Carefully chosen corporate business gifts can help give your company the image of being both personal and caring rather than a corporate machine. It can set you apart which gives you an edge in today's competitive market.

With the rising cost of everything it can be daunting to budget for business gift giving. Although you might have had an excess in the budget a few years ago, the rising cost of gasoline and shipping may have cut your budget quite a lot.

How do you decide what to buy, and more importantly, how can you decide who to buy for?

This will be much easier if your company all ready has a corporate gift policy in place. In that case you will have a budget to go by, and more than likely there will be guidelines in place that let you know who is to get gifts and who is not to get gifts. You will want to make sure you understand the parameters and follow the guidelines carefully.

If your company has no such guidelines you will have to take into account several factors in buying gifts.

• Budget is first consideration. It is imperative for the success of any company that they stay within budget.
• Begin you list with your largest and most important clients and end with those that have the least profitability for your company

• Make sure you know the gift policies of your clients. Some companies do not allow their employees to receive gifts at all, some limit the value of the gift, and some have no policy what-so-ever.Giving a great gift that has to be returned because of company policy is embarrassing for both you and your client.

• Keep notes on each client. When you are talking to them at a business lunch or on the phone listen carefully to their conversation. Notice things about them. Do they run marathons on the weekends? Enjoy golf or horseback riding? What types of foods do they order? Knowing the answers to these questions can help you to choose a unique business gift any time of the year.

• Part of knowing your client includes knowing about religious preferences as well. Sending an expensive smoked ham to a Jewish client is an embarrassing mistake. Even wine and other alcohol can be a poor choice if you don't know your client well. Many people do not drink for religious reasons, personal convictions, or even alcoholism and in those cases the best bottle of one hundred year old scotch in the world would be an unacceptable gift.

Now that you have a list that you can use you are ready to choose that perfect corporate business gift.

There are many reasons that companies give business gifts. It may be to thank your customer for a business transaction, to welcome a new client, or to encourage their loyalty to your company. You may give gifts for client birthdays, anniversaries, and special holidays as well.

Whatever the reason for the gift, you want you client to be thrilled with what you have chosen for them. By following the guidelines above you are almost guaranteed to choose a successful business gift for any occasion.

• Gift baskets of food are almost always a great choice, no matter what season it is. While many companies give these types of baskets during the holiday season, giving a basket with a picnic theme during the summer months is a great idea for a client that is a nature lover.

• Giving a donation to a client's favorite charity in his name is a great way to show that you know him, and understand what is important to him. This is an especially considerate way to acknowledge your sympathy when a client loses a valued employee or loved one to cancer or other disease.
• Office accessories like desk clocks, cell phone stands, and elegant pen sets will keep your company on your clients mind as he goes about his daily activities. These items are generally appreciated by anyone with an office situation and can be good for clients that you don't know well.

There are times when you will want to give a gift to an especially valuable employee. Showing employee appreciation is good for company morale. It shows that you see and value the hard work that your employees are doing.

Giving gifts and awards acknowledges the important role that your employees play in your company and encourages them in their jobs. It can build and maintain enthusiasm as well.

Employee appreciation gifts are generally less expensive than the gifts given to clients.

• An award or plaque
• A pen or pencil set

• A small gift basket

• Portfolios and scheduling helps

• Clocks Watches, cufflinks, and pocket watches

When presenting a gift to your employees, always try to do it with style. Use a beautiful wrap, and present it at some sort of celebration if appropriate. When an employee has a birthday, bringing in a cake is just a nice touch. It builds loyalty and makes people feel cared for. These personal touches are what sets a great company apart from a good company.

Summertime is not too early to start thinking about holiday business gift giving. By planning ahead you have the leisure time to select gifts that are unique and memorable to your customers and employees.

All of the same rules apply to holiday gift giving that apply to other corporate gift giving occasions. It is more important than ever to know the clients religious preferences though. During the holidays different cultures celebrate differently, and a luxurious basket of enticing food during a Muslim client's Ramadan would be inappropriate, while a client that celebrates Christmas would be delighted.

Know your suppliers well. You should shop around for companies that can furnish you with the quality products that you will be proud to give.

When you find a company that you like work with them to establish yourself as a top client. In this way, when you need something faster than normal, or need some individualized attention the supplier will be more likely to try to accommodate your needs.

A good supplier will also contact you when they carry a new item that you may be interested in. They can suggest specific appropriate gifts for special clients and help your order to be processed smoothly.

The best selection of corporate business gifts will often be found online. Contact the supplier with any questions you have and establish a rapport with them before you need to. In this way they can often anticipate your needs and offer solutions to potential problems.

There is a knack to giving gifts to your clients but it is a knack that anyone can learn.