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The Pros and Cons of Gift Certificate Giving in the

  • Posted on March 18, 2011 at 9:26 am

The Pros and Cons of Gift Certificate Giving in the Business World

Giving gift certificates in the business world can be a bit tricky. Though there are literally thousands of retailers out there that offer these easy-to-give-gifts, there are both pros and cons to using them this holiday season.

The pros of using gift certificates for your business gifts include: theyre easy to buy, you can get a gift certificate for just about any store, and the price isnt fixed (you get to designate how much it will be).

Yes, gift cards might be the easiest gift to buy when shopping for those on your holiday list. You dont have to spend time thinking about what the person might like (more on this later). You dont have to be familiar with their hobbies or pastimes in order to buy them a gift. This is useful in giving business gifts because a lot of times you dont have the kind of relationship with someone that enables you to buy them a gift they would actually like.

These days most stores carry gift certificates. You can walk into just about any store and ask for a gift certificate and theyll have one for you. Some stores use a nice looking certificate but the new thing is gift cards. Some places will have different designs to choose from, which is always fun; the different designs kind of spice up the gift.

Gift certificates are also great because theyre not priced like other merchandise in the store. If you want to spend $10 on someone, then you can get a certificate for $10, its that simple. If you want to spend $100, you can do that too. Though most places let you choose the amount, some places have a fixed amount on the certificates; maybe they sell them in $10 increments. This really isnt a problem either.

Sometimes when buying a gift you find something that you really want to give the person but its out of the price range you are willing to pay. So you might decide to buy something else just to meet your budget. Or, you may break your budget and buy the item anyway. In the first scenario, the person receiving the gift would be getting something inexpensive rather than something they would really like. In the second, your pocket book is broke.

This is another reason that gift cards are so wonderful. You dont have to settle for anything less than what you wanted to buy, and you dont have to go broke. Giving a gift certificate will give the person the power to get something that they really want. And if its just a portion of the dollar amount that they need, thats great because its just that much less that theyll have to pay for their desired item.

On the flip side, there are also cons to using gift certificates for your business gifts. These include: theyre too easy to buy, they get lost easily, and many people end up never using them.

The fact that gift certificates are so easy to buy can look enticing to some gift givers (as stated in the pros section). But this very reason can make a gift receiver think that you didnt put any thought into it. So this one point can work as either a pro or a con, depending on the gift receiver. Some will think its important that you put some thought into the gift and personalized it and for others the mere fact that you thought of them will be enough.

Its a fact that gift certificates tend to get lost easily. People stuff them into dresser drawers or set them on the desk, and they are never to be seen again. This is a bummer because they never get the gift and your money has been thrown away. Hopefully, when you give a gift certificate, the person will be organized enough to put the certificate in a designated place in which it will not get lost.

Sadly some gift certificates simply never get used. Maybe the person doesnt really enjoy shopping or maybe they dont like the place where the certificate is from. Some people just forget about a gift certificate and never spend it.

When buying your gift certificates this holiday season remember to buy them at a store in which the receiver will definitely find something useful. This will motivate them to actually use the certificate and not misplace it or forget about it. Then your money is well spent and the person will think of you when they use the item they choose to buy.

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Perpetuate Your Company Name with Marketable Business Gifts

  • Posted on February 4, 2011 at 9:26 am

All companies want their names to be remembered and to live on into perpetuity in the minds of their clients as this helps to encourage repeat business. One of the best ways to do this is to give out marketable business gifts when it is called for. Do not go overboard or get too lavish, as you don’t want to seem showy or overly pretentious but think elegant and simple with a touch of class. The Internet has made it possible to purchase business gifts that say exactly what you wish them to say. Of course sometimes too much selection is not a good thing because it makes it harder and harder to narrow down your choice to just one or a couple.

Always aim for quality in the gift itself as well as the packaging. If you are sending office supplies, for example, or a new electronic gadget, the wrapping and the card speak volumes to the recipient. Buy the best quality wrapping paper, gift bags, boxes, cards, ribbons and bows without going outside of the company’s budget.

Being marketable means standing out from the crowd and this means being unique and innovative in your gift giving. One way to do this is to pay close attention to a client and he or she likes to determine an excellent choice of gift. If you have occasion to visit the office of a client take note of what is in the office. Does the person love vases, knick-knacks or anything that helps to organize their desk? What about plants? Is he or she a plant lover or not? You might want to send your client for example a small Bonsai tree. If the client has a flare for the Oriental, you might want to find something related to Feng Shui to present to him or her as a business gift. Not only will your gift be much appreciated, it is likely to become a conversation piece to whoever drops by your client’s office!

Always bear in mind that whatever gift you choose to send a client reflects back on your company and because you represent your company, it reflects back on you too. Whatever you do, resist the urge to bypass the personal route. In other words do not order something from a catalogue or over the Internet and have it gift wrapped by someone else and then send a form letter version of a card to accompany it. This says impersonal with a capital “I” and is not what you are striving for at all. This is not the way to be marketable and it is not likely to make the best impression. People like it when they receive a gift that another person put thought and effort into and little personal touches are just as important as how aesthetically attractive the outside of the gift looks.

Put yourself in the place of the client and try to envision what his or her personality would enjoy in a gift. If the gift is to be sent to someone who is from a different culture than your own, make sure you are aware of the customs of that culture so you will not offend the recipient. For example, the Chinese do not believe in using white gift-wrap for any occasion because to them it symbolizes death. Death and business gifts do not mix!

