Corporate gifts & promotional merchandise is an important tool in marketing and sales promotion. It is basically a tangible item given by a firm or any organisation.

Corporate gifts can be used a tool to show appreciation to their employees for the efforts made by them. It is not unusual for the companies to gift clients with some gift or gesture of appreciation when the customer has generated a fair amount of sales over the past year. Along with employees and customers, a corporate gift is sometimes extended to shareholders of the company. This approach is often seen as a way to express appreciation for the investment shareholders have made in the organisation. A holiday is generally considered as the ideal time for giving gifts to employees, clients and shareholders like coming occasions in

August 2016 would be Independence Day( Aug 15), RakshaBandhan (Aug 18), janmashtmi (Aug 25)

September 2016: Ganesh chaturthi (Sept 5), Teacher’s day (Sept 5)

October 2016: Gandhi jayanti (2^nd October), Dusshera (October 11) Diwali (October 30)

November 2016 chhath pooja (November 06)

December 2016 Id (Dec 12), Christmas day (December 25), New Year(December 31) These are the greatest opportunities in which gifting process could be done.

But now the most recurring questions would be

1. How to find right corporate gifting vendor? We offer PRIDE approach (covered below)

2. What range of corporate gifts should be provided?

PRIDE APPROACH

This article will help you to solve all your queries:

how to identify unique corporate gift ideas

How to select corporate gifts flow chart

First we will come into section of how? And then we will come into what?

There are a lot of options available in the market related to corporate gifts like apparels, mugs, sippers, notebooks, diaries etc which can be given to employees and clients, but there are so many options available which lead to confusion in everyone’s mind.

1. How to identify right corporate gifting vendor?

According to numerous surveys that were done in the companies of Delhi and NCR, many corporate face a little problem regarding corporate gifting process, they try to follow new methods and ideas of corporate gifting, but due to shortage of time they end up repeating what they have done in the past.

Things to keep in mind while identifying merchandise should be:

A. P - Price

B. R - Recipient

c. I - Idea

d. D - Delivery

E. E – Eligibility

Now, let’s cover each of these aspects in detail.

a. Price (P): The art of gifting in the corporate is now accepting new changes. Price is an important factor which determines the nature, quantity and size of the gift.

Budget is not a constraint, if companies plan well for the campaign/ activity. Every firm should choose its budget wisely so that their campaign is not stressed & objective is also met.

There is variety of gifts available in the market that are even under the budget of Rs 100, and that should be pocket friendly even for the small firms. Here are some products and their price range from which SME or big corporate houses can avail.

Bulk gifts under Rs. 100-200: The utility must be that high so that the receiver retains it for a long time. The brand name on the product will surely work as a best advertising campaign.

Gifts under Rs. 350: You can include mugs, sippers, flasks, photo frames and items in stationery like writing pads, sets off coffee mugs, writing instruments like diaries, pens and mouse pads.

Gifts Under 500: Stylish travel bags, office bags, pen drives (card pen drives are very much popular now a days).Travel bags and accessories for an overnight travel can easily be budgeted in this range. You can find the best styles in corporate gifting and you can put your logo on that to make it more personal.

Depending upon the occasion, you can find corporate gifts under Rs 500 in India which include photo frames, power banks and special ethnic styles in bags. Pen drives and USB flash drives are also unique gifts. Apparels like T-shirts, gym wear and accessories for sportswear are also best way to represent utility items used for corporate branding and promotion. Other sets in coffee mugs and packs of confectionary are also good items. Memory card is also great gift.

Under Rs. 1000: Typically lot of brands offer good proposition for corporate gifts. You may try gifting Cross pen (MRP 1, 795 but at special discounted price) or Kara Messenger bags (MRP 1350). Few popular gifts in 2016 are:

Power banks: Power banks (10,000 mah and above) for mobiles & tablets can be adopted to be one of the best ideas of corporate gifts. It is an item that is useful for the executive class. If your employees and clients have to travel more frequently then this would be the ideal gift for them.

Power banks with logo

Bluetooth speaker: Bluetooth is most fun-result of the evolved wireless technology. With Bluetooth enabled smart phones and tablets, you can connect numerous devices through a Bluetooth or aux mode. Bluetooth speakers are one such accessory that has gained popularity.

Bluetooth Speakers by Gifting bazaar allows you to enjoy Outstanding bass effect, perfect sound quality with all sound source with 3.5 audio interface product like computer, Mp3 ,mobile phones etc.Make your life sound better now!

Customised Bluetooth speaker

2. Recipient: Nature of corporate will also depend upon the target recipient. A target market is a group of customers a business has decided to aim its marketing efforts and ultimately its merchandise towards. A well-defined target market the first element of a marketing strategy.

