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Yes, Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. And it is the most expensive too. Okay, let us disregard the expenses and head to the main point: the corporate Christmas gift.

Whether it is for your employee, co-worker, boss, client, business partner, loyal costumer or anyone related to your business, it seems to be a requirement that you will give him or her a corporate Christmas gift of any kind.

And since gift giving is part of reliving the Christmas spirit, here are some of the popular items that are used as corporate Christmas gifts for years:

Christmas cards – Many companies give greeting cards during Christmas. This is probably the cheapest way to tell someone that he or she is appreciated on any contribution he or she has made for the whole year. Christmas card may not be a typical gift that requires a box and a lace but it is certainly send your message load and clear, not to mention in beautiful print.

Calendars – Another year is coming and you want your company to be remembered for the whole year to come. What you should give? A calendar! Most companies give away this especially to their costumers during the Christmas season. It is cheap, safe, and of course, it possesses company name and logo right at someone else’s home or office for the next 365 days.

Gift certificates for retail – Since it is very difficult and time consuming for you to buy gift to each one on your list, you may prefer to give them gift certificates instead. This will eliminate the risk committing capital mistakes in gift giving. This will also free you from stress of shopping and gift wrapping. Gift certificates for retail are very much appreciated since the recipient will have the freedom to choose the type of gift he or she wants to receive.

Gift certificates for restaurants – Another option for a corporate Christmas gift would be gift certificates for restaurants. This is also one of the safest and one of the most appreciated types of corporate Christmas gift someone will receive since it appeals to everyone of any age.

Promotional items – To bring the company name right at the hands, homes, and offices of people, promotional items make a popular choice among businesses. Ranging from keychain, office supplies, home décor, accessories, and apparel, promotional items provide a way to make the company be remembered without spending too much on advertisement.

Gift basket – Chocolate gift basket, gourmet gift basket, wine gift basket and many others can be a good way to send your words of thanks to a client or a business partner. Gift basket is a popular choice since the size of the basket impresses many and the number of items in it makes it more attractive to the recipient.

Flowers – Another all time favorite corporate Christmas gift is a bunch of flowers. Although there are some rules to follow when giving flowers to someone such as cultural symbols, it is generally the safe choice of gift.

Wine or liquor – Christmas means celebrating and most businessmen use drinking as a way to celebrate. Thus, wine or liquor could be a good corporate Christmas gift. A particular brand which the recipient loves to have is more appreciated.

Corporate award and gifts are great for mostly everything, including the marketing of your company. It is also good for maintaining working relationships among people in your businesses while keeping the expenses relatively smaller than acquiring new allies. This does not imply though that your corporate award and gifts must be limited only to people you have established relationship with. As we have already said, it can also be used to promote your company to other customers or to new clients.

Selecting personal gifts are difficult enough. And despite of this hurdle, this still not enough to warrant that your gift will be appreciated the way you expected it to be. Thus, it is often hard to brainstorm on what you can give while maximizing the budget you have set for it. Nevertheless, one thought should always be kept in mind- a corporate gift, more specifically an award, is a measure of your appreciation to your valued employees, workers, clients, customers and those people who participate in your company’s growth.

On the other hand, corporate awards and gifts can also be used as a source of motivation for increasing the sales via giving rewards to your top performers and business teams and units after meeting and exceeding their pre-set goals. This way, it works pretty much like an incentive for a work well done.

Whether you choose to give corporate gifts and awards to your employees and workers or to your clients, you still must observe specific gift etiquettes. Central to this is the timing and appropriateness of giving the gifts.

The Appropriateness of Recipients

To whom will you give the corporate gift? Is it to the boss, to company owner, to a typical workman or an officemate? Each workplace hierarchy should be given varying levels of credit. It’s good if everyone is treated equally in a working place regardless of their position. But the truth is, we give much credit to higher standing colleagues than those with lower positions. On the other hand, close friends in the working place are also given much credit than ordinary, day-to-day coworkers.

Economically-wise, you must also take into thought how much you are willing to spend for an award or gift through maximizing the budget and giving enough justifications on the relationship you have with the receiver. You would not give a $50 corporate award and gift to a million-dollar investor, would you?

