Things to know BEFORE starting a Corporate Gift project:
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Ready to plan a Corporate Gift Project and not sure how to begin?
Here’s a handy dandy list of things to consider and check into BEFORE you start:
Don’t worry - I’m here to help with the breakdown: 😊
🤔 You Must Know Your Objectives:
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What do you hope to achieve? Are you aiming to boost morale, thank clients, celebrate milestones, or build relationships?
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Tailor your gifting strategy based on your goals. For example, gifts for new hires should focus on onboarding and welcome, while gifts for clients should emphasize appreciation and relationship building.
🧑💼👩💼Know Your Audience:
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Understand your recipients. What are their interests, values, and preferences?
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It’s a great idea to create recipient profiles to help you choose the right gifts. Although you won’t necessarily be able to tailor the gift to each person’s preference, a general idea is very necessary to narrow down your ideas.
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Consider cultural and religious sensitivities when selecting gifts, especially if you're gifting internationally or to a diverse group of people. A little research goes a long way!
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Check for company gifting policies before gifting clients, as some organizations may have restrictions on accepting gifts. (I’ve found that the medical and insurance industries are quite limiting with their gift procedures.)
💵 Set a Budget:
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Determine a realistic budget for your corporate gifting program. You can base this on the previous year’s gifting, or on your current advertising budget. Decide how often you want to give a gift. Divide your list into Tiers, if needed.
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Prioritize quality over quantity. A well-chosen, thoughtful gift can have more impact than a cheap, generic item. (Read that twice!)
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Bulk discounts: When ordering gifts in large quantities find out if you can save with larger orders.
📆 Timing is Key:
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Align gifts with important occasions. Celebrate onboarding, anniversaries, holidays, and other milestones. Before it becomes an issue, your company should decide which days or events they will celebrate. (It's a good idea to designate 1 person for all the gifting so there's no confusing about who is going to take care of it when the time suddenly arrives!)
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Shipping times: to ensure gifts arrive on time always factor this in! For example, if it’s right before a holiday when many people are taking off, make sure the gift will arrive even earlier.
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Shipping Locations: review your list of shipping locations in advance to avoid misunderstandings and time-frame problems later. (Shipping across the country will take several more days so your team needs to be aware!)
💼🍷 Branding & Personalization:
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Branding: Determine if and how to display your branding on your gift, but most of all PLEASE remember that branding adds even more time to the order.
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Personalize gifts with recipient names or messages to make them feel special! Again, remember that this will add even more time to your project. But the payoff is totally worth it!
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Custom packaging (my favorite!): There are so many ways to add your logo and company colors to your gift for an impactful presentation. Determine in advance if this is super important to you and if you have the budget to work with.
🎁Choose the Right Gift Service:
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Research and choose a reputable gift service with experience in corporate gifting. (This step is super important! 😉)
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Ask for photos and references before making a final decision. This will help you narrow down the company that suits your style. An in-person or Zoom meeting is the best way to determine if you are a good fit for working together. You must feel comfortable with them!
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Communication: Only choose a gift service that offers simple and clear ways of communicating with you throughout the process. Don't be afraid to ask about this during your initial meeting.
Corporate gifting is a big – and expensive – undertaking!
Follow these steps and you’ll be on your way to a smooth experience.
Cheers to your job well done!! I know you’ve got this.
💖 -Carrie
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Ask about:
Corporate Gifts
Client Thank You Gift
Custom Corporate Gifts
Kosher Corporate Gifts
Kosher Event Gifts
Employee Gifts