November: Corporate Gifting Companies in India

Editor’s Note

thoughtful gift can do wonders for businesses and make a remarkable impact on their professional contacts. Corporate gifting is indeed an indispensable tool that helps businesses stay connected with their employees, partners and customers.

The perception of the corporate world regarding how to maintain professional relations has completely changed over the years. Reports suggest that sending corporate gifts improves the chances of maximising revenues. In India, the corporate gifting industry is growing at the rate of 200% per annum and is estimated to reach $159 million in revenue. Which leads us to the conclusion that this industry is experiencing phenomenal growth.

In addition to this, the purchasing behaviour of businesses is also changing drastically. Nowadays, businesses are opting for eco-friendly and sustainable gifting options to build a positive image of their brands. Here, Corporate gifting companies come into the limelight to assist businesses in building long-lasting relationships with not only employees but also customers, and partners. Other than strengthening professional relationships, it also helps in brand building and creating a positive image.

The Global Hues, via its special edition themed on Corporate Gifting Industry, celebrates and appreciates the efforts & the journey of some of the top Corporate Gifting companies in India.

Hope you enjoy reading this issue. Happy Reading!

The Global Hues

Publisher: The Global Hues Founder & CEO: Himanshu Tyagi Editor-in-chief: Tannishtha Mukherjee

Head of Sales & Marketing: Chetan Kaushik

Team: Ritu Chauhan, Malvika Saini, Anubha Singh Chauhan, Anushka Gupta, Sanchit Rathi, Shubham Goel Data & Research: Naval Kishore, Sanjay Sharma

Let’s Think

1. Which company launched 'Savdhan Rahein, Safe Rahein' a public awareness campaign on financial fraud risks? 2. Who is the new Chairman of Reliance Jio? 3. Bhavish Aggarwal is the man behind which ridesharing company? 4. ‘M’ in paytm refers to? 5. Who coined the term ‘Unicorn’? 6. An electronic payment system that facilitates direct one-to-one payments across the country. 7. ‘Vi’ represents the merger between Vodafone and _____ 8. A very popular food delivery platform 9. The biggest revenue source of Apple 10. A messaging app that lets users exchange pictures that are meant to disappear after they're viewed

RISHI

Big OFFERING AN IDEAL CORPORATE GIFTING EXPERIENCE

With a mission to help businesses build and improve relationships with their employees, vendors and customers, BigImpex is standing tall in the realm of Corporate Gifting since 2003.

Helmed by two strategic minds, Rishi Khatri and Gaurav Khatri, BigImpex moves mountains to bring what the client wants to the table. Soon to complete two decades into the burgeoning industry, BigImpex has become one of the largest promotional gift suppliers and product developers in India.

While riding the roller coaster, BigImpex has successfully spread its wings across top corporates by developing ideas and supplying promotional gifts to industry leaders like Sun Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Dr Reddy’s Ltd, HDFC Bank, Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Alkem Labs Ltd. and many more.

SUCCESS AGAINST ALL ODDS

BigImpex’s story is a perfect example of “If you’re walking down the right path and you’re willing to keep walking, eventually you’ll make progress.” BigImpex is redefining the corporate gifting industry with these impressive numbers:  10,000+ Products  300+ Corporate Customers

1000+ Corporate Orders Annually

100+ Experienced Employees

THE BRAINS BEHIND BIGIMPEX

What does it take to be successful? First and foremost, the hard work and then comes the passion. It was this passion

which motivated a fresh graduate and a sales enthusiast to incept a corporate gifting business. And when Gaurav Khatri joined hands with Rishi Khatri, there was no looking back.

Life is all about making bigger plans and Rishi Khatri’s utter determination to make BigImpex a global leader adds power to this statement.

Rishi is credited for strengthening the foundation of the company as his role in devising the corporate strategy, and diversifying through product lines can’t go unnoticed. He handles the research and development of new products and the overall sales of BigImpex. He unfeignedly loves building new clientele & fulfilling their needs.

The Co-Founder, Gaurav Khatri handles the marketing and finance departments. His determination and unique approach towards handling clients’ requirements is out of the ordinary. A strong believer in teamwork, Gaurav believes ‘A team should be taught how to think and not what to think.’

THE PILLAR OF THE COMPANY: BIGIMPEX TEAM

BigImpex Team is a blend of people with different skills, different levels of experience, and abilities. Each team at BigImpex has a significant role to play, be it sales and marketing, logistics and operations or accounts and packaging.

The team at BigImpex fosters a spirit of loyalty, camaraderie and synergy that shapes the company’s culture in the right direction.

BigImpex is equipped with a strong professional staff including experienced & highly skilled sourcing managers, efficient sales managers, professional in-house product designers and strong administration backup staff for the successful execution of clients’ needs.

“BigImpex constitutes a team of 100+ employees. Each and every employee is passionate towards their job, therefore, strives to provide their customer with the best products and top-notch services,” mentions Rishi.

PRO DUCT S AND OFFERINGS

An acronym for BIG Imports and Gifts, BigImpex is the number one corporate gifts manufacturer, supplier, and importer in India. The company, over the years, has been the distributor for several big international brands.

 HidrateSpark

BigImpex is the sole importer and distributor of the world’s smartest water bottle – HidrateSpark in India. HidrateSpark Water Bottle is invented to empower individuals to live healthier lives through hydration.

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Astonish and Moss & Adams

BigImpex is also the distributor for the UK’s No. 1 cleaning solutions brand, ‘Astonish’ and the personal care brand ‘Moss & Adams’.

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Glasslock

As a national distributor, BigImpex offers ‘Glasslock’, Korea’s top environment-friendly break-resistant food container brand.

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Self Gard

BigImpex’s other brand, ‘Self Gard’ manufactures high-quality protective face masks which include 3-ply, 4-ply and N95 grade face masks for men, women & children.

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Grob

BigImpex incepted its own brand ‘Grob’in 2018 with an outright vision to help businesses build stronger relationships with customers. Under Grob, BigImpex offers a wide range of lifestyle products like health and fitness, travel essentials, home and office essentials and much more.

