In meeting partners, organizing events, customer gratitude, and gifts are an indispensable part of the business. There are countless types of gifts for businesses to choose and use. However, it seems that every business has a lot of doubts in the matter of choosing a gift. In this article, Tin Phat will outline 3 things to remember when choosing gifts for businesses.
Table of contents:
1. The importance of corporate gifts
2. Notes when choosing gifts for businesses
3. Steps to Optimize Corporate Gifts
In Western countries, gift-giving is usually cheerful and humorous. The French give gifts even on ordinary days to the people they love. Canadians give each other gifts on special occasions, and they do not give gifts to strangers unless it is to thank someone who has helped them in the past. Americans often invite partners to dinner or attend a small party to thank them or show appreciation. In corporate culture, they rarely give each other gifts, especially giving gifts in business relations is not welcomed in the UK, Italy, Hungary,...
There are significant differences in the culture of gift-giving in countries
In Asia, gift-giving often carries many meanings. This is ingrained in the traditions of many countries such as Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Philippines, and Thailand. Chinese people love gifts related to feng shui, meaning peace, wealth, and luck. In Japan, gifts are a cultural feature of every encounter. In Vietnam, gifts are used on special occasions with loved ones, but besides that, it is also an indispensable part of business activities.
Gifts are used by businesses to send customers, partners, employees, individually or collectively,... Giving gifts in business is extremely important for the following reasons:
1.1. To appreciate customers.
Gifts are mostly used to appreciate customers. Gifts express deep affection and gratitude to the recipient for trusting and supporting the business. They are also the basis for good cooperation relationships in the future. Businesses often use these gifts for parties, gratitude ceremonies, founding anniversaries, opening days, year-end parties, or special holidays.
1.2. Brand promotion
Corporate gifts usually have the following characteristics:
- Expressing business characteristics through brand identity;
- Contains certain meanings;
Therefore, each gift should promote the business name. Businesses will prioritize useful and practical gifts for customers so that customers often use and remember the business.
1.3. Attract new customers
In addition to being a way to advertise a business, when a brand offers gifts to customers, customers tend to be curious and attracted to the brand.
1.4. Increase revenue
According to psychological analysis, when customers receive gifts from businesses, they tend to favor those products over other brands. This is an indirect way to increase sales.
1.5. Exhortation
In this respect, businesses often send gifts to customers and employees of the company. Gifts are meant to connect and help relationships grow. Gifts are not only material gifts but also carry spiritual values, showing care and respect for each other. Thanks to the gifts, employees are more proud of their contributions to the business. This increases their motivation to strive for higher work efficiency.
Each gift has a great spiritual meaning
Through the above analysis, corporate gifts can be divided into two types: external and internal gifts. With each type of gift, businesses need to note how to choose different forms, materials, and methods of gift-giving. But in general, when preparing gifts, businesses need to pay attention to the following contents:
2.1. Gift form
A gift with a beautiful design both increases the value of the gift and shows respect. Choosing a gift also requires businesses to consider the product's packaging. The packaging here is the box, the bag, the bow, the production method, the wrapping,... The gift must be presented in the most formal form to make an impression on the recipient. As well as creating a sense of ownership and love for the opponent.
2.2. Meaning of gift
Clothing and accessories: Belts, hats, shirts, etc have style and appearance. Businesses can give you feng shui paintings, feng shui tableware, etc., to wish for peace and wealth. The gift also shows the business's understanding and customer care skills. For example, supplying umbrellas to customers in rainy areas, providing shoes to customers who love sports, giving hats when they know that customers often play golf, offering nutritious food when knowing that customers are taking care of small children, etc
Depending on the preferences of the recipient, choose the right gift
If the gift you prepared has not fully expressed the desire you want to convey, you can use the attached cards to fill it with the "soul" of the gift. You can also include the reason for giving the gift, explain why the gift came to the recipient, and bring good things to them.
2.3. Usefulness
“The excellence of a gift lies in its appropriateness rather than in its value.” - Charles Dudley Warner. Even with a luxurious and high-class gift, if it doesn't work with customers, it is not truly promoting the meaning of the gift. Even your customers and partners can give it to others to use or throw it in a corner and forget about it. Therefore, a meaningful gift is when the recipient loves, uses, and cherishes it. When choosing gifts, you should also consider practicality.