All companies have varying policies regarding corporate awards and gifts. It is best to check on this first before attempting to send something out unless it is a personal gift from you to a friend in unit.

The Timing

Occasions must also be taken into consideration when sending a corporate award or gift. This is much like thinking of what to give for a birthday celebrant or an anniversary party. There are again, various considerations that you must mull over to fit your gift into the occasion.

Corporate award and gifts for the commemoration of specific major events- These include major holidays, company anniversary, birthdays of the company figures, or simply a special event in the company’s life such as the founding and great achievements of sorts.

Corporate award and gifts for company social events- Whatever your company’s choice of event is, there certainly are some gifts that would matched the stuff. Say, golf corporate baskets, awarding of tickets and special treats to specific gatherings, get away surprises and others.

Celebration of specific events- These include maternity celebration, retirement, long services leave, staff birthdays, team building events, an a lot more others.

When you care for your employees and clients alike, you give them corporate anniversary gift. This is the best way to make them feel they are a valued part of the company. If the company is celebrating its anniversary, this is the best time to stock corporate gifts and shower them to people who are directly or indirectly involved with the company.

One may ask: why do you have to spend bulks of money over corporate anniversary gifts that will not profit the business anyway? Now, the concept is adhered to the fact that people love receiving free items and services. They actually feel better when they receive free lunch, when they collect gifts from friends and relatives, and they absolutely love it when these free things regularly come their way.

And so, corporate anniversary gifts are used and included in practically all companies’ and corporations’ aim to reach out to their employees and customers.

Although one may think that giving corporate anniversary gifts is a waste of money, in general this is not justified. The fact that you made people happy when they receive the corporate gifts is already an accomplishment alone. However, this is not your ultimate goal why you are giving out corporate anniversary gifts. Corporate gifts, in truth, are given primarily because of two things:

a. First, when your employees received the gifts you made them happy. When they are satisfied and grateful because of your effort to make them feel they are valued as part of the company, this is not an effort that does not get something in return.

Because they are happy, they would be more inspired with their work. When they are inspired, they would increase their productivity rate in the days to come to which this could be a way for them to give something in return of your noble idea.

Providing corporate gifts can also be made especially when in your department you see a snail working force that does not suggest high productivity team. Giving them gifts, but without manifesting that you are asking for bargain, may just do the trick.

In this case, who says that you are wasting your money over an effort that does not pay you back?

b. Second, in cases of customers/clients’ receiving your corporate anniversary gifts, it does not simply end there. Because they appreciate your efforts of making them feel they are special and valued customers, they would most likely go back to avail of your products and services.

This means you are going to have a steady, regular flow of customers and clients. So, again, who says you get nothing when you spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars over corporate anniversary gifts?

When choosing your corporate anniversary gifts, you have to ensure the people who are going to receive them will make use of them. Corporate anniversary gifts can be as anything small to bigger items.

You can shower personal items from which your employees may be happy utilizing them in their personal everyday routine. You can also give the same items to your customers when they come in contact with your company.

Corporate anniversary gifts are what you need to add to your marketing and work operation strategy for a variety of reasons. They can be used as tool for motivating workers gain higher productivity rate and attract loyalty of customers and clients. But whatever the purpose, the true essence of gift giving will still remain its noble purpose of sharing.

Buying a corporate gift can become a daunting task. Giving it is worse since you have the intention to gain business ties, connect with clients, and send your message of giving thanks. Knowing the following corporate gift buying essentials will increase your chances of attaining these goals.

Know the company policy – Some companies prohibit gift giving; some have dollar limits on the gift item; while other don’t have limits at all. Check on this particular detail so that you will know how much you have to spend on a particular item to avoid your gift being sent back to you.

First impression lasts – Packaging is important. This will give the first impression to the receiver. A good packaging will send a message to the recipient that he or she is important to you. A poor packaging on the other hand will tell the recipient that the item inside is not that important, or worse, the recipient may think that he is not important. So regardless of the price of the gift inside the package, it is inevitable that a corporate gift is packed appropriately.

Handwritten cards is much appreciated – Yes, it is easier to buy a Hallmark card and put your signature on it together with your gift, but it will leave a more lasting effect if you prefer having your message handwritten. This would mean that you personally made the massage to the person and not use a ready-made one.