A BRAND YOU CAN TRUST

BigImpex has been quite successful in making a big impact in the Corporate Gifting industry due to the following embedded characteristics:

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Great customer experience doesn’t just happen. It has to be planned and mindfully delivered. BigImpex keeps Customer Delight at the forefront.

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To stay ahead of the competition & meet clients’ expectations, BigImpex keeps innovating its products.

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“When a client ties with us, we make sure that what we offer is top-notch in every aspect. Trust is something that can’t be gained overnight. It increases with age and of course through the right strategies. Therefore, since day one, we have focused on maximising the client's satisfaction and gaining their trust,” mentions Rishi.

HASSLE-FREE DELIVERY OF PRODUCTS

A gift is an expression of gratitude, value, and appreciation. Hence, there are a lot of emotions involved. Here comes the role of the highly competitive and experienced team of floor managers, packing in charge and QC managers at BigImpex.

The logistics Team at BigImpex uses high-quality freight-friendly packaging to ensure that the gift reaches the client’s doorstep without any wear and tear. Furthermore, pre-planning and streamlining the products by the team, as per their delivery schedule avoids any chaos while delivering bulk orders. The team also keeps the client in the loop by giving timely updates regarding the delivery of products.

“We have a plush office of 8,000 sq. feet area in Bandra. Additionally, our production setup and packing warehouse is

orders are done every month,” mention the Partners.

CONFRONTING UNUSUAL CHALLENGES

A business in its journey often experiences a lot of turbulence. BigImpex faced them too and the most difficult was the execution of big orders. A lot of time and resources were getting jammed in execution. So, to solve this issue from the roots, BigImpex started creating systems & processes to streamline the same.

When many brainstorming sessions concluded the need for more employees, the company took no time to hire fresh talent and train them, so that the operations could run independently.

In 2012, BigImpex implemented and customised one-of-its-kind operations software to further streamline the processes and simplify the complexities.

“We are thrilled to share that the development of this software has helped us a lot in streamlining the processes and thus has worked as one of the core strengths for BigImpex,” mentions Gaurav.

MISS ION AND VISION STATEMENTS

Since the company’s establishment, BigImpex aims to provide innovative gifting solutions and services to its clients. BigImpex envisions becoming a dominant brand in the field of promotional gifting, catering to every sector of India and the world.

A brand that creates a memorable experience for its customers wins over anything. As Gaurav puts it, “BigImpex’s sole mantra is to help our clients deliver happiness via gifts sent with utmost love and gratitude.

Rishi further adds, “This vision has helped us develop a client base consisting of top pharmaceutical, banking and IT companies in the country. We are the gifting partners to major companies like DRL, Sun Pharma, Cipla, HDFC life, Ample, Amagi, Abbot, and many more.”

BIGIMPEX’S EXPANSION PLAN

BigImpex is planning to tie up with several high-end brands to offer the best corporate gifting solutions.

“We have recently launched the world’s smartest water bottle ‘HidrateSpark’ and a unique portable shaker and blender ‘BlendnGo’ which is extremely handy and convenient to use,” adds Gaurav while commenting on the expansion plans of BigImpex.

BigImpex is always on the hunt for unique products in the market with an aim to deliver something new and innovative in the market. Many such products are lined up and will be launched in the coming years to cater to the market demands.

BigImpex follows a competitive pricing strategy along with delivering exceptional services.

Blanche Marketing

STRENGTHENING BUSINESS RELATIONS WITH ITS UNIQUE GIFTING SOLUTIONS

ow investing in a Corporate Gifting strategy can boost your business. Who knows it better than the marketing genius Ashwini who is leading Blanche Marketing Services that helps startups

Hand mid-level businesses with a perfect balance of creative thinking and the right business strategy. A corporate gifting and marketing consultation firm, Blanche Marketing Services masters the art of creating effective gifting solutions.

The word Blanche is derived from the French word that connotes purity.

ASHWINI

Staying true to its name, the passion for marketing clearly reflects in the purity of services that Blanche provides to its customers. Reinforcing the importance of the clients, the creative and valueadded corporate gifting range of Blanche gives a pure feeling of satisfaction to the giver as well as to the receiver.

“Conveying emotions from one person to another, we believe gi ing is truly an art.”

Y TALPADE Founder, Blanche Marketing

MEET THE MARKETING GENIUS

Fueling her passion for marketing and creativity, Ashwini Y Talpade enriches Blanche with her genius marketing skills and expertise. The journey of Ashwini’s career started with Post Graduation in Events. She was also associated with renowned groups such as RPG Group - Spencer Retail and Aditya Birla Retail and worked there as Assistant Manager, Marketing & Branding.

With more than 10 years of experience in Retail Marketing and Events, Ashwini incepted Blanche Marketing Services in 2013 to cater to mid-level companies by giving them a helping hand. Having expertise in merchandising and the importance of branding, Ashwini ensures the services provided by the company are unique, and innovative and makes Blanche stand apart from its competition. “Also, since I was handling marketing, there was a creative flair which helped us in giving innovative ideas to the clients,” says the brainchild of the company, Ashwini.

THE IDEATION: IT ALL HAPPENED BY FLUKE

There is an old saying that “everything happens for a reason”. Blanche is a true example of this saying. When the former boss of Ashwini started his own business, he asked Ashwini to help him out with the marketing strategies

of his business. Since Ashwini always has a flawless creative flair, her boss also asked her to design gifts for his customers. While developing gifts with unique designs that fit well with the brand's products and services, Ashwini realised her true creative potential. And that is when the idea of establishing a corporate gifting company emerged in Ashwini’s mind. Providing creative and astonishing gifting solutions, Blanche bagged its first big corporate order from BCSBI (RBI department).

Ashwini iterates proudly, “In the last 9 years, we have served corporate clients and mid-level business groups to party return gifts requirements as well.”

Blanche will complete its splendid 10 years in the industry in January 2023. Ashwini believes that it is only because of the immense support and assistance of her family that she is able to build her own business empire.

SERVICES OFFERED BY BLANCHE

Making the gifting experience pure, Blanche offers an exclusive range of corporate gifting options to help its customers build excellent business relationships. Transforming the way people build authentic business relationships, Blanche offers one-stop solutions for every corporate gifting need.

