| Giving business gifts to your important clients is a | | | | investment in your company's future. You get no |
| time-honored tradition in the business community, | | | | real hard evidence of a return on your |
| are and one that deserves a little bit of discussion. | | | | investment with the business gift, however you |
| It is impossible to say when the first business | | | | do hopefully foster goodwill among important |
| gifts were exchanged among people in the | | | | clients that purchase products and services from |
| business community, however it makes sense | | | | your business. It is this type of intangible |
| that it happened. In many parts of the world it is | | | | investment that is at the heart of the practice of |
| a common practice to exchange gifts with people | | | | giving business gifts. Because this investment is |
| that have some sort of important connection to | | | | intangible it is a good idea to keep business gifts |
| you; so as a natural extension of that, exchanging | | | | within a reasonable cost limit. Clearly you should |
| business gifts between two people who have a | | | | never spend more on a business gift than your |
| business relationship makes sense. Exchanging | | | | company can afford, and in reality you should |
| business gifts shows that that person is a | | | | probably spend less than your company can |
| significance to you, and that you value their | | | | afford. |
| business. | | | | Ideally your business gift should be something that |
| Of course it is important to maintain a proper | | | | you know your customer will appreciate based |
| business relationship while giving out business gifts. | | | | upon your past experience in dealing with that |
| They are not meant to be social gifts, but rather | | | | customer. However if you do not have enough |
| business gifts are to be gifts given within the | | | | information to go off of for making a decision it is |
| accepted social norms of business practices. That | | | | usually okay to give them a generic type business |
| said, respectfully understanding what makes | | | | gift. |
| appropriate business gift is vital to your gift giving | | | | A generic business gift can be anything from a |
| strategy. Clearly it goes without saying that | | | | nice pen, to gift certificates at a local fancy |
| personal items do not make acceptable business | | | | restaurant. As a last resort you could get a |
| gifts, nothing adult in nature or overly personal | | | | business gift that comes from your product |
| should even be considered. It is also important | | | | catalog should your catalog support giving such |
| when giving a business gifts to make sure that | | | | gifts. For instance if you are a computer maker |
| the gift is not too abstract, unless of course your | | | | you may wish to consider giving a personalized |
| client is a fan of abstract art. While the thought | | | | computer as a business gift. Clearly however this |
| will probably be appreciated abstract art in any | | | | will not work if you are a manufacturing company |
| form be at sculpture painting or otherwise | | | | that designs parts for car engines, unless of |
| generally falls outside of the accepted business | | | | course your customer is an automobile enthusiast, |
| gift norms. | | | | then you may actually have something that would |
| Business gifts are not what we would call a solid | | | | make a good business gift. |
| investment, though they are definitely an | | | | |