2.4. Reminiscent of the brand
In addition to showing the brand identity (logo, slogan, color) clearly, businesses can add other information such as communication messages, contact addresses, emails, etc. As well, businesses often collect too much data, which creates a psychological dislike in customers, who are afraid of using donated products.
If your business has special products, you can also consider giving them as a gift. For example, a leather company donates leather goods. Travel and tourism companies will give vouchers for hotels, resorts, air tickets, etc., increasing direct sales revenue.
2.5. Unique and impressive
On the market today, there are hundreds of types of gifts that are distributed to target groups, for example, corporate Tet gifts, high-end customer gifts, educational gifts, medical gifts - pharmaceuticals, gifts for the real estate industry, gifts for the consumer goods industry, gifts for industrial park workers, ... To impress customers, your gifts should have unique and novel elements. The unique element often comes from the design. During that period, businesses often required gift ideas to have their copyright, rather than being mixed with popular items on the market.
2.6. Personalized gifts
Personalization is becoming a trend in business activities. Personalization comes from choosing individual gifts for each customer, engraving customer names, images, anniversaries, or customer-related information on gifts. Personalization will make customers feel valued and their gift is not universal. This shows that the giver cares and puts effort into your gift.
2.7. Attach cards and wishes
If your gift includes a thank you card or words, it can also make it more meaningful. Especially with expensive gifts, cards are indispensable. This kind of thoughtfulness can also move your customers and increase your gift value.
Besides the gift, a delicate invitation card will be appreciated
3.1. Clearly define your corporate gift-giving audience
With external gifts, you should consider whether the gift-giving object is a VIP or a regular customer. If it is a VIP guest, the gift you choose needs to be more advanced. Materials and design requirements are extremely strict. If they are a regular customer, you can order more popular gifts but do not be sketchy or sloppy. In addition, there are common gifts used to give visitors, and guests at fairs, or exhibitions, ... Of course, all these things are calculated and considered by businesses. Most importantly, regardless of the gift category, avoid making the recipient feel discriminated against.
The purpose of internal gifts is to emphasize brands and show appreciation for employees as well as show gratitude. Personalized gifts for employees are important to make them feel appreciated and remembered. For example, many businesses give each employee a cup with their image. They also give a T-shirt with their name, as well as table decorations according to personal preferences, etc.
3.2. Determine the corporate gifts budget
There are hundreds of rich and diverse gifts and dozens of materials and designs. Each type of gift has its own production and construction method. Similarly, each manufacturer has different policies and prices. Besides, each business has different gifts. All of these have a direct impact on the gift price. Even the most popular gifts ordered in large quantities can add up to many times the cost. Additionally, the design of each gift, spraying, engraving, colors, and materials make construction both time-consuming and expensive. There are products available on the market. Therefore, before implementing a gift-giving strategy, businesses need to discuss, consider, and calculate specific financial levels to choose the most reasonable gifts.
You can find units specializing in gift production, building a long-term relationship to get the highest discount for each production order. If you have financial difficulties, you can consider replacing luxury and high-class gifts with gifts of lower value but delicate and meaningful. The saying is "Love grows by giving”, and sometimes the value of a gift is not equal to the way it is delivered
3.3. Order business gifts directly
To get a reasonable price, work with the supplier, not through a third party. Buying from a supermarket or store is not a good idea as well. In addition, by working directly with the manufacturer with a clear contract, you are guaranteed legal and price. This is if you cooperate for a long time or on large projects.
Only when you put your thoughts and feelings into the gift, even the simplest gift will move the recipient's heart. Because: A gift consists not of what is done or given but in the intention of the giver or doer" (Seneca). To make gift-giving meaningful, do not consider gifts as a method to increase sales or advertise your brand. Instead, consider it as an opportunity to express your gratitude or a way to show your appreciation. Furthermore, it is also a method sent to the person who finds joy and happiness in their life. Only then will the gift be truly meaningful.