For example : if you want to give gifts to employees, to give them motivation to work, or to give to your clients or for shareholders on key revenue milestones, you have to plan differently according to their nature.

3. Idea: The last year purchase would give a better vision about the products that you can buy this year like if you have bought air fryer last year, or let’s say AT trolley bag, then do not buy the same repetitive items again.

4. Delivery date: Remember that always plan ordering a little bit earlier as if the order is large, then you cannot predict the delivery date, It might be late than expected or it might be sooner. But always plan by keeping some margin so that your order comes on time and your goodwill does not suffer.

Always give orders to trusted vendors. For example gifting bazaar takes about 1 month for an order of approximately 1000 pieces while it takes hardly a week for order of less than 50 pieces.

5. Exactness : Every firm should know the exact quantity and size that they require while choosing correct gift. They should wisely choose the vendor as it will help them to get their exact order on time.

While choosing the size, firm should choose right size of their gift according to their employee needs and wants. This will give them clear vision of what they want.

What for corporate gifts ?

Now that you have given PRIDE to your corporate gifts, now is the time to fit products to strategy.

Remember that corporate gifts are not only about offering valuable incentives but they are also a tactful way of keeping the people in the loop and reminding them about your business and thus developing a your Brand Image. So, give out your gifts not only to your employees but also your Past, Present and Future clients and thus keep them in the loop!

While giving out your gifts you have to keep some points in your mind.

1. Don’t make repeat same/ leftover gifts from last campaign/ activity. It only makes your Brand cheap !

2. Make sure, your gifts are creative, you are not the only one handing out the gifts!

3. Design your gifts in a way those could be more useful!

4. Make sure your branding is done in an effective way.

5. Packing is key to make a lasting impression & convey perceived value to the recipient.

If possible, make them more personal by leaving a hand note!

Imprinted corporate gifts and personalized gift items will leave a long lasting impression on everyone’s mind. Any unique corporate gift can be made more special by putting your logo into it. Whether you are looking something simple or if you are looking something special, market has all the options and gifting bazaar provides much of that products

Gifting Bazaar (with over 13 years experience under their belt) categories options in two parts, i.e. old traditions of corporate gifts and new traditions of corporate gifts

Lets cover traditional options first:

There were times when people were giving chocolate box to their employees in Diwali or New Year, some of the old gifting ideas are:

Chocolate box

It’s often not just the gift itself that’s important but the way in which it is received. Showing appreciation with a well presented gift at an unexpected time is one of life's most enjoyable feelings. A little effort and appreciation goes a long way and it’s those that put in that extra 1% that remain in people’s memories and leave a lasting impression.

Pooja Thali: It is also a traditional way of showing your concern , but it has sort of became a repetitive idea and can be accepted upto a level, So firms should adopt new ways and methods for corporate gifting

Sculptures: These are also most traditional kind of gifts and gifting bazaar provides it in budget also.

Ganesh Sculptures

Bed sheets and comforter set: These were also a popular sort of gift at one time and sure it should be because it is useful and can be used by everyone

New gifting ideas

Power banks: hottest selling for corporate gifting and would prove helpful for all those who travel more frequently and it also doesn’t cost much. So overall, a great and ideal gift and pocket friendly also

Card pen drives: These are new trend in innovation of corporate gifting and loved by everyone. At Corporate Gifts, gifting bazaar will provide you with the best Card Pen Drives that can make a difference to your profession. By offering gifts to your prevailing customers, you can make sure that they will recall your brand, products and services... The main aim is that client must recognise you every time they see your gift that is why card pen drives that are customised are best way to achieve that.

Card Pen drives

Casserole sets: It is for setting a table, serving food and dining. It includes cutlery and serving dishes and other useful items for practical as well as decorative purposes. It is in trend and a very good idea for the firms to invest in corporate gifting.

Casserole sets

Air fryer: Air fryers are very popular now-a-days. It is a kitchen appliance that cooks by circulating hot air around the food. This can be ideally used in household items and now became a trend, so if any company adopts such innovative ideas for gifting, it will surely give them long term benefit

Air Fryer for corporate gifting

Conclusion: There are a lot of points discussed above regarding techniques in corporate gifting market. The PRIDE theme was to decide how we can choose corporate gift and then there was old and new traditions of gifting to choose which kind of gift you want to give. By keeping these points in mind and by implementing them one can easily choose the right kind of gift and vendors under their budget.

Author is a marketing professional in India, Delhi NCR’s leading corporate gift suppliers. www.GiftingBazaar.com . Write to the author on Feedback@GiftingBazaar.com or contact on +91.98188.88926.

