What is Gift Giving?
Gift giving has been a long tradition that dates back thousands of years, as far back as man can remember. As human beings, we are social creatures who enjoy each other’s company and expressing our feelings through the giving of gifts.
Whether it is an expression of true love, appreciation of a job well done or just to show our gratitude for having someone as a friend, the giving of gifts is engrained into our DNA.
The giving of gifts may be one of the oldest of human activities that pre-dates civilization, today, it’s spread across all cultures around the world, from celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, offering good luck, best wishes for getting well, showing love and affection, or just saying thanks. Gifts are given to family members, friends, those we work with and even neighbors.
The Etiquette of Giving
Even when not committing egregious errors that may offend, be sure to use finesse if you want to get the most out of your gift program. There is an art to effective giving, so consider the following major issues before you go shopping:
- Appropriateness: Care should be taken that the gift is appropriate to the business relationship. This has less to do with the naira value of business transacted, or even the amount of time one has been doing business with the recipient, than with the closeness of the relationship. If a client seems aloof and excessively businesslike, don’t try to loosen him or her up with a gift. It can backfire. With a new relationship, don’t get too personal or too lavish with the gift. Frequency of giving generally should be restricted to major holidays and special occasions. Again, be sure to avoid the impression that you’re bribing the recipient.
- Personality: It’s great when a gift has personality, but the real issue is whether the gift reflects the personality and interests of the recipient. Is he a sports fan? What’s her favorite color?
Try to find out these kinds of things discreetly, because when you do (and your gift reflects it), the impression is that you care about the person and have taken the time to understand their style and taste.
- Timing: The most popular times for giving, of course, are holidays. But the true champions of gift giving know that other times of the year can have a more profound personal impact on the relationship. For instance, birthday gifts are bound to impress, since they show that you’ve bothered to learn a thing or two about the recipient. Important dates, such as the anniversary of a new job or the day you initiated a business relationship, may be good occasions for a gift. You can also mark such events as a promotion, the birth of a child, or completion of an important project. Whether you stick to established holidays and impersonal occasions or get into the personal life of the recipient depends on the nature of the relationship. It may seem slightly presumptuous, or even intrusive, to choose the wrong occasion for a gift.
- Presentation: The best gifts are heart-felt and show it. Special care should be taken in preparing the gift. Invest in some nice wrapping paper, and take the time to compose a personal, handwritten card. This can be as important as the gift itself, since your message to the recipient conveys your intentions and sincerity. Then there’s the issue of whether to mail it or present it in person. Mailing can reduce any feelings of obligation on the part of the recipient, and it can provide some unexpected pleasure in a routine work day. If the relationship warrants it, mailing to the person’s home may add a personal touch, particularly when the gift commemorates a personal occasion like a birthday.
- Customizing: To brand or not to brand, that is a key question. For many businesses, customized gifts keep the company name in the minds of recipients. When the item is a practical one that’s likely to be used every day – such as a calendar, coffee mug, or pen – this amounts to free daily advertising. But there’s a tackiness quotient to consider. These items may make great trade show premiums or leave-behinds, but customized items could never be considered personal, deeply heartfelt gifts.
In general, avoid obvious self-promotion when giving expensive gifts or any time you want to leave the impression that the gift is coming personally from you.
What to Give
There are thousands of gift possibilities especially corporate gifts– far too many to describe here.
Where to Buy
Amaydiri Impression of course! Nigeria’s finest online print and promo shop.
Contact us for a lasting impression on your clients’ minds.
