Article - Corporate Branded Gifts
11 Jan 2018
Corporate Branded Gifts by XCO Group
Traditionally, there are various times of the year and occasions at which it is customary to give gifts. One of these is fast approaching – December, the end of another year and an international festive season, a time for many cultures’ religious celebrations and festivals:
- Christmas and Saint Nicholas Day – Christians
- Hanukkah – Jews
- St. Lucia Day – Swedes
- Fiesta of Our Lady of Guadalupe – Mexicans
Although not all these festivals are officially celebrated in South Africa, one should nevertheless be aware of all the reasons why this period is such a special and festive one for so many people. Additionally, these factors make year-end a major time for gift giving, both corporate and personal.
Other occasions calling for gifts include birthdays – especially the so-called big ones, such as a 21st and those ending on a "0”, anniversaries, noteworthy achievements, weddings, matriculation, the birth of a baby, baptisms or christenings, retirement, and a valued employee leaving a company. These appear to be those that are most often observed as gifting occasions in South Africa.
Why Brand Corporate Gifts?
- Branding indicates that the present is not only from and handed over by the person doing so, but it correctly implies that the gift is presented in a business capacity, on behalf of the donor, his/her company and all its employees.
- Branding the item removes any possibility of the gesture being seen as overly personal in nature, thus keeping the act and thought behind it on a professional level.
- Each time the recipient looks at, uses or handles a branded gift, he or she is inadvertently reminded of the occasion upon which it was received and the organisation that gave it, plus its products or services.
- Your company’s core products and services are kept top of mind by branding items which you pass on to others, enhancing their perception of comfortable familiarity with your trademark’s goods.
- It represents another "free” or cost-effective means of advertising and marketing in circumstances which may be geographically distant from your business premises – subtly "spreading the word”, one might say.
Which Gifts?
Which gifts to buy for whom is a very important question to address and it can lead to a very difficult decision-making process. Alternatively, remove the difficult element by shopping for your corporate branded gifts at XCO Group, one of South Africa’s leading suppliers of these items.
We specialise in other spheres too – full in-house branding services, corporate clothing, full ranges of three of the most sought-after corporate products, an enormous and comprehensive range of sportswear and equipment, workwear, safety garments, headgear, footwear, equipment and accessories.
However, now that we’ve agreed that it’s important to brand business-to-business presents, let us return to the key subject of corporate gift selection. There are a few dos and don’ts, and areas of caution.
- Be sure to ascertain that the recipient’s company policy does not forbid the acceptance of gifts. Failure to do so could result in mutual embarrassment and awkwardness that detracts from a carefully nurtured business relationship.
- Providing that you’re relatively alert and observant, you probably already know about the recipient’s interests, lifestyle and hobbies. If you don’t know much about the person, find out what you need to know from one of his/her colleagues.
- Select something accordingly or alternatively, an item that most people want or find useful, but probably don’t possess. This shows that you’ve taken an interest in their interests and taken the care to choose a gift that they’d appreciate.
- Don’t go overboard with wildly expensive items. With very few exceptions, it’s just not done in the corporate business world.
- By the same token, cheap and nasty is just that – cheap and nasty, also offensive.
Have a look at the top-quality selection of umpteen corporate gift solutions offered by XCO Group. We’ll also brand them for you.