The views, opinions, positions or strategies expressed by the authors and those providing comments are theirs alone. Author does not make any representations as to accuracy, completeness, correctness, suitability, or validity of any information on this site and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use.

Corporate gifting in budget

This festive season, business houses and multinational companies operating in India are going slow on the age-old practice of corporate gifting. Most of them have slashed their budgets for 'gifts' significantly, and cite sluggish economic growth and alarming rise in food prices as prime reasons.

Many surveys have revealed that many corporate have started spending more of their budget amount in corporate gifting so as to increase their bonding with their employees as well as with their clients. They are now have became more practical and have started investing more in corporate gifts unlike the old traditional approach where they invested very less or we can say negligible but wanted their employees to work more than 100%.This approach was very wrong as u will get only when you will learn to give.

But also corporate have to see their budget also and can’t cross their limit in order to satisfy their clients and employees. There are now a lot of options in corporate gifts which can keep employees and clients happy and not even going out of budget of corporate. Some of the gifts are:

· Mugs and sippers

· Wall hangings

· Backpack and laptop bags

· T-shirts and caps etc

There are several types of occasion on which budget friendly items could be given to employees. Corporate gifts do not restrict itself to occasions like Diwali and other festivals. It is a broad term and could be used in several situations like:

2. Farewell and Transfer

A nice memento with the farewell note inscribed will not cost more than Rs. 200.Apart from the above mentioned gift ideas, there is something called customized corporate t-shirts with logo that is available in the market. These gifts are nothing but small stationery products in which the company logo will be either printed or embossed. For example, a key chain, a small telephone diary or a visiting card case or even a paper weight.

There are special corporate gift suppliers existing in the market who will make the corporate gifting process cost effective and also custom made for your company.

Award to employees, award yourself!!

It is well said that benefitting your employees indirectly helps you to gain benefits. Corporate gifts have become so much popular now that each and every company is adopting this technique to achieve maximum benefits.

Business gifts take advantage of perhaps the most powerful word in the English language: free. Offer someone something for free, and you’ve immediately got their attention. This makes it an excellent way of building relationships and boosting business.

Here are just a few ways that promotional gift-giving benefits your business.

1. Raise brand awareness

One of the best ways to “get your name out there” is to do it quite literally; a promotional gift with your company’s logo and name is a great way to raise awareness about your business.

Brand awareness is all about building associations. A gift helps potential customers to associate your brand with something positive, whether it’s something useful or just an attractive decoration. It makes a solid impression in your prospect’s mind, which also makes your brand easier to remember.

Save money

Not only is a business gifting a thoughtful token; it can help to advertise your company at a lower price than many other methods. Corporate gifts are among the most cost-effective means of promotion. A 2008 study revealed that the average cost per impression for promotional products was 10k

For comparison, prime time TV and newspaper ads both cost 50k per impression. That means that business gifts give you almost 5 times more bang for your buck.

Improve image and perception

A promotional gift helps to enhance a prospect’s opinion of you and your company. Even outside of the business world, a gift is an iconic symbol of goodwill. It only makes sense that corporate gifts would increase customer goodwill and improve the overall attitude of prospects.

Generate leads

Promotional products can help to inspire curiosity and interest in your company. It’s not unusual for customers to be more receptive to a business that gives them a free gift. These gifts might even be used as an incentive to sign up for a newsletter or visit a website.

Increase sales

Naturally, with greater customer goodwill and brand awareness comes more sales suggests that customers who receive a promotional product tend to spend more on products or services from the company that gave it.

Think of business gifts as a form of added value. Customers who feel that a company is giving them greater value for their money are ultimately likely to spend more.

1. Maintain customer loyalty

Giving someone a promotional product helps to encourage repeat business; it’s a great way to remind them that their patronage is important to you.

2. Generate referrals

Sometimes your own customers can be a great source of new leads. Promotional products are a great way of encouraging lead generation, but rather than just including a free gift with your referral request, consider offering it as an incentive.

3. Develop employee relations

Corporate gifts can improve the attitude of employees as well as customers. Awards, plaques and other corporate gifts are an effective way to reward good work and thank employees for their dedication.

4. Build B2B relationships

Much like average people, companies are very likely to take notice of free business gifts. If the promotional product you give to a business is something that’s frequently used in an office environment, it’s bound to serve as a reminder of your company’s goodwill.

Thus , when forming and maintaining partnerships with distributors, vendors or other organizations, a gift can go a long way.

Conclusion

Promotional gifts are a cost-effective and dependable way to give your company advantages in the business world. No matter what industry you’re in, it’s a good idea to incorporate a business gift into your marketing strategy.