How to Use Corporate Gifts to Network

According to a survey done by the Promotional Products Association International (PPAI), merchants who give corporate gifts are twice as likely to be contacted by the recipients. This promising statistic leads to the rise of corporate gifting. However, many are unaware that corporate gifting is only effective when it is done right and that gifting is more than just buying an item and wrapping it up in pretty bows.

Here's an example of effective gifting.

Katie Jansen, the Vice President of Corporate Marketing of AppLovin, sends gifts (chocolate, wine or even just a small thank-you note) to all her referrers regardless of whether the business closed. Many were surprised because she took the time to acknowledge even the smallest effort. Essentially, her gifts helped her tell her referrers, "Thank you for your help. I really appreciate you taking the time to refer me." This, in turn, generated more referrals.

Katie Jansen's experiences tells us one important issue - gifting is a delicate matter and mistakes done when gifting will lead to a loss of money and reputation. Hence, we've prepared a list for you to take note of when gifting.

1. When to gift

Timing is crucial. It affects how the gift will be interpreted and received so do be careful and take note of when it is appropriate to send corporate gifts.

Many businesses send corporate gifts to their clients during the holidays to reconnect and build a rapport. This is especially true if you're operating in countries (e.g- China and Singapore) where gifting during festive season is customary. At these times, it is important to note that your client will be flooded with gifts from different vendors. That does not mean that you should not send a gift though. In fact, since a generic gift will definitely be lost in the crowd, it is advisable to always send personalized corporate gifts, (e.g - a personalized corporate hamper) to external stakeholders of your company. (Here is a list of personalized hampers you may be interested in: https://goo.gl/FOjNwE)

Singapore celebrates many festive seasons, such as Chinese New Year and Christmas, and this gives corporations plenty of opportunities to send gifts and reconnect with their clients. However, it should be noted that festive seasons is not the only opportunity to send gifts. There are many special occasions that may be meaningful to both businesses. An example of such occasion is the first time the two businesses work together. Sending a gift on such occasion gives you a competitive edge because it shows your appreciation towards your client.

Corporate gifting can also be done internally. You may wish to send a corporate hamper to your employees to show that you appreciate their effort which would elevate their spirit. This, in turn, translates to increased productivity and motivation. Some examples of ideal timing includes the completion of a big project or the retirement of an elderly employee. You can also send gifts to your employees during festive seasons such as Christmas and New Year.

2. When not to gift

As greatfood.com once advised its readers, you should never send a gift when you are involved in a bidding war, not even if it is during the festive seasons. The same rule applies when you are trying to obtain a new client or in a situation where a gift can be perceived as a bribe. This is crucial for your business and your personal brand because it could leave a bad impression with your client and/or lead to some legal complications. In Singapore, you may be fined or even imprisoned for bribing.

3. Who and what to gift internally

When gifting internally, it is important to note that you should not leave anyone out because co-workers talk and you don't want anyone to feel forgotten or underappreciated. Hence, the value of each gift should also be equal.

That does not necessarily mean that you have to buy the same gift for everyone though. For example, if your team has worked exceptionally well last year, you can opt to send them a corporate hamper to thank them for their hard word. The content in the hamper can be divided among themselves or eaten in the office.

Do take note that bonuses should not be regarded as a gift. This is because gifts are unconditional whereas bonuses are tied to the performance of an employee. In other words, while employees will surely appreciate the bonus, it will not be as personal and heartwarming as a corporate hamper.

4. Who to gift externally

Targeting your recipient can be a challenge. While it is acceptable to send gifts to your client's spouse, the same gesture towards your client's children is not appropriate (unless you know them personally).

On the other hand, sending a gift to your client's assistant is encouraged because an assistant likely knows your client and his/her family well. In other words, an assistant may be able to help you with trivial yet important things such as choosing gifts for your client and his/her spouse. Hence, it is advisable to build a good and strong relationship with your client's assistant.

Another issue that should be noted is that some company has gifting policies that prevents them from receiving gifts so do call ahead and clarify before sending a corporate gift. Financial institutions, such as banks, are especially sensitive to the issue of gifting because the industry has a long history of bribery disguised as corporate gifts. In fact, it was bribes that had led to the downfall of one of the big 5 accounting firms, Arthur Andersen.

Conclusion

Gifting is an important aspect of a business because when done right, it allows you to build and maintain professional relationships. However, it is a delicate matter that should be handled with great care because it may be perceived as a bribe or may leave a bad impression. Hence, you should consider four issues before gifting.

Firstly, appropriate timing should be considered. In Singapore, it is customary to send corporate gifts during festive season but that is not the only appropriate time to send gifts. Gifts can also be sent on special occasions (e.g - the anniversary of the first time a deal is made) shared by the company and its client.

Secondly, inappropriate times (e.g - during a bidding war) should be avoided because corporate gifting during this period may cause the gift to be misinterpreted as bribes. Note that gifts should not be sent during bidding wars, even if it happens during a festive season.

Thirdly, corporate gifts are not exclusively for external parties (e.g - clients) only. Sending a corporate gift to your employee can increase motivation and productivity. When gifting internally, remember to include everyone in the team so that no one feels forgotten.

Fourthly, while corporate gifts can be sent to the clients, their spouses and their assistants, giving gifts to anyone else would be inappropriate. Building a good rapport with your client's assistant is advisable because they are likely to know your client and his/her family well. Call ahead to check if your client does not have a gifting policy. Follow the gifting policy to the word and never break the rules as some companies, especially those operating in the financial industry, are particularly sensitive to corporate gifts.

Despite the long list of issues to consider, corporate gifting proves to be a useful networking tool. This is because when done right, gifts can make a lasting impression and build long term corporal relationships.

Simply Hamper is an online hamper store with its main office located in Singapore. They specialize in creating quality hampers filled with heartfelt products. These products are sourced globally and many are award-winning products that are both practical and beautiful. To avoid biasness and ensure the quality of their products, the designs of the hampers are decided only after the products have been chosen.

If you'd like to know more about Simply Hamper, click on this link: http://simply-hamper.com/
If you'd like to check out Simply Hamper's gift baskets, click on this link: http://simply-hamper.com/personalised-hampers

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Orignal From: How to Use Corporate Gifts to Network