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Customized merchandise – Tshirts, pens, bags, bottles and mugs

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Seasonal products – Diwali, Christmas, New Year, Personalized Party return gifts, Creative hampers, and more

By understanding the needs and requirements of the customers, Blanche beautifully designs gifts that everyone remembers for years. “We, at Blanche create amazing experiences by crafting gifts according to the client’s brand identity, budget and requirements,” confirms Ashwini.

MAKING GIFTING A HAPPIER EXPRESSION

The highly professional and creative team of Blanche is well-versed in creating a different identity for brands with its unique gifting solutions. Team Blanche believes that Gifting is a pure emotion that shows the giver’s love, gratitude and appreciation for other people and creates a genuine connection among them.

“We believe businesses work on relationships and relationships are built on years of trust and commitment.” Bearing testimony to this statement, Blanche delivers what it commits. To ensure the hassle-free delivery of the products, the company sticks to Indian Post for delivery. And for nearby deliveries, the company relies on its in-house team.

Consortium Gifts

MAKING GIFTING A HAPPY AND DELIGHTFUL EXPRESSION

The most thoughtful way to treasure the relationships with your employees and clients is to say ‘Thank You’ to them. And what is a better way to say thank you other than giving them a gift? Through gifts, one

can cherish business relations perfectly. To make professional relations more special, Consortium Gifts serves companies around the world for their gifting needs.

With great visibility and credibility, Consortium Gifts marks its firm presence not only in India but also in the

Middle East, Singapore and Europe. For more than 22 years, the company has become a trusted name in the corporate gifting industry. The wide range of gifting products of the company includes Joining Kits, Promotional Premiums, and gift hampers for occasions like Diwali, Christmas, New Year and other festivals.

“With tailor-made gi ing solutions, we help you to establish long-lasting relationships with your clients and customers.”

GAURAV BHAGAT Managing Director, Consortium Gifts

Director, Gaurav leads a dedicated team of professionals and guides them to provide customers with the best possible gifting experience.

Gaurav inspires the team of Consortium Gifts to constantly innovate and think of interesting products. This innovative approach and the ability to provide exceptional gifting products and services to customers makes Consortium Gifts a preferred partner for corporate gifting solutions.

THE STELLAR JOURNEY

The journey of Consortium Gifts began in 1999 with the goal of providing quality, innovative and world-class corporate gifting services so that no client is left unsatisfied. Headquartered in Noida, India, the company earns the trust of businesses with its top-notch and premium quality products. Redefining the world of corporate gifting, Consortium Gifts rises as a quality player in a largely fragmented market.

all kinds of requirements of both small and large scale businesses. The wide variety of gifting products includes:  FOR

OFFICES

Be it a gift for clients or employees, Consortium Gifts offers a collection of amazing gifting items. Providing the finest products of top brands available in the world, the company works with the aim of healthifying business relations.

Consortium Gifts also offers Welcome Kits, Work From Home Kits, Gifts For Appreciation, Gifts For Clients, Gifts For Employees and many more. 

FOR OCCASIONS

With its unique, contemporary and exclusive gift collection, Consortium Gifts makes every occasion more special and delightful. The creative and expert team of the company hand-picks the finest products that are affordable, efficient and give a gratifying experience.

Consortium Gifts helps businesses with customised gifts and an opportunity to express appreciation to their professional contacts. Whether it is Diwali, Christmas or New Year, Consortium Gifts curates the right gifting option according to the right festive mood.

TROPHIES & MEMENTOS

Consortium Gifts believes that it is very important to recognise the efforts of employees and clients. It is because of them that any business becomes successful. To honour the efforts of employees and clients, Consortium Gifts offers unique gifts for appreciation.

The professional team of Consortium Gifts designs the Trophies and Mementos perfectly to make an everlasting impression.

THE WAY AHEAD

With a vision to enrich the corporate gifting ecosystem, Consortium Gifts is working round the clock to provide a one-stop solution and make gifting a hassle-free and happy expression. The company is constantly improving its services to provide high-quality corporate gifting solutions and add a personal touch to every gift. Consortium Gifts is planning to expand further in 7 Countries and 13 Cities by 2025.

WHAT TO PRIORITISE

Profitability or

Growth?

hat should you weigh heavier: profitability or growth? All the entrepreneurs who have recently established their businesses, find it toughest to decide what to prioritise: grow and flourish their business or simply start making money.

Some think of prioritising growth while some incline more towards profitability. While both approaches are correct, each approach comes with its own merits and demerits. Let’s first try to understand the actual meaning of both terms and then try to analyse their pros and cons.

WHAT IS GROWTH?

Growth in business simply means a stage where the business reaches the point of expansion and seeks additional options to gain more profit. The expansion makes the company bigger, increases its market and ultimately helps to earn profits. Some indicators like the overall revenue, market share, number of employees, and turnover help in evaluating the growth of a business.

WHEN YOU KEEP THE GROWTH FIRST

Opens the door to obtaining follow-up funding from current shareholders of the company

As the focus is on growth, the company attracts media attention

Getting a necessary head-start on the market share from the competitors

DEMERITS OF PUTTING GROWTH FIRST

May lead to a negative perception from the public if rigorous steps are required to earn profits

May face the consequences of failing to meet big growth targets

A constant fear of running out of funds

WHAT IS PROFITABILITY?

Profit refers to what is left of revenue after all the expenses related to the manufacturing, production, and selling of products are deducted. It goes directly to the company’s owners or shareholders or is reinvested back into the company for different purposes. Profit is the primary goal as no business can survive without earning profit. Although financing can come as a solution here, it ultimately becomes a liability, not an asset.

WHEN YOU KEEP THE PROFITS FIRST

An opportunity to hire more employees who can handle growing responsibilities within the firm.

Allows to open more business locations, target new market segments and expand operations into foreign territories.

Sustainability in bad market conditions

Attract investors’ financing as a company that earns continual profits is seen as a good investment option

DEMERITS OF PUTTING PROFITS FIRST

It may become more difficult to raise funds for the business if there isn’t sustainable growth

Lack of adequate financing may result in making product development more difficult

EXAMPLES OF HOW SOME BIG COMPANIES RECORDED THEIR FIRST PROFIT

INTEL

Founded by Robert Noyce and Gordon Moore in 1968, Intel is the brand behind inventing microprocessors. After securing US $5 million in capital, Intel launched dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) in 1970. DRAM was the first chip to store a significant amount of information. Three years after the launch, the company recorded its first profit.

