In its special Diwali gifting series, The Mint focused on families giving away some unique Diwali gifts for friends and relatives. Anindita Ghose in an essay made mention of such off-beat gifting ideas. 

“What do you gift those who almost have everything they might need?” the writer asked, referring to the Sharmas - Jyotsana and Arjun – who decided to buy potted basil plants in lemon, camphor and tulsi varieties as Diwali gifts.

Their festive gifting plans reflect the austerity debate. But for them it’s more a practical option since the two increasingly find extravagant gifting a pointless exercise. Jyotsana testifies to the undesirable phenomenon of gift recycling. One gift she would though, never pass on is an orchid a friend gifted her. Nurturing it has become an engaging experience, which is why she chose to the green gifting idea.

She approached a local herb store to source their plants from a wide range of medicinal and exotic herbs. The couple opted for basil for its sociological ties with Indian tradition. In fact, the family has almost done away with the whole concept of gifting since the last couple of years. Instead it donates to charitable foundation.

Diwali is an occasion that prompts more donations, which would go to each family member’s chosen charity. Arjun supports Chintan, an NGO that is part of Project Arman. His mother, a doctor by profession, manages a charitable dispensary. Wife Jyotsana supports two animal shelters. A foundation named after Arjun’s father funds a hospital, temple and school in their native village. Every year, the dotting donors throw a party for the rag picking children after Diwali.

Instead of lavish gifting, the family tries to revive the tradition of get-togethers to strengthen the bonds of love. The message here is that, you can celebrate Diwali not just by splurging, but also by donating to charities, and going green. 

Bookmark to:

As we have suggested in the previous blog, you can consider gym membership as an off-beat but highly effective gift for building a ‘healthy’ bond in every sense. We suggest a few options to choose from…

Gold’s Gym
Launched in Venice California almost four decades ago, it soon became the hub for the development of fitness training, equipment and balanced nutritional concepts. Gold’s Gym received international acclaim. In 1975 when it was prominently featured in the movie ‘Pumping Iron’. It was established as the ‘Mecca of bodybuilding’.

Gold’s Gym is among the largest international gym chains across the globe, recognized for its unique heritage and experience in fitness and lifestyle management. The India chapter of Gold’s Gym began in 2002. Soon the branches grew.

Today Gold’s Gym has gym facilities in various cities like Chennai, Surat, Bangalore, Pune, Ahmedabad, Baroda, Kolkata, Jaipur, Noida, Ludhiana and Jalandhar. Promoted by partners Rajesh Advani, G. Ramachandran and Jagdish K Valecha, Gold’s Gym India has carved its niche in the Indian market.

Know more about Gold’s Gym package

Moksh, the wellness place
Moksh provides Time to pause, and time to heal yourself. Their website mentions: “There comes a time just to pause, ponder, and rethink our life and its priorities. And this is one such time.”

One can try out yoga to find inner peace and joy; do cardio to stay fit; undergo strength training. Their nutritionist guides every member on weight management. Members can use the vibrogym to improve blood flow, and get therapeutic massages at their spa (Nirvana).

They can dance away their worries at the dance studio. This is an opportunity to find one’s feet and get rejuvenated at My Foot Reflexology. Kaaya, their salon, helps one glow.

Aren’t these perfect options for a special kind of a gift that would stay along for a longer time than a conventional gift?

Know more about Moksh packages

Bookmark to:

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

Bookmark to:

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:

Truly thoughtful gift is the one that strikes a chord with the receiver; the one that reflects that you have taken efforts in selecting, packing and presenting it.

Your emotions should be attached to it. Why not shower your friend or a coveted colleague with something valuable? This is the way to build and strengthen the bonds of love and affection…

What makes a truly thoughtful gift? Well, it’s the one that immediately strikes a chord with the receiver. This can happen if the gift reflects your efforts in selecting, picking, packing and presenting it.

A gift’s worth cannot be judged by its price tag alone. What indeed makes it valuable is your genuine emotions attached to it! And they invariably reflect in it. If you want to shower your friend or a close colleague with something valuable, put in some thought. This is your opportunity for building and strengthening the bonds of love and affection…

Grasp the trend and blend with the tastes and choice of someone you are looking to please through your gesture of gifting. For example, if your friend or colleague is a youthful, upcoming and dynamic executive who loves looking sporty and sleek at work, you can opt to pick ready-to-wear line that will perfectly suit him or her.

