5 Things To Remember When Giving Marketing Gifts

5 Things To Remember When Giving Marketing Gifts The holidays are just around the corner, which means it’s a great time to show appreciation to employees, clients, and loved ones. But giving gifts is not easy – you need to understand the etiquette behind giving gifts. Before you start shopping for marketing gifts, here are a few things to remember: 1. Being Mindful of the Recipient: Ideally, executives at the mid-managerial level receive gifts from companies. But there’s usually a cap on the value of these gifts. Remember to follow your company’s rules and to check with the HR department of the intended recipient. Giving gifts to employees within the company isn’t uncommon – ideal products include customized leather journals, coffee mugs, calendars, etc.

2. Printing Your Logo: There’s nothing tackier than giving away a marketing gift that seems like a blatant advertisement. Of course, it’s important not to compromise on quality, but what’s more important is making sure that the logo isn’t conspicuously printed. The logo can be printed on the package, or if you insist on printing it on the product, make sure it is understated.

3. Humour Can Be Tricky: Be careful when giving humorous gifts. Understand that humor is subjective – what seems funny to you can be offensive to someone else. Include humor only when you’re sure about the client’s tastes. Similarly, gifts must be appropriate – especially when given to members of the opposite sex.

4. Pay Attention to the Presentation: True, it’s the thought that counts, but the presentation is equally important. The way a person wraps a gift speaks volumes about the relationship between the giver and the receiver. You don’t need to spend hours picking the right paper or ribbon but spending thought and time wrapping your gifts shows that you care for the other person and value their relationship.

5. Customizing the Gift: Whether you are gifting everyday items like personalized lanyards or tote bags or choosing specialized items like drinkware, sports apparel, etc. it’s important to avoid too much branding.

Don’t choose generic gifts like photo frames and toasters – it shows you don’t care about the person. Such gifts can do more harm than good in the long run.

These are the things I recommend remembering when giving away marketing gifts. What are the rules that you follow? Share your thoughts with us!

Resource Box: The Author is an etiquette expert. He writes regularly about corporate gift giving and helps companies give marketing gifts the right way.