FACEBOOK

In 2004, Mark Zuckerberg launched Facebook and within 24 hours, the social networking platform recorded 1200 sign-ups by Harvard students. By September 2005, all US High school students could sign up. Five years later, in 2009, Facebook earned its first profit.

ALPHABET

Google was founded in September 1998 and by the end of the year, the platform had an index of around 60 million pages. In the following year, Sergey Brin and Larry Page offered to sell the business to Excite CEO Geroge Bell but he refused to do so at even a reduced price. In 2000, Google began started selling advertisements and recorded its first profit by the end of 2001. Bids started at US$.05 per click.

FORD

Henry Ford established the Ford Motor Company in June 1903. Backed by 12 investors, the company had spent almost all the investment of US$28,000. By October, the company recorded a profit of US$37,000.

SUMMING UP

To decide which one is the right path is like finding the answer of who came first: Chicken or egg. If you prioritise profits first, make sure that you have a well-thought plan for consistent growth. And if you plan to prioritise growth first, then you can’t afford to forget about the profits. Show your investors the game plan for earning real profit.

You also need to understand one thing very clearly, neither growth nor profitability can occur if not backed by a sound strategy. No matter which path you choose, at some point you will need both aspects to meet the objectives of the company.

OffiNeeds

ONE-STOP CORPORATE GIFTING SOLUTIONS FOR EVERY OCCASION

ifts have the power to create a really memorable and delightful experience for recipients. In the corporate world, gifting is a great way to connect with employees and clients and express

gratitude towards them. When it comes to choosing a perfect gift for employees and clients, OffiNeeds comes to the rescue with its wide range of corporate gifting options.

For over 17 years, OffiNeeds helps corporates and startups in brand building and maintaining delightful relationships with customers and

SRIKANTH ACHARYA CEO, OffiNeeds

employees. The creative and professional team of OffiNeeds understands the purpose of gifting. Encompassing all the fragments of corporate gifting right from branding to customisation, OffiNeeds does it all. With the ability to constantly learn, innovate and execute, OffiNeeds is now one of the leading Corporate Gifting and Custom Merchandising Companies.

“Leveraging the power of Corporate Gi s, we help businesses to improve employee engagement and maintain healthy relations with clients.”

designs fully customised and exciting merchandise along with the logo.

OffiNeeds designs such impactful merchandise that turns every employee and dealer into the company’s Brand ambassador. It also offers Free Pan India delivery and order status updates over Email, SMS and tracking pages.

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NEW HIRE JOINEE KIT

To make the onboarding process more exciting, OffiNeeds provides a customised New Joinee Welcome Kit. OffiNeeds customises everything with the logos on it. The company believes that a welcome kit is like an encouragement tool for businesses and helps them to build strong employer-employee relationships.

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Fostering innovation and creativity, the CEO, Srikanth Acharya incepted OffiNeeds in 2005. Srikanth motivates the young and enthusiastic team of OffiNeeds and helps them improve their efficiency.

Srikanth also handles the Marketing and Expansion of the company and lays a strategic roadmap for the growth of OffiNeeds. The innovative corporate gifting solutions by OffiNeeds help businesses in improving employee engagement and brand building.

Every team member of OffiNeeds strives to make life easier for the customers by delivering fast, easy and customised gifting solutions.

SERVICES OFFERED BY OffiNeeds

OffiNeeds has a wide range of corporate gifting solutions suiting every occasion. The tech-savvy team of OffiNeeds creates immense value for its customers with innovative and unique products. The wide range of corporate gifting solutions includes:

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CORPORATE GIFTS

With over 4,000+ products, one can find a perfect gifting option within the budget and premium quality. OffiNeeds

requirements along with the brand’s logo.

Be it a festival, birthday or any other kind of occasion, OffiNeeds has solutions for everything. The corporate gift solutions of the company include Apparel, Accessories, Home & Living, Office Tools, Gadgets and many more.

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GIFTKART

OffiNeeds offers its clients to pick the gift of their choice and deliver it to them right at their doorsteps. OffiNeeds ensures on-time delivery of the gifts without any damages or loss. Customers can also track their orders via Email, SMS and tracking page.

To provide customers with convenient choosing options, OffiNeeds creates a microsite for the customers. They can choose 3-6 different products on a similar budget and on the basis of those products, OffiNeeds creates a microsite that shows them more such products to choose from.

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OFFICIAL BRAND STORE

For every company, its merchandise is very important for building the brand identity. Helping businesses with brand building and marketing, OffiNeeds

GIFT VOUCHER SOLUTIONS

OffiNeeds offers corporate gift cards ranging from 100+ top brands (Nykaa, Amazon, Max, Myntra, Croma, KFC, Pantaloons, Westside and many more). With lifetime validity, these corporate gift cards are flexible to use and are also budget friendly.

AWARDS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

For its exceptional and high-quality corporate gifting solutions, OffiNeeds has won many awards to its name. The most significant achievements of OffiNeeds are:

 Times Business Award 2022 as the “Most Innovative Corporate Gifting

Scorpion Ventures

OFFERING A CREATIVE RANGE OF GIFTING OPTIONS

To enrich the gifting experience and nurture healthy business relations, Scorpion Ventures offers a comprehensive and exciting range of gifting products. With its top-quality gifting products, Scorpion Ventures has become a highly preferred choice for businesses when it comes to corporate gifting. The wide range of corporate gifting products of Scorpion Ventures includes Notebooks, Merchandise, Mementos & Trophies and other gift set combos. Today, Scorpion Ventures is associated

with 250+ direct corporate customers with 100+ Suppliers and 6000+ products to offer.

MEET THE COMPANY’S CEO

Having a techno-commercial background, Mohan always dreamt of having his own business empire. Intrigued by the idea of corporate gifting, Mohan started Scorpion Ventures in 2012.

