Corporate Gifts- 10 Tips to Successful Business gift Giving by:Ron Thompson

Corporate Gifts and even small business gifts sent in a heartfelt manner can work

well to firm up business relationships and let clients know they are appreciated. Here are 10 tips to help your holiday business gifts work for you and return holiday cheer.

#1 : Be sure to keep your business client list very updated with the right addresses and contact names.

#2 : Be sure to understand your clients gift giving policies as many companies have a no gift rule . This information should be well highlighted in your contact list. If your company works with government agencies they most likely have a No Gifts policy.

#3 : Give your Gift List to your gift suppliers with any directions you need them to have as early and you can . Most suppliers would like two to three months but will let you make changes up to the mailing date of the gifts.

#4 : Plan carefully your mailing date . It is important Your gifts of food and wine or chocolates arrive before the client shuts down for the holidays. This will allow the gift to be used for the Christmas party or a home party with family and friends.

#5: Personalising the Gift is very important and this is a perfect time to send a personal note. Tell the client how much you enjoyed working with them and how you are looking forward to the new year. The perfect heartfelt note can create new business or close a deal.

#6: A business gift is no time to market or promote your company. Having your logo and marketing promotions on your gift can do more damage that a nice thoughtful gift that the client will remember long after the holidays have gone by.

#7: Gift Baskets _ Still one of the most given business gifts. Try something a little different this year and go with a theme basket. Many good Basket companies will create a gift basket for a golfer or a trucker's basket for a hauling company. I know that secretaries love a spa basket and remember they are the back bone of most companies.

#8: If you have only one gift to give for a company it is ok to go with the individuals personal interests. Look for a beautiful Bottle of wine and add it to a gift basket. If you want to venture into a specific cultural gift be very careful as many gifts mean different things to other cultures and you need to understand them before giving them their gift.

#9: For corporate gifts to clients you don't know much about stay with the most widely used gifts. Gift Baskets, Fruit baskets, Food and wine gifts, Gift cards .It is as I said important not to confuse holiday gifts with promotional gifts like mugs, pen sets and calendars. Keep them for promotions threw out the year.

#10: Keep your gift giving reasonable. Don't buy high value gifts to give as a personal gift. This can cause confusion to the client as to whether it is a gift or maybe you have another motif. Keep the gifts under the $200.00 value for a personal gift. If need be have it sent to the clients home. If you send it to the office remember the staff may see it opened so always keep the gift unique and memorable.

For the Gift recipient:

If you receive a business gift call or acknowledge the gift as soon as possible. This will let the sender know you have received the gift and that the gift was not lost in the mail. As a client of this company you need only reply with a sincere Thank You. You may want to mention something about the gift and how much you enjoyed it. This will keep you on the prefer client list. A business gift does not have to be reciprocated as the sender is thanking you for the year of business.

About the author

Ron Thompson is a Gift consultant for http://www.ernestandleegifts.com . For over thirty years has worked in the gift industry. You can contact him at info@ernestandleegifts.com Please stop by the blog. http://giftsforcanada.blogspot.com/

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