The Rulebook to Corporate Gifting

Corporate gift giving - Good Food Gift Card

There has been a lot of talk in recent times about the benefits of corporate gift giving and when you think about the logistics, it makes sense why. Both internal and external corporate gifts can truly set a successful business apart from the rest.

Internal gifts are designed to be given to staff, managers, executives and shareholders. The benefits of internal gifts lie in their ability to boost company cohesion and morale. By rewarding workers for their hard work, you are essentially showing them that you've noticed and that they are appreciated. This of course entices them to continue working hard and also works at boosting fellow workers.

Corporate gifts differ from incentive programs, which aim to reward staff when they hit certain milestones. Instead, internal gifts should be given periodically throughout the year to boost morale, and also used to create 'special moments'. An example could be the anniversary of your company, or the recognition of an important holiday.

In terms of shareholders, corporate gifts act as a reward for their investments and keen decision-making. When presented at shareholder meetings, corporate gifts help shareholders feel their investments are worthwhile and appreciated. Sending a gift as a way to say "Happy Holidays" also makes those all-important investors feel part of the team.

Gifts can also be given externally, from a company to their client. These gifts could be given when a client is new to the company or as a thank you for years of support and loyalty. A good corporate gift helps to build a relationship with the client, meaning very little chance of them looking elsewhere.

At conferences, the receiving of freebies is something many attendees have come to look forward to and expect. If your gift stands out, you could potentially score a great deal of new custom.

Rules for corporate gift giving

There are certain rules that you should follow to ensure you're properly adhering to business etiquette in your choice of gift.

1. Think carefully

Nothing looks worse than a gift that has little or no thought put into it. If you can't be bothered to personalise your gift to work accordingly with your business, why bother?

2. Be creative

The more creative you are, the more your gift will be talked about. Those asked about their favourite gifts usually state something that was unusual and different.

3. Know your client

If you're planning on sending a client wine, be sure that they actually drink alcohol. While alcohol is an old favourite when it comes to gifts, there is some taboo when it comes to liquor in the business world. Still, if you know your client has just bought a home with an excellent wine cellar, what gift could be more fitting?

4. Make sure your gift will reach the desired target

Sending a box of cupcakes or a giant fruit basket may sound like a great idea, but more often than not, these kinds of gifts don't make it all the way to the recipient before being picked at. If you want to win hearts through food, you need to be creative.

5. Buy something they'll actually use

Gimmicks can be fun, but if they're not practical, they can fall flat. Look for gifts the receiver will actually use.

What makes a good corporate gift?

There are many things that make great corporate gifts, but certain gifts do tend to stay fresh in the mind longer. Among those are 'experiences', which allow a recipient to make memories that will last. The benefits of experiences are particularly present when used internally, as the 'experience' will be the talk of the office, bringing staff together.

Experience ideas include:

Gift certificates

Gift certificates allow the recipient to choose their own experience. They can usually be purchased online too, making the gift giving easy and allowing you to provide a range of customised gift messages via email. These work perfectly when time constraints are involved or when a client is continually moving from office to office.

The Good Food Gift Card, for example, allows the recipient to choose from Australia's most loved restaurants and they can use the card on all food and beverages. Gift cards come in both digital and physical format and can also be teamed with an Event Cinema or Village Cinema card to create a unique dinner and movie experience.

The beauty of these types of gift certificates is that it allows the recipient to have three distinct experiences from the one gift. First, there's the browsing of the different restaurants and the choosing of where to go. Second, there's the actual dining experience. And finally, there's the talk around the water cooler as they share their wonderful experience.

Cooking class

There's an old Irish proverb that says, "Laughter is brightest in the place where food is", and indeed, food-related gifts are always sure to bring joy. You could send a group of workers to learn something new that they can share together, building cohesion and strengthening relationships in the workforce. Or, give a cooking class as a voucher for your recipient to use with someone of their choosing. Check out Casa Ristorante Italiano's pizza making classes, where you cook, drink and compete for prizes at the same time.

Exhibition entry

If there is an exhibition in town that you know would interest some of your clients, the entitlement for free entry would be a very welcome gift. A tech company, for example, could offer the chance to hear from key business leaders and visionaries, whereas a textile firm could offer the opportunity to see the new swimwear exhibition at a museum.

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Mireille Kilgour

Mireille Kilgour

Mireille Kilgour has been an entrepreneur for 35 years in the hospitality sector. French born, she has been an accomplished business owner and operator for a number of Sydney venues. Leading the industry with high profile institutions such as Lamrock Café Bondi, she has endless passion for the industry, and now has the pleasure of supporting restaurants to fill their tables with the new Good Food Gift Card program.