AA Gifts & Baskets Idea Blog

Posts Tagged ‘corporate gifts’

It’s the holiday season, and you’re not sure what to do about corporate gifts. Maybe you’re new to the company or the industry. Or maybe you’re just not sure what’s appropriate. It’s good to get advice before you send any gifts, so here are some things you should think about.

Before a single gift goes out your doors, make sure to check with each recipient’s company policy. Are they allowed to accept gifts? If gifts are under a certain dollar value (such as $25) is it okay? Each company is different, so assign an employee the task of calling each company to find out. It may take someone all day to call every company on the list, but it will save you embarrassment in the end. Even if you’ve got the greatest gift in mind and can’t wait to send it, you’ll find it’s returned to you if the recipient is prohibited from receiving it.

Do you have to give gifts? No. No one is expecting, or has a right to expect, a gift from your company. The reason you’d want to give a gift is purely because you value the relationship with the recipient. Have they been a good client all year? Have they helped you with rush orders? Have they been an indispensable part of your supply chain? Then by all means, recognize their good work with a gift.

This is the only good reason to send business holiday gifts. Any gift sent with the intention of “buying” a client’s allegiance is wasted. You’d be better off taking that account to lunch instead to talk business. People will see through your less than honest intentions if you send an expensive gift as a way of wooing them.

So, you’re sure you want to give gifts, now what should you give? This all depends on your unique situation. Are you a new company with little cash flow? Then you’re not going to be able to do the same sort of gifts a large corporation could. Nor should you have to. A simple, thoughtful gift is fine. Send a fruit basket the entire office at the recipient’s end can enjoy. Make sure the card includes  all those who are owed a thank you. A sentiment such as, “For everyone at XYZ Company, Thank you for making this our best year ever. Enjoy!” is perfect. In fact, even if your company has tons of reserve cash, you may still want to send food. Office workers love an unexpected treat like long stem cookies, gourmet brownies or exotic coffees. Splurge a little and recognize each department that’s helped you out.

Include a hand written note. Never print out a note. It may come off as impersonal. Take a few minutes to hand write on nice card stock a heartfelt note. It may make all the difference in whether you’re still in business with the recipient when the next budget cuts come around.

While giving a business gift won’t ensure that you retain clients or accounts, it will help others to see you as generous and grateful for their relationship with your company. If you can’t send something nice, don’t send anything at all. It’s better to just send a thoughtful card than a shoddy gift.

If you have special working relationships with certain business colleagues, you’ll want to do something at holiday time to let them know you value their business. Loyalty in business means a lot in today’s rapidly changing “here today, gone tomorrow” climate. Foster goodwill and show your generous spirit by offering your clients something meaningful this holiday. Tailor it to them and you’ll really impress them with your thoughtfulness.

A Cruise

Organize a company cruise with clients this year. Just about everyone lives near some waterway even if it’s a lake. It doesn’t have to be the Atlantic Ocean, although that would make for a spectacular site. You can hire a charter boat to accommodate as many people as you like. Offer the invitation to all your employees as well as all of your recipients if the numbers aren’t overwhelming. Offer a dinner cruise with live band. You’ll be remembered for it long after the holiday decorations come down. Another way to do the cruise is to invite just the head executives at your client’s company and the tops of yours. You can have a more intimate cruise that way. Limit it to three or four hours, however, so you can enjoy yourselves but not tire of each other’s company. Make a toast or speech thanking your clients for joining you and for their business.

A Simple Treat

Sometimes it’s the simple things that mean the most. Sending over a frozen turkey for each employee at your client’s business is a nice idea. It shows you have holiday spirit and the delivery time will be fun as everyone will be invited to come and pick up their gift. You can also do a frozen ham. These foods will keep until the employees can get home and refrigerate them.

Send Lunch

Pick a day near the holidays to send over a catered lunch for your client’s employees. Make sure to schedule it well in advance with the secretary so that someone knows to expect it. They’ll want to get the word out on their end that you’re providing lunch for them on a certain day. If you want to keep it a surprise, have the client’s secretary announce it that morning before everyone makes their lunch plans. This can be a real treat for people especially if they are in an industry that gets busier around the holidays. They may not even have time to go out to get lunch during very busy days, so your treat will be extra inviting.

