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 Basket Caravan's
"Tips for Business Gift Giving"
Throughout
the year you have worked to develop strong business
relationships. The holiday season offers an
appropriate time for saying thank you and enhancing
these relationships.
Holiday
gift giving has become a tradition in the business
world. More and more businesses are realizing the
importance of such a gesture. A seasonal "thank
you" gift can convey goodwill as well as
acknowledge and express your appreciation to clients,
customers and associates. Handled appropriately, the
impact for your business can be very beneficial.
- Gift giving should be done
only if you currently do business with
the organization. Sending a gift when you
are in the bidding process, or in
negotiations on a contract may be
misinterpreted as bribery or an attempt
to gain inappropriate influence.
- Your relationship with the
recipient should play an important part
in the gift giving decision. If your
client is distant or not particularly
friendly, do not assume the gift will
strengthen the relationship.
- Avoid alcohol unless you
know the recipient on a close personal
basis. Many people have religious and/or
personal issues with alcohol.
- If you have contact with
many people in the company, consider
sending a gift suitable for sharing
within an office setting. A food basket
or other gourmet food gift is
appropriate. Make certain the items do
not require preparation, are
non-perishable, and are securely packaged
if shipment is required.
- If the gift is for an
individual, try to tailor the gift to the
individual's hobbies or interests. Make
certain the gift cannot in any way be
misconstrued as "too personal",
especially across gender lines.
- Keep logo on gift items
small & discreet so as not to appear
as an advertisement. Do not put a logo on
a gift if you want to create the
impression that the gift is coming from
you personally.
- When possible, personal or
messenger delivery is preferable. When
this is not practical, make certain that
gifts are accompanied by a brief,
personalized, handwritten note or
signature.
- Make your gift stand out
from the rest by sending it as a
Thanksgiving or New Year's gift.
- Thanksgiving:
Yours will be the first gift to
arrive, Thanksgiving has no
religious connotations, and what
better time to say "Thank
You."
New Year's: After all the
excitement and partying has
ended, and everyone is back to
work, your gift, with a note
wishing "A Happy, Healthy
& Prosperous New Year!"
will be a nice surprise.
- Check the corporate policy.
Large companies may have a no gift
policy. Phone the Personnel Dept. of a
company for their guidelines.
- If you have any concerns
about the appropriateness of giving a
gift, or how it might be construed,
reconsider. Choose a beautiful card and
write a personal note. Send a donation to
charity. Always guard against even the
appearance of impropriety. It can only
hurt a business relationship...it will
never help.
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© 1999 Basket Caravan, All Rights
Reserved.
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