subject: The Basics Of International Business Gift Giving [print this page] You're going to give some presents from time to time if you're in any type of business. Be it Christmas or an important client's birthday, gift-giving is one of the most effective ways of establishing stronger ties to those who matter to you and your business. But while this is the most common perception, this may not be entirely true. There are times when giving presents can be one of the worst things you can do, especially if you are engaging in international business. Mostly, thats one of the reasons why differences in the insights towards business presents have a lot to do with race or nationally.
Other countries can actually take the act to be completely not acceptable while some may be very open to giving presents. For example, in the Czech Republic, Columbia, Indonesia and some others, giving gifts is a warm gesture between corporate people. But in other countries such as Australia, Uruguay and Denmark, this can be misconstrued as bribing.
It can be critical for you to take time to research on the gift-giving customs of the people you deal with if you're involved in international business. It can be easy to conclude that a present on a client's birthday is sometimes going to build your ties stronger. But now and then, it will not work this way. It may even create negative vibes that can significantly affect the business relationship. It is significant to always know the background of the people you consider giving presents for this reason.
The issues around gift giving may not even be purely cultural but religious as well. -It will be a good idea to research on peoples cultures you are planning to give presents even when working for a company. For example, you might think of giving your boss a little token on his birthday. Perhaps you cannot give him anything made of cowhide as in India, cows are considered sacred if this person is Indian.
While giving gifts is not exactly discouraged in some cases, there will be rituals or "rules" that have to be followed. For example, the Chinese considered red a lucky color. The monetary value of a gift may also affect its meaning in almost all cases. Anything that is too expensive can make the receiver feel awkward or even embarrassed. A present should fit the level of relationship that the one who gives the gift has with the receiver in other cases.
There are more differences among nationalities in terms of their gift-giving customs and it is important to consider these before you give anything, no matter how well-meant.