As the company’s CEO, Mohan strikes the right balance of ambition and dedication that paves the way to ignite the limitless growth of Scorpion Ventures.

“While leaving the IT industry, one thing was clear, we want to be in a stress-free

“We are exible in understanding customers' needs and then work in the background to get the best possible Corporate Gi ing options.”

MOHAN K CEO, Scorpion Ventures

Seed Pens, Pencils & Notebooks

 Cotton, Canvas, Jute and Cork-based laptops, travel and carryon bags  Vegan Leather Promotional Products  Wood-based desktop organisers  Recycled Gifting Products and more

THE JOURNEY TO SUCCESS

It takes a lot of hard work, money, and time to transform a business idea into reality. The same happened with Scorpion Ventures, in the starting days of inception, the team had to face many obstacles. It took them a while to find the core strategies for the company to reach the high road. But finally, after facing a bundle full of trials and errors, Scorpion Ventures finally embarked on a journey of success.

2012-2015: Scorpion Ventures was incorporated with a focus on becoming a Digital Service Provider for Custom Gifting Products & Services. Mohan Iterates, “Our journey started with a challenge of getting multiple options of gifting products under one roof but either the products were priced high or only limited options were available for selection.” To bridge this gap in the industry, the company started to directly engage with corporate clients and set its footprints in retail through online marketplaces such as Snapdeal, Flipkart, PayTM & Amazon.

2015-2017: The rising demand in the gifting domain nurtured the idea of “Collaborate and Facilitate”. This idea led to the formation of networking and Scorpion Ventures started signing vendors on a collaborative model to offer multiple gifting options on one platform digitally. Collaborating with multiple manufacturers and consolidators also helps the company address the problems of affordable prices. “Our majority challenges were addressed by direct collaboration and we could get 5000+ products to our portfolio to our site. With just a click of a button, customers could get varied options with budgetary prices,” says Mohan.

2017-2020: Moving forward on the growth path, Scorpion Ventures: 

Set its foot in the export business through its partners  Integrated Automated Inbound Marketing Systems

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Moved to process-based systems and procedures to ensure better deliverable

BALAJI K COO, Scorpion Ventures

 Started Exhibiting & Socialising with various B2B Networks across India

To integrate and give customers a single point of delivery, the company moved to a consolidation model bringing all the printing, packing and logistics services together.

2020-till Date: As the company is growing towards establishing its name among the industry leaders, Balaji K, brother of Mohan K joined the company as a Director to oversee the operations. Balaji enriches the strategic operations of the company with his 21 years of extensive experience in Supply Chain & Business Analytics in North American Markets. Along with this, Scorpion Ventures has embarked on many other crucial initiatives for the growth of the company such as:

Migrated totally from a manual to a process-based work environment and enabled a Hybrid model for the employees. 

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Working to bring easy access to a wide variety of products and services with a better turnaround time for customers. 

Planning to extend the company’s range of gifting options for Individual customers, various Alumni, Festivals and Personal celebrations.

AWARDS AND MILESTONES

Associated with 250+ Direct Corporate Customers, 20+ Direct Channel Partners and 50+ Brand Signups, Scorpion Ventures adds many feathers to its cap. The most significant are:

THAT’S HOW THESE

Billionaires

DEAL WITH BURNOUT IN A JAM-PACKED SCHEDULE

O

n a scale of 1 to 10 how difficult it is to work when you are stressed? We can’t even imagine, right? Stress from tight deadlines and high stakes can straightaway lead to loss of focus. If we let the stress overpower us, our ideas and thoughts go into vain but the moment we start addressing it, we can get rid of it and stay productive.

No one is different. The top billionaires out there, if you want to name themWarren Buffett, Jack Dorsey, or Sheryl Sandberg, also get anxious. They also look for different ways to squeeze in relaxation to destress themselves.

Let’s not waste time and take note of how these billionaires destress themselves when they have a jam-packed schedule.

Facebook COO,

Sandberg turns off her phone before going to bed.

In 2011, she told USA Today that it’s ‘painful’ for her to do so but she does it to avoid any kind of disturbance at night. Although it may seem really difficult to stop yourself from scrolling through Instagram or LinkedIn wall, It’s really important to enjoy a restful night.

Let’s say you are spending extra time staying awake reading emails. Now you will be more tired the next day because you chose emails over a sound sleep.

Those emails could have been read the next day with more alertness. The choice is all yours!

Sheryl Sandberg Disconnects From Her Phone

Sheryl

SHERYL SANDBERG

Richard Branson Maintains A Work-Life Balance

Maintaining a work-life balance is not at all easy but Richard Branson maintains it pretty well and it’s this equilibrium that provides him with enough stamina to wholeheartedly focus on his business, Virgin Group.

Richard, in order to maintain a healthy balance, shares some pieces of advice. First and foremost, he advises you to

Meditation has too many benefits to count on fingerprints. It helps you gain a new perspective on stressful situations, eliminate negative thoughts, increase patience & tolerance, increases imagination & creativity, and above all improve your sleep quality.

rise early and find a routine that allows you to work on the most difficult and challenging task when you are most productive in the day.

Branson also focuses on the importance of trying something new each day and seeing where it takes you and what more you can explore and learn. Every day can be a new adventure. Again, the choice is all yours!

Oprah Winfrey Loves To Meditate “Meditate. Breathe consciously. Listen. Pay attention. Treasure every moment. Make the connection,” says Oprah Winfrey who believes meditation can change a life. Oprah meditates twice a day, once in the morning and then again before going to the bed.

Oprah’s practice of meditation focuses less on anxiety and more on being still for a period of time to get in tune with the authentic self.

how to dedicate time to play it from your tightly packed schedule makes you learn better time management and organisation skills. What else do you need?

If you are suffering from stress, insomnia, and depression, grab your favourite instrument right away as it is the best possible healthy distraction from a stressful day.

Jack Dorsey Likes To Run

The Co-Founder of Twitter and the current CEO of Square, Jack Dorsey is a runner who wakes up every morning at 5:30 a.m. for meditation and a six-mile jog. According to the New York Magazine, he wanders for some time every day.

