, Best corporate gifts, , business gift baskets, gifting india, Business Gifting
Corporate gifting, Popular corporate gifts, corporate gifts companies, promotional products, business gifting

Bookmark to:

On April Fool’s Day you may give or receive a gift wrap that is empty. It’s a real fun occasion for those with a sense of humor and a touch of creativity. Even the news media and celebrities get involved in the April Fool’s Day celebrations.

One curious gift you can give is the bath/ shower gel for spreading optimism. These so-called Aroma therapeutic bubble baths/ shower gels make a perfect idiot’s gift! Doesn’t it seem tantalizingly true for the receiver? It will address, you can claim, that the person will be cured of his or her daily frustrations and stress.

You can recommend or gift a series of gels - each taking care of a specific problem like stress and even break-up hangover, etc. You can manage to weave a funny tale, to help boost the psyche of the person, and ultimately bust it as well!

Stupid though may be, such gifts will perfectly go with the spirit of this day. You can find many of them, if you wish to fool your friends, and colleagues. It is also interesting to know how people world over indulge in the April Fool’s fun.

The day has developed into a fun fest, with different nationalities trying out their own brand of humor. In Scotland, April Fool’s is celebrated for two days. The second day - called Taily Day - is devoted to pranks involving the posterior region of the body. Mexico’s counterpart of this day is observed on December 28. involving pranks and trickery.

In France, it is called ‘April Fish’ (Poisson d’Avril). The French fool their friends by taping a paper fish to their friends’ backs and when some happen to discover this trick; they yell ‘Poisson d’Avril!’  In England, tricks can be played only in the morning. If a trick is played on you, you are a ‘noodle’.

Tags: business gift baskets, gifting to clients, Gifting events, Business etiquette, business gifting, promotional gifts, Cheap corporate gifts, Popular corporate gifts, promotional products, Gifting occasions

Bookmark to:

In one of our previous blogs, we have made mention of ADD Corporation. They are clearly among the top-notch manufacturers of writing instruments in India. We have recommended them as a perfect option for corporate gifting. But it can make an equally powerful personal gift.

With the Board exams having already started, you must be busy wishing success to students appearing for the 10th or 12th standard examinations. It would be a perfect idea to gift him or her an ADD GEL pen that is synonymous with exquisite quality.

Gifting the wonderful writing instrument will be an apt gesture on eve of the board as well as the school exams.  We recommend them owing to the fact that quality and finesse of writing instruments by ADD is indeed exquisite. Their smooth performance stems from innovation, backed by a constant research and development activity, in keeping with the trends in writing technology worldwide.

Looking back at their history, it was Mr. M.C. Jain who set up factories in the late eighties and early nineties in Gujarat. He entered into a partnership some of his family members. It manufactured as well as marketed low priced ball pens range, to begin with, under the brand ‘ADVERT’. They launched operations with a small manufacturing hub.

ADD was the first one in India to come up with gel pens. They capitalized on the early mover advantage to start export operations. Their Gel and Roller series pens hit the markets under the popular brand name ‘ADD’. In 2000, they ventured further into global markets and exported products to many more developed countries. ADD also launched premium gifting solutions avenue in form of ‘ADD Exclusives’ in 2004. They also launched their premium quality pens’ range ‘Chrome’ and ‘Ezee’.

ADD Corp. has set new benchmarks for product quality and pricing, which make them a perfect personal as well as corporate gifting option.

Tags: Best business gifts, Worst gifts, Cheap corporate gifts, Business Gifting
Corporate gifting, gifting to clients, Business etiquette, Corporate gifting India, Best corporate gifts, low cost gifts, Gifting occasions

Bookmark to:

Outlining their vision, Swiss Military Products SA mentions: “Today’s youths have leapfrogged from the socialist culture to the more money spending one. They are brand conscious and hardly have qualms about flaunting the same. The ego enhancing image is now considered ‘cool’! Disposable income and independent decision making makes the new generation take risks. We vow to fulfill their dreams by bringing eclectic items with unmatched quality to them.

They also endeavor to establish themselves as a corporate gifting brand. Explaining the rationale, they mention: “Large multinational business houses would much rather like to associate with a successful and popular worldwide brand rather than an unbranded item that could be manufactured in any part of the Asian world without any commitment to quality. The core of their operating philosophy is delivering Swiss quality at affordable prices.”

This is well reflected in the Swiss military & Alpine Club range of products, including exclusive collection of Swiss-made accessories that are elegant, comfortable and timeless. They are exclusively created to please the receiver and ensure that you deliver personal satisfaction through your gift thanks to its durability and functionality.

What makes their products desirable are quality and designs tuned to international trends. Swiss Military and Alpine Club are for those who want the best in terms of performance and looks! 

Bookmark to:

In the last blog, we discussed how women find it difficult to pick gifts for men. But then there are women who tend to take an easy way out — either by gifting cards, cash or a gift voucher. The men can utilize the gift voucher or cash to buy whatever they want.

A media professional mentions in the DNA article by doing this she ensures that none of her gifts is turned down. According to her, she either gives vouchers or takes her friend to shopping along with her. So there is no problem when it comes to understanding the persons’ likes or dislikes in terms of style, size, colors, etc. Many women opt for branded gadgets or electronics. But here again personal likes and dislikes cone into play.

Thankfully, many gifting stores and experts help you select the perfect gift. The owner of Nuggets, Anju Poddar, is willing to offer advice for buying gifts for men. Nuggets is an elaborate gifting store. The professional understands that shopping for gifts for men is often a problem since there are fewer options available. One of the safest options is a bottle of whisky or wine.

Ironically, the gifting expert herself faces a problem while selecting a gift for her husband. So what then is the perfect gift for your man, going beyond usual belts, bags, wallets, clothes and cufflinks? One way out is buying something useful. Accessories can be a safe option if you are not sure about his choice.

A partner at Gifted Lifestyles, Kanchan Khubchandani, suggests grooming products. They are a big hit, in the backdrop of the metrosexual mania. Some women simply follow their instinct, and buy what their heart tells them is right for their man, and that does the trick for them!

Bookmark to:

‘What do get as a gift for your man?’ This the question women often ponder over with no definite clue. Though there is no unique or even generalized solution, you can certainly learn from experience or get tips from your more experienced friends. 

In fact, there was an interesting article on this topic by writer Joanna Lobo titled ‘The ordeal of buying gifts for men’ that appeared in the DNA News recently. The writer had a rather curious statement to make.” Ask a woman to climb a mountain, she will willingly do it. Ask her to climb it backwards; she may not do it, but will definitely give it a try!  However, ask the same female to get a gift for her husband/brother/boyfriend, and she may perhaps balk at the idea. For most females, getting gifts for their men is rather an arduous job.”

The main reason is non-availability of ideal gifts and also the fact that most men tend to shy away from memorabilia. Women will gush over how the clothes, jewelry, or a small knick-knack gifted to them. They will exclaim that it fits perfectly in so & so place or how the gifted item will match one of their particular outfits.

However, gift a showpiece to a man and his first question would be “where to put this?” The article quotes computer engineer Sandeep Bamane who faced this dilemma. Two of his enterprising friends presented him with a penholder.

It was a skeleton that held a basketball. “They thought it would be useful for me. But I hated it,” was his reaction. Many may believe that gifting a guy something weird and wacky is preferable. But that again does not always hold true. So what is the way out? We shall check out tomorrow…

Bookmark to: