Business Gifting Tips

Business Gifts Etiquette Tips
Sending the right gift might help an existing business relationship to flourish, but the wrong gift can turn things sour faster than you would ever expect. The right business gift reflects thoughtfulness, creativity, attention to detail and your good taste. Below we have assembled are some of the best Etiquette Tips we have found to help ensure you give only the proper business gift.

General Etiquette

• Many companies have adopted business gifting policies outlining who can receive them and up to what value is acceptable. When in doubt, check with recipient's company before sending a business gift.
• Send only business gifts that reflect both your own and your company’s image.
• Personalized gifts stand out. Use imagination and tactful creativity when personalizing your business gift.
• Display your good timing by sending business gifts when they are pertinent, especially “thank you” gifts.
• Gourmet gift baskets and wine baskets are always better than flowers. Choosing high-quality, gourmet products for business gift-giving—in any price range—shows off (and shares with others) your sense of good taste and appreciation.
• Consider the recipient’s job function(s), and outside interests when selecting your business gifts.
• Gifts should reflect the value you place on your relationship with the individual recipient or group of recipients. Highly respected clients should receive a more extravagant and more personal gift.

Be Culturally Corteous

• With so many cultural traditions and religious beliefs, it's important to show respect for all groups that celebrate during the Christmas holiday season. Use more generic messages such as "Seasons Greetings" or "Happy Holidays", and avoid gifts with direct religious overtones.
• When sending food gifts, try to be aware of any dietary restrictions your recipient may have due to religious, medical or ethical reasons. See Religious Concerns below.
• When you need to send gifts to recipients overseas, it is best to find a supplier local to them who will be aware of customs and traditions in your recipient's country. This also avoids your recipient needing to pay any tax or duty on the gift.

Don't Forget...

• Don’t forget the Administrative Professionals! Weather it's yours or a business partner's assistant who has made your life easier don't leave them out. Three out of four admin's say “nothing” is the worst gift they’ve ever received during Administrative Professionals Week.
• Check, double-check and triple-check the spelling of recipients’ name and company name when sending personalized gifts. There's nothing worse than a crystal desk decoration with a misspelled name.
• When dealing with a consistent client list, send different gifts each year to avoid repetition or predictability. For instance, send a gourmet gift basket one year and maybe a chocolate gift tower the next.
• Don’t overuse major holidays as an excuse to send gifts—get noticed by sending something at an unexpected time or during a holiday important to the recipient.

Gift Suggestions

• Holiday gift baskets filled with a generous supply of the recipient’s favorite snack or gourmet treats are a tasty idea for the business associate with a sweet tooth!
• Organic fruit baskets are a great idea for the environmentally-conscious business associate.
• When sending gifts to different co-workers for the same types of occasions throughout the year, avoid predictability by customizing or personalizing the gift.
• Don't forget a Christmas gift basket for your boss because the impression you make on him can make your work life better.
• Always remember your existing clients—who will spend more money and offer more contacts and referrals—with gifts of appreciation.
• Don't forget employee recognition throughout the year with gifts for outstanding performance or future motivation.
• If you want a client to continue remembering you throughout the year, send one of our Fruit of the Month Gifts.
• For clients and business associates who enjoy their wine, make a big impression by sending a gourmet wine basket or a Wine of the Month Club.

Holiday Gifting Etiquette

• Make your holiday business gifts stand out whenever possible - the first to arrive gets more attention than the third. For example, try sending a Christmas gift baskets the first week of December instead of Christmas week to avoid getting mixed in with the crowd.
• Don't forget giving a gifts to the entire offices - a gourmet gift basket to share at department luncheons or nibble on for a week is always well received and remembered by any office staff.
• When sending a wine gift to a business partner to toast the holiday, avoid complications by checking the legal guidelines for wine deliveries in the recipient’s state.

We hope this helps with some of your questions regarding business holiday gifts but if you still have questions please give our Customer Care department a call at (800) 563-8890.