When you run, your body releases endorphins, hormones released during pleasurable activities that help relieve pain and reduce stress. Running also reduces cortisol, the stress hormone. Above all, running supports a healthy immune system.

If you can’t make it a daily activity, at least try to do it on alternate days or whenever you feel too stressed.

Summing Up

You really need to put yourself first and analyse what you can do to improve your mental health. Try out these strategies as these can surely do wonders for your health.

Warren Buffett Plays His Musical Instrument, Ukulele Musical instruments, undoubtedly, help alleviate stress and when Warren Buffett

RICHARD BRANSON

OPRAH WINFREY

WARREN BUFFETT

o your employees feel bored in the office premises? Get irritated for no reason at all? Don’t feel like giving their 100 per cent today? Maybe it’s because of the apparent lack of positive energy.

Okay! We know that they sometimes take short breaks and share laughter and small talk with colleagues. We admit that it creates a friendly work environment but does it give them 100 per cent energy? Sometimes Yes, sometimes No! No worries. Let’s look into some ways which can help you generate positive energy at the workplace and eventually keep a smile on the face of all your employees.

ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH INSPIRATIONAL OFFICE DECOR?

If you would like to bring in a better focus, try incorporating inspirational office decor which means giving a homelike environment with better lighting and aesthetics.

a) Put motivational wall art stickers b) Keep bookcases with inspiring titles c) Switch to comfortable and stylish furniture

d) Give space to motivational quotes on a big wall

GETTING STARTED WITH MINDFULNESS MEDITATION

Do a one-on-one with any of your employees and you will soon realise that their peace of mind is totally ruined. What’s the solution, then? Mindfulness Meditation i.e. the practice of actually being present in the moment.

DIt will not only help them relax and regain their energy but also familiarise them with improved concentration, emotional intelligence, and above all, self-tolerance. Ask them to go to an empty room and practise mindfulness meditation and that’s how you can eliminate negative energy from your workplace.

TAKE IT EASY

Some of your employees may consider overworking is good but the famous saying “The perils of overwork are slight compared with the dangers of inactivity,” can’t go unnoticed. It may be beneficial in the short term but what about the consequences that the person faces in the long run?

Overworking just to keep themselves busy only leads to burnout and eventually feeling drained and lifeless. So, what’s the possible solution here? Encourage your employees to take a mental health leave from work. This can surely do wonders and help them recharge themselves with positive energy again. Hence, the job is done.

SET TARGETS BUT ALONG WITH REWARDS

Every company sets targets because that’s how a business can scale heights but what do the employees get in return? What if along with the target, you also gift them a certain kind of motivation?

By that we mean, motivation in terms of rewards. Implement a reward system in order to increase motivation, show appreciation, improve productivity, boost employee retention, encourage friendly motivation, and create a positive workplace culture.

GIVE COMPLIMENTS TO TAKE COMPLIMENTS

Who doesn’t like taking compliments? If your humble words of appreciation make somebody’s day special, then what’s the harm? It’s a proven fact that praising employees not only generates positive energy but also:

a) Increases dopamine which creates a feeling of pride and pleasure

b) Encourages engagement, productivity and job satisfaction

c) Increases oxytocin which positively impacts the performance

SILENCE IS A SOURCE OF GREAT STRENGTH

Creativity requires concentration and for concentration, one needs a quiet space. A quiet space gives the headspace to think through the implications and possible outcomes of deploying a strategy. If given a quieter space, it can help employees retain information better.

As they give more attention to one thing, their brain power will automatically help them understand the scenario better and take informed decisions. When they focus on their work without any distractions, it leads to more productivity. We know it can be really difficult to build a quiet space but it can surely do wonders if you manage to make it a reality somehow.

HAPPY EMPLOYEES, HAPPY COMPANY

Research conducted by different professionals suggests that a smile on your employees’ face can fill the office environment with positive energy. Theologian Albert Schweitzer rightly said, “Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success.”

Smiling is contagious and therefore have far-reaching benefits. Encourage your employees to smile more and stay happy as Happy employees always make a happy company.

FINAL WORDS

As difficult as it may sound to incorporate all these ways, you should surely give it a thought as the outcomes can bring overwhelming results. Fill your workplaces with sacks of positive energy and nothing can stop you from achieving your goals.

The Giving Tree

ADDING A TOUCH OF PERFECTION IN CORPORATE GIFTING

ifting can truly do wonders in strengthening relationships not just in our personal life but professionally also. Gifting is an expression of gratitude and a token of appreciation. But as beautiful as this expression is, no one can deny the fact that choosing a perfect

Ggift is a strenuous task. To make gifting a delightful and hassle-free experience, The Giving Tree offers a wide range of corporate gifting products for employees and customers which are of highquality, affordable and eco-friendly.

ADDING A SPARKLE TO LIFE SINCE INCEPTION

Incepted in 2002, The Giving Tree is India’s most innovative corporate gift house. The exceptional journey of the company began under the name of Craft

Corner but as the brand had outgrown its old identity of being a handmade paper product manufacturer, the company rebranded itself as ‘The Giving Tree’. With its innovative, premium quality and expressive gifting range, The Giving Tree has become the most trusted name in the Corporate Gifting industry.

With a mission to provide a mindful and inspiring gift range to maintain healthy business relations, Leena Munot and

“We, at e Giving Tree, bring your corporate gi ing idea into reality by taking away the burden o your shoulders and nding the perfect gi ing option just for you.”

LEENA MUNOT Co-Founder, The Giving Tree

Mala Sathyanarayanan (Co-Founders of The Giving Tree) laid the foundation of the company. The unquenchable thirst for innovation and premium quality gifting products is what makes the company special.

The creative and professional team of The Giving Tree carefully handpicks and customises gift options according to the needs and requirements of the clients. With a great eye for detail and a deep understanding of the customers’ needs, The Giving Tree is spreading joy with its different product mixes that are eco-friendly and of premium quality.

“We can create the perfect gift each time without getting you overwhelmed with millions of options that will only leave you confused,” iterates Leena Munot, the Co-Founder.

WHY THE GIVING TREE IS A PERFECT CHOICE?

