Business is all about relationships. But those relationships – with clients, employees, and outside partners – can collapse with even the smallest misstep. Take a step in the right direction and cement those relationships with business gifts given during the holidays.
When a company makes the effort to offer a gift of appreciation to clients, partners or colleagues, the result can make business dealings easier and the relationship stronger for a long time.
Business gifts add a personal touch that is sometimes missing. When given with some thought behind them, their impact can be quite powerful.
Do’s and Don’ts
Here are three do’s and a don’t in the quest for perfect presents to strengthen those bonds.
- DO give with a goal, and measure how well you achieved it. Don’t give just to give. Find the best way to present your brand with a clear communication of the message the gift is supposed to get across. For example, if the goal is to thank recipients but also stay top of mind on a regular basis, then a useful gift is going to mean more impressions over a given time. Possibilities include a drink tumbler and an insulated lunch cooler; both would get a lot of use in an office. A leather portfolio would likely be used for internal and external meetings. Another idea, a cutlery set that recipient’s could use in their home for years.
- DO use the right presentation to increase a gift’s effect. Creating a big deal around a gift’s presentation will raise it’s effectiveness. A thoughtful presentation not only boosts the perceived value of the gift, it boosts the perceived value of the recipient. If your gift is a nice pen, use a lined box wrapped with ribbon, accompanied by a hand-written card with a message specific to the recipient.
- DO customize and personalize as much as possible. Particularly at the higher end, evidence of thought and effort in selecting the gift pays big dividends. Adding personalization adds serious value to a gift. The recipient knows that the gift was meant for them personally, and this gives them a greater emotional connection with the gift and a feeling of being valued. Plus, putting the recipient’s name on the front cover of a portfolio is a classy touch that encourages frequent use.
- DON’T buy at the low end of a product category. It’s better to buy at the high end of a lesser product category. If you’ve got a smaller budget to work with, pick a higher quality item in a more modest product category. In other words, always choose quality. If you buy too cheap, the item won’t be used – you might get one impression from the gift, and it wouldn’t be a good one. The goal is to deliver perceived value, which results in a favorable cost per impression.