Play Santa

Visit your client in person with a gift for everyone on his staff. Even if it’s just a gourmet cookie or a custom chocolate bar, the fact that you showed up in person and took the time to distribute it will make all the difference. Whether you decide to go in full Santa costume is up to you!

Think about the individuals you want to thank. Instead of sending something generic that could be for anyone, consider the client’s work environment, product line, tastes and location. By personalizing your thank you gifts to the individuals, you’re giving the positive impression that you value working with them. And in today’s business climate, every relationship counts.

This year send out gifts to your colleagues and business associates that are fun, interesting and different. Have your logo embossed or engraved on an upscale product that your business associates will use and want to display. Any reputable company you order from will be glad to send you samples of the products before you order. Always check on the quality of the item before sending it ordering and especially before sending out. Order online from promotional gift companies who specialize in placing logos on products for the best deals.

Here are ten ideas to get you started.

1. Luxury Wine Accessories: You can have your logo engraved on a handsome box that contains a rabbit-type bottle opener, wine bottle stopper and foil opener. The presentation case is wooden and it looks much more expensive than it really was.
2. Spa Sets: You can get a high end cotton robe and slippers personalized with your logo. If you’re in the hospitality industry these are an especially good choice. But even if you’re in an unrelated industry, your recipients who travel on business will love having these.
3. Auto Safety Gift Set: Your recipients will keep this gift in their glove compartment and your logo will be top of mind. Purchase kits that include tire gauges, flashlights and other essentials for on the go travelers.
4. Chocolate Gift Basket: There are few people who don’t love the excitement of opening a basket full of chocolate goodies. Send a huge basket over when you want to thank a whole office or several people. They can open it right away and share it. Be sure your basket includes high end chocolate and not discount brands. Go with Ghirardelli or Godiva for the most impact.
5. Grill Master Set: Order a set of tongs, forks and carving knives in a sturdy presentation case. Every time your recipients take it out to barbecue with friends, your logo will be right there in front of them.
6. Chocolate Logo Bar: Have your company’s logo molded into a real chocolate bar. Not only will this be surprising, but delicious too. When your recipient opens the wrapper, they’ll find a real full size bar of delicious chocolate with your name on it. They’ll be sure to show it around the office.
7. iPod Dock: Every hip executive these days has their iPod at the ready. Why not have your logo put on an iPod Dock that also has speakers and a radio. It will end up on the desks of many of your recipients for top of mind recognition.
8. Wine Bottle Thermometer: If you have wine enthusiasts on your list, this handy stainless steel thermometer will be just the thing they need. Add your logo to it and you’ll be remembered every time they grab a bottle of wine out of their cellar or refrigerator.
9. Optical Mouse: Have your logo set on a mouse so you’ll be seen every day. You can go cordless or corded, but make sure you choose a high end product so it does its job.
10. Personalized USB Flash Drive: Everyone transfers documents from home to work and from computer to computer these days. So why not proclaim your company’s name on a USB stick? They’ll think of you every time they transfer files.

Gift Baskets with A Message

When people receive gift baskets, it's not just the items in the basket that they receive that count, but it’s the thoughtfulness that the sender intends as well.
At All About Gifts And Baskets, each well-thought out basket sent is delivered with a different message, to make it even more heartfelt. Apart from the literal message on a card, it can be an intimate message that only the sender and the recipient can understand. This is true particularly when the items in the basket include someone's favorite candies, or maybe flowers that remind them of a special day. It can also be a more obvious message crafted specially by All About Gifts And Baskets, like baskets that say "Good Luck!" or "I'm Sorry."

All About Gifts And Baskets also has choices for birthdays, holidays and practically any other kind of occasion, for recipients of all ages. Gift baskets can even be sent in groups to employees, business partners or clients, with specialized corporate giveaways included.
To check out all their gift options, browse through AAGiftsAndBaskets.com or call them on weekdays at 800-590-1388.