Integrating creative flair and years of expertise, The Giving Tree helps businesses in choosing the right gift without getting stressed. Being front runners in the innovative gift segment for over 20 years, The Giving Tree has 2500+ clients and is expanding even further. In addition to this, the company has also established itself as a preferred vendor with over 90% of its clients.

Building the trust and faith of the clients, The Giving Tree is a trusted gifting partner for many brands and successfully moves them from irritation to delight in the gifting option. Here are some of the remarkable reasons why clients prefer The Giving Tree: 

Timely delivery of products every single time 

Premium quality and aesthetics of the gifting products 

Currently, 20 lac users are using the products worldwide 

All the gift items come with Zero Waste Packaging

THE WIDE GIFTING RANGE

The Giving Tree is a one-stop shop for all gifting needs. The wide range of gifting option include: 

Desktop Accessories: Calendar, Laptop Stand, Clocks, Notebooks, Notepads, Desk Mat and Games and Puzzles.



Office Accessories: Bottles and Sippers, Mugs, Lunch Boxes, Key Chains, Premium Pens, and Card Holders.

Mobile accessories and many more to the list.



Bags: Cotton Bags, Paper Bags, Biking Bags, Laptop Bags, Folding Bags and Sling Bags.



Awards & Recognitions: Crystal Awards, Long Service Awards, Innovative Awards, and Recognition For Leaders.



Gadgets: Wearables, Audio Accessories, Smart Devices, Power banks,

For the last 20 years, The Giving Tree has been on a mission to make people special with its unique and innovative range of gifting products. The creative team of the company is working diligently to delight the clients and their associates with gifts that express gratitude and nurture long-lasting relationships.

MALA SATHYANARAYANAN Co-Founder, The Giving Tree

HR

drives business outcomes through workforce. Build agile policies to run a high-performing company.

Organisational integration

Competency development Learning management Process involvement

System enchancement

Performance

evaluation Human Capital Strategy

Realign

Workforce Planning & Rewards

Review the Strategy, Structure, & Systems to standardize & sustain with the current business model

Competency & Career Development Framework

Design, build, & implement a flexible framework that fosters continuous development

Performance Growth & Succession Planning

Review the roles & methods for evaluation, develop & roll out readiness charts, including a Policy Deployment Framework for comprehensive coverage

Audit & Maturity-level Assessment

Enable a path to a mature, disciplined development of knowledge & skills. Deploy technology & tools, to deliver superior user experience.

Engage us to be your partner in change.

We bring a wealth of experience in enabling organisations through our consulting interventions.

enquiry@ascent-online.com www.ascent-online.com

Why Is

Micromanaging Considered A Bad Thing?

Micromanagement is not just only a management style, it is also a red flag for any organisation that significantly impacts the productivity of the employees and ultimately, the growth of the business. No one likes to be micromanaged while working, yet it is something we all have to deal with. Managers can be seen micromanaging their employees to ensure all of them are working properly.

And for all those who are thinking about what exactly is micromanagement, Micromanaging refers to the leadership style when a manager or someone from a high authority manages subordinates with excessive control and pays extra attention to what the employee is doing.

It is not a good idea to micromanage your team and if you are guilty of doing this, we’ll tell you all the right reasons to stop it right now. If a business overlooks the whole situation of micromanaging employees, it can directly impact the whole business. The downfall of micromanagement is perfectly described by Simon Sinek in his famous quote, “A boss who micromanages is like a coach who wants to get in the game”.

HOW MICROMANAGEMENT DESTROYS YOUR TEAM?

Micromanaging often leads to conflict

between the manager and the employees and creates mistrust among both. The employees start feeling that their efforts are not getting their due appreciation and respect in the organisation.

Managers must strike a good balance of supervision. Too much supervision makes employees feel that they are constantly under someone’s watch. Whereas, too little attention makes them feel lost and unsupported.

Micromanagement may cause the business its own misfortune if left untreated. Here are some of the negative effects that are caused by Micromanagement:

AFFECTING EMPLOYEE’S MORALE

Micromanaging employees can greatly affect the morale of employees and tumbles their confidence and self-esteem. Under micromanagement, employees begin to think that their ideas or work are not getting appreciated or trusted by the upper management.

Unintentionally or intentionally when a manager or a boss micromanages the team, they are discouraging their employees to perform only those tasks that they are told to, pushing aside their efforts and knowledge.

Micromanaging is like a toxic chain that slowly and steadily affects the employees and the whole organisation. Micromanaging kills the motivation of the employees to think beyond and find the best possible solutions for any situation.

Micromanagement monitors employees at every step and takes away the freedom to work according to their knowledge and expertise. Limiting the full potential, micromanaging decreases employees’ capacity to excel in their roles. 

LIMITS CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT OF EMPLOYEES

Micromanaging disempowers the employees from putting forth their creative ideas, innovative plans and any other suggestions. Consequently, the flow of ideas within the organisation comes to a halt.

Micromanagement stifles the creativity of the employees because they are only expected to do whatever they are asked to and any other initiative is not appreciated. Micromanaging employees leads to working in a robotic pattern rather than a creative manner. 

INCREASES STAFF TURNOVER

Micromanaging demotivates employees to such an extent that it starts suffocating them. This results in employees leaving the company which leads to

an increase in staff turnover. Constant surveillance often leads to frustration in the employees. This frustration and constant pressure make employees quit

Hire Right People: The need to micromanage the employees automatically eliminates if your team knows what to do. Hire people who know their job and can work with less supervision also. Hiring the right people increases the productivity and morale of the organisation. The stronger the micromanagement, the higher the rate of staff turnover in the organisation. The higher staff turnover may cost the company huge amounts of money that go into recruiting, hiring and training.

HOW TO AVOID MICROMANAGEMENT?

So now that you know the negative impacts of micromanagement, here are some tips for you to escape the micromanagement:



Start Delegating Tasks: Delegating tasks is an art that helps you greatly in the long run. Assigning the task to team members gives them a sense of responsibility and it motivates them to work even harder.





Always Trust Your Employees: Trust is the most important factor in any organisation, without it the business cannot grow. Always listen to the ideas and suggestions of your employees, it helps you maintain the trust between you and your employees

There is a very fine line between supervision and micromanagement. And businesses can often be seen blurring this line causing misfortune for the self. Businesses need to understand the fact that employees need the support of senior management and do not like the idea of hand-holding throughout the process.