Handwritten cards are the way to go and if you have a business greeting card you might want to send just that or include it with the handwritten card. Christmas is an excellent time to send along both. Do not just sign the card but instead write the person’s name on it, say a few carefully chosen words related to the occasion for sending the gift and then sign the card. Nothing could be more marketable then the personal approach to business gift giving!

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Nothing Speaks Class More Than a Business Gift Made of

  • Posted on January 14, 2011 at 9:26 am

Nothing Speaks Class More Than a Business Gift Made of Crystal

Business gifts are an integral part of any corporation. These gifts serve to thank your customers for their loyal business and your employees for their hard work and dedication. The kind of business gifts you give can speak volumes to the recipient about your corporation. If you want your customers and employees to associate your business with class and style, go for a business gift made of crystal.

Crystal business gifts are the gold standard of business gifts. Crystal is classic, classy, and timeless, and at the same time, it can fit just about any budget. If you have a small business with a tight cash flow, you can still show your customers and your employees your appreciation with a crystal business gift for as little as $20. Despite the small price you pay, though, a gift made of crystal will always send the message that your business is thriving and has a certain class and elegance that sets you apart from the competition.

Another important benefit of choosing crystal for business gifts is that crystal is appropriate for all of the people for whom you need to buy business gifts. Many people waste valuable time scratching their heads trying to come up with gift ideas for their customers, another idea for their employees, and yet another idea for that dreaded CEO/company owner/big boss gift. You can save time by giving all of these people crystal business gifts; crystal sends the right message to everyone.

Crystal is an incredibly versatile medium that allows you to incorporate what you know about the gift recipient into the gift, while still holding on to that touch of class a crystal gift communicates. If you know that the gift recipient loves golf, look for decorative crystal golf balls, golf tees, or golf themed crystal clocks or paperweights. If the person to whom you are giving the gift is of Irish heritage or is a Celtic aficionado, look for something in Irish crystal, like Waterford or Galway crystal. Go for desk clocks, paperweights, pen holders, or shamrock ornaments. Nearly any interest you can think of can be satisfied with some kind of crystal gift. Even if you dont know the recipient well enough to incorporate some kind of personal interest of theirs into the gift, a plain crystal ornament or desk accessory will still say that you value them and your business relationship.

If youre looking for an employee recognition gift, instead of going for a standard wooden plaque, think crystal. You can have names and awards carved directly into the crystal, or you can have a standard plaque applied to the crystal background. Suddenly, this recognition gift goes from looking a little cheap and boring to thoughtful and classy. A reward like that will pay you dividends in the future, as you staff feels a renewed commitment to their work and your company.

When youre shopping for a retirement gift for a business associate, crystal is the only way to go. There is no other gift that will adequately thank someone for a lifetime of hard work and dedication. Popular crystal retirement gift choices include clocks, glasses, plaques, and baubles that have a special significance for to the person.

Business gifts serve two purposes; one is to thank your clients, co-workers, and bosses for their contributions to your corporate and to let them know they are valued, and the other is to send some kind of message about your business. When you choose a business gift made of crystal, you send that message that your business has the kind of taste and class that sets you apart from the competition.

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Its The Thought That Counts in Business Gift Giving

  • Posted on December 31, 2010 at 9:26 am

Business gifts are an important part of corporate life. These gifts help thank your customers and clients for their business, retain them as customers in the future, and thank your employees for all of their hard work. But simply buying gifts in bulk and handing them out willy-nilly just wont do. To get the most out of your business gift giving, you have to put a little thought into the process.

First, when giving a business gift, you have to remember that many of your clients and customers will be receiving business gifts from other people as well. You want to make sure your gift sets your apart from the crowd and lets them know you have something different to offer than the competition. Think outside of the box for exciting new business gift ideas. Instead of going for traditional business gifts like clocks, paperweights, and office accessories, go for new ideas like magazine and newspaper subscriptions, memberships in online movie clubs, gift cards, electronics, or even airline miles. If you put a little thought into it, you can come up with a unique business gift that definitely wont get lost in the shuffle.

Another reason why it is important to put some thought into your business gifts is that your gifts will be more appreciated by your clients if they feel like you have put some thought into them. Demonstrate to your clients that you have taken the time to get to know them and their likes and dislikes by picking out a gift that is specifically for them. If your client is a big sports fan, get them tickets to one of their favorite teams games. If your client has a large family, get them passes to a family event they can all enjoy together. Get the wine aficionado a certificate to enroll in a wine tasting class. When you get a client a gift that reflects their personality, you let them know that it is THEIR business that your care about. Plus, your attention to detail about them personally will remind them of your attention to detail about them professionally, further helping your business relationship.

Perhaps the business gifts that require the most thought are the business gifts you choose for your employees. You want your employees to feel like their personal contribution to the company matters, and rather than just being a cog in the machine, they personally are a valued member of your team. To go about communicating this to them, get them gifts that reflect their personalities in much the same way you would your clients. If you have a small staff, make the effort to get to know them, and buy each staff member an individual gift you know they will be happy with. Even if your staff is too large for you to interact with each person individually, you can still take a look at your staff demographics and choose a gift that way. For instance, a younger staff might memberships to online MP3 shops, and if your staff is older, they might prefer to receive something like a subscription to an industry journal. Get it right, and along with the gift, youll end purchasing the loyalty of your staff, and that is invaluable.

If you have a lot of business gift shopping to do, time and financial constraints can make you feel like purchasing one item in bulk and crossing everyone off your list that way. Before you make that leap, stop and think. You might find with a little consideration, you can hand out business gifts that everyone will enjoy and that will solidify your professional relationships.

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