Corporate Gift Giving & Receiving

Giving gifts in business is a way of developing and maintaining relationships. It may be done between the company and its customers, between the company and its employees or among employees within the company. When handled in the right way, gifts bring pleasure to the giver and the recipient. Done improperly, gift giving can create problems and generate negative feelings. Before you venture forth to purchase that business gift, you need to consider a number of factors.

Know the company policy. That means being aware of your own company's policy and that of the recipient's company. It's easy enough to check within your own organization; however, it may not be so simple to find out if your customer may accept a gift. If you have doubts, be prepared that your gift might be refused and accept the refusal graciously.

Learn what the gift giving traditions are in your organization. Find out what has gone on in the past. Depending on your position, you may decide to start a new tradition; but be sensitive to history.

Know when it is appropriate to offer gifts. Occasions for gift giving in business fall into six categories: family, personal, company, employee recognition, thank you and holiday. Family events are births, weddings and funerals. Personal occasions are birthdays and illness. Promotions, retirement and other work-related milestones are times for company recognition. Sadly, thank you gifts around the office are the exception rather than the rule.

Remember that one size does not fit all. Select gifts that reflect the taste, interests and culture of the other person, and try to connect them to office or work. Since this is about business, your gifts should be professional and send a positive message about your organization.

(c) 2007, Lydia Ramsey, Inc.

Learn from Lydia by using her four LIVE business etiquette broadcasts on DVD or by reading her newest book "Lydia Ramsey's Little Book of Table Manners". You can purchase these business etiquette tools at http://www.mannersthatsell.com/tms/index.html

Before any of us know it, the holidays will be here. For business people that means its time for making your corporate gift list and checking twice. There are two primary concerns: finding an item that is appropriate for your clients and one that speaks well for your organization.

It seems obvious to suggest that the gift be suitable for your client. However, if you have a large list and a diverse one, this can be the challenge. In gift giving, one size does not necessarily fit all. Your life will be made infinitely easier if you can select a single item to represent your organization. Clearly you want to find something that will appeal to a variety of people.

You can personalize your gift by choosing one that is representative of your area-either something that is characteristic of your region or made in your locale. Often but not always, those items are food. From Georgia, the obvious ones are peanuts and pecans. However, look closely to see that you really have purchased peanuts from Georgia, and not some other state.

When you give food as a gift, keep in mind that it may need to be shared. If you send a box of fruit to a department or a team, everyone there will want some. Make sure you send enough, particularly of the favorite items. You don't want to be remembered for the food fight you created.

If you are sending gifts to individuals, books about the area or music by a local artist are good choices. People will notice and appreciate when you put extra time and thought into your holiday gifts. The message that you send is that you value the client and their business. It is hard to go wrong there.

(c) 2007, Lydia Ramsey, Inc.

Learn from Lydia by using her four LIVE business etiquette broadcasts on DVD or by reading her newest book "Lydia Ramsey's Little Book of Table Manners". You can purchase these business etiquette tools at http://www.mannersthatsell.com/tms/index.html

Have you recently received a gift from someone with whom you do business? Were you the lucky recipient of a basket of gourmet foods, a plant for your office or a gift certificate for your favorite restaurant? Businesses are constantly looking for ways to show appreciation to their customers, to let them know that their business is valued and to keep the company name in front of them.

However, there is a growing problem on the receiving end of corporate gift giving. Recipients are failing to acknowledge the gift.

When someone spends time, money or energy on you, that person or corporation needs recognition and appreciation. Some people think that because the gift comes from a supplier or vendor, it doesn't require a thank you. Being the customer is no excuse for bad manners.

Your thanks should be made in writing. A handwritten note does not take any longer than a phone call or an email response. In fact, depending on your typing skills or how chatty you are, writing your thank you could take less time.

A handwritten note gives the appearance of extra effort. Do yourself and the generous person who sent the gift a favor-pick up pen and paper without delay. Be sure to mention the gift, how you will use it and your sincere appreciation.

When a gift comes from "XYZ Company," with no personal name or address, call the company and ask whom you should thank. Don't let ignorance be your excuse for not responding.

You may use the Internet to acknowledge receipt of a gift, but follow up with a written note as soon as possible. E-mail lacks the personal touch that a thoughtful gift deserves.

(c) 2007, Lydia Ramsey, Inc.

Learn from Lydia by using her four LIVE business etiquette broadcasts on DVD or by reading her newest book "Lydia Ramsey's Little Book of Table Manners". You can purchase these business etiquette tools at http://www.mannersthatsell.com/tms/index.html

Giving gifts in business is a popular practice because gifts often say what words cannot. A gift can express thanks to a client, an apology to colleague or serve as a friendly reminder to a customer. A well-chosen gift will express a sentiment long after the spoken or written word. Letters get filed and words are forgotten, but an item for the office or flowers for the hostess keep the thought from fading.

When you give a gift in business, you want to be sure that it is conveys the right message, but sometimes your action can backfire. For that reason, lavish gifts that could be construed as bribes are to be avoided. You don't ever want to give the impression that you are expecting something in return other than a positive relationship.

The best gifts in business are professional ones that reflect on your industry or occupation or that of your client. An abacus for a finance officer to congratulate her on a promotion was one of the best I've heard. Items that are specific to your region of the country are appropriate for the business traveler. If you are in the information business, a gift of knowledge is always appreciated. When the gift is pertinent and professional, you can't go wrong.

The presentation is as important as the item selected. Take the time to wrap it well or have it wrapped professionally. Deliver it yourself unless distance is an issue. Except when the present is for or from a group, it is important to give it in private. Otherwise you risk embarrassing the receiver.

Give the gift in a timely manner. Do it while the client can remember who you are and what it is for. You may want your gift to come with an element of surprise, but not a cloak of mystery.

Lydia Ramsey is a speaker, trainer and author of Manners That Sell: Adding the Polish That Builds Profits. Call her at 353-5561, email her at lydia@lydiaramsey.com or visit her website at http://www.lydiaramsey.com.

(c) 2007, Lydia Ramsey, Inc.

Learn from Lydia by using her four LIVE business etiquette broadcasts on DVD or by reading her newest book "Lydia Ramsey's Little Book of Table Manners". You can purchase these business etiquette tools at http://www.mannersthatsell.com/tms/index.html