Deliver the gift personally – If your gift does not require a crane or more than one person to carry, make it a point to personally deliver the gift to the intended party. This will create a better and lasting impression of you once he opened the gift.

Know the cultural differences – For Germans, red roses mean romantic intentions. For Chinese, a white gift wrapping symbolizes death. For Japanese, a gift in sets of 4 means death. These are some of the cultural differences or you can say symbolisms that you need to take note of when considering giving a corporate gift to someone of another culture. You may have a clean intention but it is safe to follow and respect who they are and what they believe in.

Know the recipient’s wants – Knowing what kind of corporate gift to buy is very challenging and is often very risky. Sometimes, if you have no idea on what to give, you often end up giving the wrong kind of gift. This will ruin you as well as your company image. To lessen the difficulty and reduce the risk, know the person who will receive the gift what his wants, his hobbies, interest, etc. What is the best way to do it? Make a call and ask him such information.

Go for quality – The corporate gift often reflects to your company’s image. It is hard to build up reputation and good image, do not ruin it by giving something of a low quality. Choose a corporate gift that is of high quality but does not destroy your budget.

Check the IRS deductions – The IRS Publication 463 is something you should know of since business gifts in America are tax deductible (as much as $25/person in a tax year). This excludes shipping the gift and packaging. Other rules may apply to other types of business structure.

Corporate gift baskets are sure to build relationships between you, your employees and clients, depending on your target person. Any smart boss would know the value of having strengthened relationship expressed through items that are sent through rewards, compensations or simply expressions of gratitude and appreciation.

While corporate gift baskets are often composed of delectable food selections, choicest office items, luxury objects like engraved trophies and plaques intended for the employees and the clients themselves, some company owners still find touchy ways of sending gifts. Among the most common (and better appreciated ones) are the baby basket corporate gifts and the maternity corporate gifts.

A new baby certainly elates feelings of joy and content for the parents. This can be best complemented through sending a selection of items that will add more meaning to the coming of a new soul. The thing is, parents normally appreciate everything that is intended to be good for their child.

Sending a baby basket corporate gift to your employee, clients and customers is an ideal medium of sending the warmth of welcome to the new soul and to congratulate the parents. The little one would definitely need delicate care and comfort. There are various selections of baby basket corporate gifts.

Central to one’s choice of baby basket corporate gifts is the theme that will coordinate each item. The most common basis for theme is color which tends to be either blue or pink. Obviously, blue for the boy and girly stuffs matched with hues of pink.

You can add flavor on these with special greeting cards that can reaffirm the significance of the coming of a baby boy or girl. Additionally, it would not hurt if the mom will be given personal stuffs like dresses.

A new mom will certainly love objects that would deliver softness and comfort for his son or daughter. Gentle soaps, baby shampoos and creams, oils, cuddly towels, and wonderful little toys would all do well for a newborn babe. A combination of baby garments can also add up to the delight of having a new soul in the home. If you want to send out going out stuffs, a good mixture of diaper stuffs and bags, an assortment of feeding bottles, a stroller and others can be a good idea too. Toy baskets are also appreciated as this would add more joy and connection between the mom and the kid.

Be mindful of the timing for the baby basket corporate gift though. However, this must not only be limited to a newborn baby. Baby basket corporate gifts can be sent to anyone who is celebrating a thing or two for a little one. Say, there are baby corporate baskets gifts that are created specifically for birthdays, Christmas and virtually all other occasions.

For broader choices of baby gift items, you can search on the catalogs as provided by the local retail store or through online merchants. Depending on your choice, you can have the customization and the personalization of the gift items. These two combined, you are sure to tap the sensibility side of any parent.

You can also be creative for your choices of gifts. In India, jewelries are often treated as baby gifts. There is no harm if you would adopt this culture. However, you can go on to the extent of using gift certificates, gift cards and other means of sending gifts with preloaded value. These would provide much freedom n the parents to choose what they want for their daughter or son.

Baby basket corporate gifts must also be based on the age pf the child or the personal preference of the parents. Say, the appropriate gifts for a 3-year old child are toys while newborns can be given stuffs that are fit for newborns such as those we have mentioned earlier.