You may buy a gift that will help one in one’s daily life like contemporary clothing or something like a CD of soothing songs or challenging puzzle game that will help him or her unwind. It will come in handy for the purpose of recreation or relaxation.

Take some effort to find out what your friend or colleague has been keen on buying. This well might be a book title or a favorite music CD, currently lacking from his or her collection. If the person is a ‘do-it-your-self’ type, get a mechanical or electronic utilitarian item.

As mentioned above, look out for the contemporary style. The distressed and rugged looks (at least in terms of clothes) for men seems to have given way to neat, simple and elegant wear. Get the menswear that exudes a subtle hint of relaxed, succinct street style. It’s stylish and practical. Accordingly, you may go for t-shirts, elbow length sleeves, shirts with turn up, multi-pocket trousers.

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

Bookmark to:

Below, we summarize the tips for accepting and refusing gifts

• As we have already discussed in one of our previous posts, it is essential to review your office policy before accepting a gift from clients.

• Likewise, check office policy of your business associate/ client before giving a gift to him or her.

• Even though your intentions may be honest and it may just be a small gift, if the client firm objects to receiving any gift, giving a gift should be avoided.

• It will be inappropriate on your part to force a gift on the person.

• A generous giver may even refuse to take the gift back. Maintain a proper record of your formal or official interaction with the person. Make sure you have informed the appropriate authority next in your chain of command.

• There is a way of getting a gift back from the person whom you might have sent a too expensive gift item by mistake. If it was an oversight on your part in sending a wrong gift, approach the person politely. Explain to him or her mistake that you have made and apologize for it.

• Try to ensure the appropriateness of any gift or favor you give or receive.

• Be grateful to the person who gave a gift to you, with a nice note like: “You have really understood my taste. Mention how you plan to practically use the gift.

• Avoid a gift in cash.

Tags: gifting india, business gifting, , Gifting events, business gift baskets, gifting etiquette, Worst gifts, Best business gifts, Cheap corporate gifts, Popular corporate gifts

Bookmark to:

Here are some more ‘ridiculously stupid’ gift ideas that well fit the April Fool spirit from a sneezing, yawning monkey to a screaming rubber chicken. You can come up with ‘stupid’ gifts.

Slingshot Monkey
The Slingshot Monkey is a stuffed monkey that’s dressed like a superhero. It can fly up to at least 50 feet and scream along the way. Scary and funny, both in one go, isn’t it?

Mistletoe to Go
In the mood for love, but unfortunately, on the go? Turn to this portable mistletoe. This attractive arrangement of faux mistletoe carries a suction cup, which attaches to your forehead.

USB dancer
This bikini-wearing dancer can plug into your computer’s USB port & audio port and when audio files run on your system, she will dance and gyrate around the pole.

Get off the Phone Excuse Machine
If you’ve trouble getting off the phone from some unwanted callers, this small electronic device could be the solution. Press a button for ‘Whoops, there’s the door’ or ‘I can’t hear you, you are breaking up,’ and you can thus get off the hook, as the caller will get easily fooled.

Inflatable Moosehead
No need to go through the effort and expense of tracking down a moose and then shooting it dead when you can merely buy an inflatable moose head for the trophy wall. Show that you are brave, even if you are not!

Electronic Yodeling Pickle
The electronic yodeling pickle is a plastic pickle with a high-tech interior. When you opt to press the pickle’s button, it belts out a yodel that’s reminiscent of the Swiss Alps.

Poo-lar Bear Candy
It is a peculiar plastic polar bear, which one may choose to fill with candy poop so when one presses down on the bear’s hind quarters, he will poop out a tasty treat.

Tags: business gift baskets, Corporate gifting, Business etiquette, promotional products, promotional gifts, gifting india, Gifting events, Best corporate gifts, gifting etiquette, Best business gifts

Bookmark to:

When someone gives you a gift, you should know how to accept it graciously. The following tips will help you in this regard.

