Gifts in the business environment: recommendations and ''don't-even-think-about-it's

Gifts are not mandatory, but they are of particular importance in the business environment because they add a personal quality to the cooperation between two entities: they remind us that behind the clauses, the contracts. the roles, there are people and that a long-term relationship is an agreement of people more than what the Legal department has put on paper. And they are also simply opportunities to put a smile on someone's face because they show that beyond the transactions, we value the person behind it.

Of course, gifts are also given because they appear as obligation. People have come to expect gifts to such an extent that they are disappointed when gifts are of too little value or when they are cancelled altogether. In the end - regardless of the reason, whether it's a debt or real gratitude, yes, it's important to gift them.

However, in the western business environment, gift-giving is usually a low priority. We probably only think about it around winter holidays or when a high-level business partner or client celebrates a birthday, but very little otherwise. In Japan, for example, there's this custom of giving goodie bags even at standard internal regional meetings. In China, giving gifts at the start of a business meeting becomes a ceremony, where each member of a team receives a gift and it's expected to be reciprocated and then there's a lot of oooohs and aaaaws and greetings.. We have the chance with each gift to produce real emotion and there is so much to learn from eastern cultures.

There will be people who insist that corporate gifts should be as neutral and insignificant as possible - for the sake of legal implications but also because gifts are not mandatory. However, since you or your company might also be the recipients of corporate gifts, reciprocity is expected. This is why around holidays you'll see a lot of managers driving from one partner-company headquarters to another with their cars filled with gifts, but usually they are gift baskets from supermarkets, maybe some with higher value than others (the expensive ones go to the C-level people), although the value of these baskets is anyway terribly inflated on special occasions (that panettone with a 400% markup is a terrible idea!) or gifts bought in bulk without any consideration

Special occasions are opportunities to escape the supermarket gift baskets, built purely on cost-value and without any sentimental value. They are put together by someone else, based on recipes of item combinations designed to bring profit, and if you just added your business card on top, you'd be missing an opportunity to truly make a connection with the receiver.

The worst offenders, however, are the products of corporate campaigns and promotions (also known as swag). Umbrellas with your company name on them that people carry around town when it rains to "advertise" for your company is not an appropriate gift. Countless trash cans are filled year after year with pens, key chains, T-shirts with company logos, especially after a big industry event. 

"I made a donation on your behalf" is not an appropriate gift. 

The verbal promise of a voucher / discount / treatment / repair, etc. that is part of our company's services is not an appropriate gift.

Gifts are opportunities to bring joy but also to differentiate your company, if you want to be rather pragmatic. One should remember that when gifting in the business environment, a human being is still receiving the gift. Showing kindness to that person more than pursuing your interest in seeing and spreading your company's logo everywhere will probably be that detail that sets your company apart, among those that people actually enjoy working with.

There are so many small businesses around that create wonderful things and sometimes they are much more affordable: a small dessert wine producer, the ladies in the mountain village who knit wool scarves, a boutique publishing house that releases art albums, a local honey producer, an entrepreneur who makes almond butter or single-origin chocolate, or a small jewelry business that crafts folkloric motifs in gold, hand-stitched belts, or another that hand-paints silk scarves or carves pens in wood. 

A simple gift basket/box with some of the above has a huge positive impact on the person receiving it, but also on the local economy (and even on your moral comfort). It is so easy to give beautiful gifts that don't break the bank, whether we're talking about personal or company budgets - and especially when exchanging gifts with strangers. A proper gift is a good/service that the recipient should enjoy. It is not something they need but a treat, for which they will gladly make room in their trunk or suitcase, if it is a business trip.

Some ideas:

  "Goodie bags" with premium quality:

•  dessert wine

•  spices 

•  truffle salt 

•  balsamic vinegar 

•  olive oil 

•  teas 

•  natural honey

•  sweets (macarons, chocolate truffles) 

•  handmade soaps 

•  scented candles

  • generally any premium version for products that people love and might not buy for themselves. And when in doubt, you can always personalise it with the receiver's initials. I once received a swiss-knife with my name on it and loved it. It was from a swiss colleague and seemed most appropriate.

 Small gifts that show thoughtfulness and consideration: 

•  art albums 

• cashmere socks 

• silk scarves from an independent artist (try Madalina Andronic)

• playing cards or chess sets produced by respected craftsmen or designers 

• a classic leather-bound book

• fine stationery, ideally personalised with the hallmarks of your receiver or special designs reflecting your receiver's hobbies

• a special bottle of wine or special whiskey (if culturally appropriate) or an entire crate of champagne

• small decorative objects: vintage candle holders / catch-all trays /book-ends

• ceramics, glass decorations (Christmas tree globes?) and porcelain from your local artisans. They should be appropriately wrapped though.