Corporate gifting (the practice of giving gifts to clients, employees, and business partners as a way to show appreciation, build relationships, and enhance brand awareness) is an important part of any business strategy. The benefits of corporate gifting are many and include increasing loyalty, improving team morale, increasing brand awareness and establishing a positive connection with employees and clients.
As we’ve mentioned in a previous blog post, What is Corporate Gifting, these gifts can take various forms, from personalized items such as mugs and pens to more luxurious items like gift boxes or technology gadgets. That’s a lot of options, and so choosing the perfect corporate gift requires careful consideration. You want to make sure your gifts reflect your company's values and leave a positive impression, because that’s the best way to strengthen those relationships with team members, VIPs and clients.
With so many options, the overwhelm is real, so we’ve put together a list of our top 7 tips to make selecting the perfect corporate gifts a lot easier for you.
1) Understand the Recipient
- Consider the preferences, interests, and lifestyle of the recipient. A gift that aligns with their personal tastes shows thoughtfulness.
- This means active gifts for active people, tech gifts for those who spend lots of time online, etc.
2) Align with Company Values
- Choose a gift that reflects your company's values and ethos. This helps reinforce your brand image and showcases a consistent message.
- Make sure to address any cultural differences for a diverse team.
3) Quality Matters, as well as Practicality
- Opt for high-quality gifts that demonstrate your commitment to excellence. Well-crafted items convey a sense of value and appreciation.
- Select gifts that are practical and can be used in the recipient's daily life. Items like tech gadgets, office accessories, or quality stationery are often well-received.
4) Branded Merchandise
- While not necessary, you may consider merchandise branded with your company logo. Branded gifts not only reinforces your company’s visibility but also serves as a constant reminder of your business.
- Make sure to keep branded merchandise to top-tier, highest quality items. You want your recipient to have good thoughts about your brand!
5) Sustainability
- In today's environmentally conscious world, consider eco-friendly and sustainable gift options. This not only aligns with current trends but also reflects a commitment to corporate social responsibility.
- Even packaging can happen sustainably, with shipping boxes made from recycled materials.
6) Budget Consideration
- A less popular tip, but still incredibly important: Establish a reasonable budget for your corporate gifts. A good gifting company will be able to find the best gifts for your budget. Brightlane has a budget-friendly line of its own that's very much worth investigating.
- While quality is essential, it's still important to find a balance between a meaningful gift and budget constraints.
7) Delivery and Presentation
- Pay attention to the packaging and presentation of the gift. Nobody wants a plain box with a few gifts rattling around inside, and while packaging might cost a tiny bit extra…
- A well-presented gift enhances its perceived value and makes a positive impression. (Translation: it’s worth the cost!)
Another important factor to keep in mind is the gifting occasion. Obvious examples are milestones like anniversaries, or big holidays like New Year’s, but there’s no need to limit yourself. Besides, your team members and clients will be thrilled if you remember them on occasions like Employee Appreciation Day (March 1st) or Boss’s Day (October 16th). The website National Today is a fun source to check on a regular basis, because you never know when it might be National Chocolate Day or National IPA Day (both of those are real), as well as give you ideas for future gifting opportunities.
With so many options and forces behind corporate gifting, it might seem like a difficult undertaking. But by carefully considering these seven factors around the right occasion, you can select corporate gifts that not only strengthen relationships but also reflect positively on the company's image and values.
Of course, we’d like to offer our own services as your gifting experts. Brightlane specializes in everything on this list, and we strive to take the stress out of corporate gifting. Click here to learn more.