This is the time of year that our thoughts turn to gifting. Gifting can mean many things for businesses: either holiday gifts to customers that have done business within the past year, or gifting to recognize employee year-end achievements. Companies are starting to look at purposeful, appropriate gifts for the audience and for the season.
Recognition vs. Year End
Gifting at this time of year falls into two main categories: Recognition and Year-End. Recognition gifting is usually based on merit awards or department/company profitability. Year-end gifting is that gift which is given to employees or customers to thank them for service or loyalty throughout the year. You need to start at the beginning and decide exactly what type of gifting you will be doing this season. And if you are like most people, our guess is that you will be doing both!
Seasonality
The change of seasons affects the type of gifts you might be giving this time of year. It is time to update company uniforms, anyway. You may have already begun the switch from short-sleeved, pastel polo shirts to heather-colored henleys. You may have begun the switch from windbreaker to fleece-lined zippered jacket.
When gift giving, you can use this change in apparel to express your appreciation. This Melange Fleece Jacket is a great seasonal piece that won’t break the bank and makes a functional, attractive vehicle for your logo.
Relevance
This one might seem obvious, but it is easy to miss the mark on providing relevant gifts for your employees and customers. Your high-travel sales team might not appreciate a tower of chocolate goodies as much as a quality garment bag or travel document holder/wallet. The chocolate tower might be perfect for the supporting office personnel.
Price
The season of awards and gifting can be an expensive one. Not because of the item itself necessarily, but because this is the time of year you are giving in volume. But, don’t let price influence you to not make the best decision possible. You can provide larger quantities of gifts without having to over-extend yourself. Gift for the home or desk accessories are always a nice treat. Our Corporate Gifts category offers a variety of options across several price points. And don’t forget, gifts given in trade or businesses are tax deductible in part or whole.
Make the right impression™
Lastly, this is the gifting opportunity to help you make the right impression. You might be sending a gift to a customer who only orders from you once a year, and you want to use this gift to encourage repeat and increased business. You might be rewarding that employee who hit their sales goals for the first time ever, and this gift will help you reinforce a spirit of success. Either way, you can make the right impression with your gift initially and then get residual value from that gift all year long based on its usability and visibility in the life of the recipient.
However you plan to gift this year now is the time to start thinking about it. Your budget should include the actual gift, packaging and presentation, and fulfillment (packaging labor, shipping costs, etc.). Take a look at some good-better-best options. And, if you weren’t already thinking about gifting for recognition or year-end…maybe you should.
Tell us: What is one of the favorite year-end gifts you have ever received? What is one of the worst?