Open the present and gush over the stuff. Try to appreciate the gesture and not the gift itself if you believe the person is genuine and sincere in giving it to you. If it is engraved, specially made, specially ordered or monogrammed, make note of it, and let the person know it.

A vocal or written show of appreciation is the most appropriate response. For instance, hold it up and tell the person how perfect it’s for your next business trip. Be as diplomatic as far as possible.

Every gift deserves attention and appreciation. If you are pleased with the gift, express it so. Do not forget to pen an effusive thank you card especially for a special gift from a more special person. You may fill even your short thank you note with sincerity and appreciation. A handwritten note should be posted and not sent by electronic mail.

Mention of the appropriateness of the gift received: You can describe a gift as a ‘unique’ to make the person feel gratified. Tie the appropriateness of the item to the person who gifted it to you by saying: “You have always understood my tastes in so and so things.”

Let the giver know how you are planning to use a gift. Also, write about how you intend to use the gift by noting: “I’ve a picture of my baby/wife/parents that will just look perfect in your photo frame. If you received cash in gift, mention how you plan to spend it.

Bookmark to:

With a bit of planning and innovative thinking, you can ensure a fun-filled and romantic marriage anniversary.

Love tends to chart its own undefined course. Your marriage life also must have been filled with various intense moments and shades of emotions. Relive those memories and choose a gift so that he or she appreciates the time spent with you, your loving gesture and accepts the apparent or subtle message that your gift conveys the joys and even challenges shared by both of you.

A gift will mark the celebration of your relationship. Of course, tastes of different persons are understandably different; there is no such thing really as an ideal or utopian gift.

Instead of pushing that last-minute delivery of flowers or rushed reservation request at a restaurant, think of your gift well in advance and work out your gift idea and a romantic spot with some thought and planning.

Create the right mood; dress your bed eclectically. Decorate a vase on a bedside table; spread the fragrance with some fresh flowers. The idea is when your partner walks in, she or he will get a real surprise!

Buying a set of soft silk sheets in colors such as dark maroon, silver would make a good idea. It can be bought at any local linen or branded upholstery showroom. Make it a point to give him or her special anniversary gift to match your level of involvement and the intensity of your love. In fact, a deciding factor in what you gift should be how committed both of you are to each other.

A thoughtful gift is one that counts and brings smile on the receiver’s face. Take the effort to gift something your partner really aspires for. This well might be a genre of book or music he or she had mentioned to you. If the person loves collecting, get something worthy for the collectibles’ shelf.

Remember, it’s not about how much you spend to get the gift; it’s more about the gesture you make and the efforts you take to make a gift far more meaningful and personal. Gifts act as a perfect reflection of your sentiments towards someone special in your life.

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

Bookmark to:

Valentine’ Day is all about proclaiming one’s love. And who knows this better than Salman Khan. He does not miss an opportunity to make public his feeling about charismatic Katrina Kaif. There is no way that he would miss out on Valentine’ Day.

As a gossipy bit in a magazine reports: “Their love is literally touching the skies. Earlier, the two used to hit the headlines for their differences and frequent tussles but now the things are something different. Nowadays, we only get to hear the romantic stories of their love. With each passing day, the two are coming closer as they are able to read one another’s heart in a far better way. They do not anymore get into any sort of unnecessary arguments or brawl.”

People would differ whether Sallu is an expert or not in wooing his lady love but he is doing everything possible to keep his Kat happy. The couple often goes out for a nice candle-light dinner. Salman Khan also brings a smile on her radiant face with a surprise visit on her shooting sets. As Valentine’s Day is approaching fast, Sallu has a fantastic gift ready for her to broaden the smile. He has decided to gift her one plush flat in the posh western suburb of Bandra, according to media reports.

The location of the flat and its design appealed to Salman Khan so much that the actor has already made up his mind to purchase it and gift it to Katrina on February 14. He actually wanted to finish the interior decoration work before he could gift her. He has reportedly given the task of decorating it to Suzanne Khan (Hrithik Roshan’s wife). Salman will also decorate the living room wall with a pretty portrait of Katrina.

So, what you are going to gift to your ‘Kat’?

Bookmark to: