How to choose the best corporate gift?

Buying corporate gifts is a task that is often left to the secretary or whoever has not much to do. This can be a costly mistake. It can also do more harm to a company’s image than good.
Buying corporate gifts for a client is no different from buying a gift for your best friend. You have a budget, no matter how much you like your friend. The big difference is you know your best friend, his tastes and his dislikes. When you are buying a hundred gifts for a mixture of men and woman it is far more difficult - but the same guidelines apply. You may not know the individual tastes of all your customers - but you do have some information. You will not, for instance, buy a men’s' gift for a woman..... And buying woman's corporate gifts is the hardest of all. More about that later.

Great if your clients are trout fishermen - not so good if they are mean't for ladies!

You will need to find a gift that suits your corporate image - buying a custom made knife when your client is a peace activist is a no no. Buying African gifts for a wedding function company may not be your best bet.

So know your clients, know their business and most of all - avoid gifts that will offend. One of the biggest offences is cheap corporate gifts. That’s the gift that ends up being given to the kids or worse, in the dustbin. This can really damage your image - rather give nothing.

As I said earlier, buying corporate gifts for ladies is often the most difficult task. Most woman will not wear pieces of jewelery like a lapel pin if it has your company logo engraved on to it. They will definitely not wear branded earrings and bracelets. Men on the other hand are easier - men's cuff links are a good example - most men will wear a branded cuff link. I, personally, would not. I would much prefer something useful or beautiful - and I guess that most people are the same. Sometimes, if your branding is very subtle, you will get away with it. Perhaps your corporate gifts is engraved with you logo - but very discretely. If it is a classy gift, and has value, it is likely that it will be used.

Mens Gifts

Of course men’s corporate gifts are a lot easier, handmade knives, cuff links, desk displays, pen holders, business card holders are all useful, and if done tastefully, will end up on the desk promoting you brand and reminding your clients how good you are.

Originality is another important aspect. Everyone at some time or the other has received a corporate gift. In some industries people receive gifts all the time.... this is where the challenge is. You are up against hundreds of other gifts the person has received. Most of them will have been thrown away - or worse, broken. Your challenge now is to find a lasting appreciated gift. A good bottle of wine or whiskey is always a winner - especially with your own wine label. The downside of this is that once it is drunk - the bottle is tossed - and if it is good wine it will be drunk quickly - giving you no lasting brand exposure. A decanter label is probably a better option. Made in a precious a metal like silver - it will never be thrown away. Of course you cannot give such a gift to a Muslim - (don't offend - rule one)

If you can find a gift that has not been received before, and has value, utility, and beauty - you have found the perfect gift. Whether or not you can afford to buy a hundred units and get personalised engraving is doubtful. A good corporate gift usually means an expensive corporate gift. A unique and unusual gift will usually be out of your budget. My advice - spend the money, or don't give a gift at all. Rather have 2 clients saying WOW than 100 clients saying nothing.

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Choosing corporate gifts for your clients is a science ...and many companies fail miserably. Here are some pointers on choosing a top class corporate gift!