The sooner you realise it, the better it will be for you. Avoid micromanagement to grow as an organisation and create a bigger picture for yourself.

POOJA SHARMA REKHA

The Transgender Dancing queen Meet

eminding us of the Bollywood veteran actor Rekha, Pooja Sharma can be found in the 07:40 Mumbai Local train, all decked and dressed up in a beautiful silk saree. Pooja’s smile brightens the journeys of the travellers.

Pooja Sharma is a transgender celebrity who resembles Rekha because of her glam outfit. She also collaborates with dance studios, Instagram celebrities, events, and high-end stores. She is also the brand ambassador of ‘ohoojaipur’.

HER JOURNEY

In India, the Kinnar community is looked down upon. Despite several attempts, transgender people still face a lot of discrimination and violence. They are humiliated and disgraced. Pooja also had to face humiliation but she decided to change this.

With a ray of hope, Pooja started her journey by dancing in the 07:40 ladies' special Mumbai Local train. Pooja is a brilliant dancer, when she started posting her videos on TikTok and Instagram, she and her dancing skills won the hearts of thousands of people.

Despite living a tough childhood and tumultuous life, Pooja always carries a smile on her face. Her faith in humanity motivates other people. Her struggling childhood may leave you with teary eyes but her bright smile can cheer your sad mood in a fraction of second. That’s the power of Pooja’s persona. Pooja also works for the empowerment of the transgender community.

SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE

Pooja Sharma Rekha is loved by everyone on Social Media. Her Instagram account has 413k (as of November 2022) followers. She also has a YouTube channel with 26.2k subscribers. Pooja is now an internet sensation.

SUMMING UP

Marginalised by the mainstream world, the Kinnar community lives a life largely devoid of aspirations. But Pooja decided to live the life of her dreams by turning the tables of destiny. She is a self-made star and proud of herself.

From starting her journey in trains to becoming an internet sensation, Pooja Sharma Rekha’s story is truly an inspiration for many. It is really overwhelming to see how she blesses everyone despite becoming such a big personality on the internet. Her story reassures our faith in a famous quote by Thomas Merton, ‘Humility is the surest sign of strength.’

RShe also got a lot of popularity when famous Television Actress Ankita Lokhande invited Pooja to her house on the occasion of her parents' wedding anniversary.

Are you planning a chill, relaxing and exotic vacation to escape the hustle of daily life? If yes, witness the glory of nature and explore the marvellous and magnificent charm of the Indian coastline this time. Sailing through the river or sea, cruise vacations are a perfect choice that gives you a premium holiday experience.

Cruising the oceans and the rivers are a fascinating tourism alternative with exotic views, multiple port explorations and diverse experience. If you are looking for a rejuvenating break, cruise vacations are an excellent option. In this article, we will suggest you the best cruise destinations for your next vacation!

GOA CRUISE

Goa is considered one of the coolest travel destinations in India. But most people plan their vacations to visit the beaches. So, this time while planning your vacation to Goa, we suggest you plan something different and explore the beautiful city on a cruise.

Cruising in Goa gives you a plethora of choices to enjoy the spectacular sunsets, illuminating water experience and the unique blend of Portuguese & Indian cultures and not to forget the delicious authentic seafood.

KERALA BACKWATER CRUISE

How can we talk about vacations without mentioning Kerala in our list? We all know that Kerala is the ‘City Of God’. The Kerala Backwater has one of the best cruise destinations in India. While exploring Kerala Backwater on a cruise, you can experience the soft ripples, tall coconut trees and the changing aurora of the sky at the time of sunset and sunrise.

The beautiful scenery and green landscape of Kerala make it a perfect travel destination for those who are craving a calm and peaceful break.

COCHIN CRUISE

If you are wondering why everyone talks about the grandeur of Cochin and its waterbodies then you must visit it once and experience it yourself. The magnificent beauty of “Queen of the Arabian Sea” is beyond describing in words.

The picturesque glinting waves and the paradisal bliss river, forests and waterfalls make Cochin a popular cruise destination. The local delicacies, exotic views and the perfect weather make your vacation a memorable one.

BRAHMAPUTRA RIVER CRUISE

Cruising on Brahmaputra rivers gives you a mesmerising glance at the lives of local people of North-East and their costumes. The Brahmaputra, one of the longest rivers in the country offers a splendid and astonishing cruising experience.

Cruising along the countryside, you can explore the neoclassical colonial palaces, Kaziranga National Park and various sanctuaries and temples. During your cruise trip to the Brahmaputra, you can devour the taste of scrumptious traditional Assamese delicacies.

CHILIKA LAKE CRUISE

One of the most soothing cruise destinations in India is Chilika Lake. This lake is a hidden pearl in the world of Indian tourism which is located 60 km from Puri in Orissa. The cruise on Chilika Lake offers you the memorable experience of watching the various migratory birds, and dolphins and the incredible sights of serene blue water.

The cruise trip on Chilika Lake also lets you explore the vivid flora & fauna and leaves you amazed by such peculiar beauty of nature.

SUNDERBANS CRUISE

Inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sunderbans has beauty par excellence. The best way to enjoy the absolute riverine bliss of Sunderbans is on a cruise. Imagine going on a vacation that takes you across the spectacular and breathtaking views of winding rivers, thick mangrove forests and tiger reserves.

From exploring the exotic islands to the expedition of Sunderbans villages, there are plenty of things you can enjoy on the Sunderbans Cruise vacation.

ANDAMAN ISLANDS CRUISE

The most popular tourist destination in India, the Andaman Islands is also undoubtedly one of the best cruise destinations. Cruising on the Andaman Islands makes you feel like you are floating on the turquoise blue water of the ocean and relaxes your mind and soul.

The cruises available for the expedition of the Andaman Islands are fully equipped with modern amenities including a cafeteria, AC cabins, bars and good music to provide you with luxurious and relaxing vacations.

If you are planning a relaxing and luxurious vacation then these exotic cruise destinations are calling you. Explore the world in a unique way and experience the exciting pristine aqua thrill on your next vacation!