How to pick the perfect corporate gift
CHRISTMAS Love it or loathe it buying the company’s corporate gifts for
Christmas is something most PAs can’t avoid – and when the sun is still (just about) shining the task seems easy to put off by Martha Everitt
But don’t – if you want to get it right you need to ensure you have plenty of time to do your research and source the perfect item. You want to leave a lasting impres- sion, but you definitely don’t want that lasting impression to be a bad one. This can be a daunting task, but follow these few simple guidelines and you can be con- fident that you’ll be picking the perfect corporate gift. Before you start ordering a batch of
pens with your company logo embel- lished along the side, ask yourself first ‘Who is the gift for?’ If you’re lucky enough to work in the same building as them, or to have been seated near them at dinner long enough to have learned some of their interests, picking out a more per- sonal gift might be a feasible option. Not only will the lucky recipient come away with something of great use and interest, but they’ll feel as though your company took the time to get to know them – and that’s priceless! If you don’t know much about them personally, it might be possi- ble to find out from colleagues or from the
TOP TIPS
Something different
For a truly unique corporate gift, consider inviting a team of massage therapists down to the office for a day, and treat your company’s staff to a relaxing Indian head massage, or look out for local theatre companies offering deals on group tickets for a night out with your team. If you’re looking to put those gift-wrapping skills to good use, deliver your corporate message tastefully with a personalised bar of chocolate, spelling out any message of your choice.
person themselves; after all, most people take kindly to being told someone wants to buy them a gift! Once you have some idea of the person
you’re buying for, it’s important to consider your budget. You don’t want to break the bank, and especially not when you’re buy- ing for large numbers of staff and clients. Look out for special offers; some companies will offer free postage and packaging or free gift wrapping, which will save you valuable pounds when you’re buying for consider- able numbers. If you choose to opt for a gift which will appeal to the masses, you might also find that some companies offer dis- counts on bulk buys. As well as being cost- effective, one of the benefits of bulk buying is that it’s far easier to administer; sellers will generally take care of the mailing, and you needn’t worry about accidentally send- ing out the wrong gift. Whilst the task of finding a gift to appeal to everyone can be somewhat of a challenge, if you do manage to find that perfect little present, you’ll have impressed everyone without running the
risk of treating one person more favourably than another. Bear in mind before you place your
order that the gift you buy will say some- thing about your company. This might mean seeking out ethical gifts such as Fairtrade products, or something with an eco-friendly message. Remember as well to consider the demands of your gift recip- ient; if you decide to send out food ham- pers, make sure that those with special dietary requirements don’t wind up with something that they can’t enjoy. You might also want to use this as an opportunity to sell your company with promotional products – such as that company pen. These kinds of gifts might be highly desired if you happen to rep- resent a company with a much-sought after brand, but be careful that you don’t give the impression that you’re simply offloading a few spare items. This is your chance to show staff and clients how highly your company values them, and to strengthen ties for the future. E
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013 |
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