10 Tips for Holiday Gift Giving

I hold these truths to be self-evident: Covid 19 will be around this Winter and Christmas will arrive on December 25.

This holiday season will be problematic for business gift givers. Considering the strength of the economy, budgets should still be healthy. Some traditional gifts will not be appropriate while other, more unusual gifts offer good choices for the season. Add to it the supply chain problems and the forthcoming shipping disaster and will once again we have “agita” on the horizon, seller beware.

The best way to ward off supply chain problems and shipping problems is to order early and ship early. It does seem like obvious advice but, clients often do not look far ahead, so, like a severe weather ALERT, you need to alert your clients now. An ALERT alone can cause panic. An ALERT with remedies to the problem ahead shows your partnership and the value added you bring as opposed to shopping online

Tips For Holiday Gift Giving (For the end buyer)

1.  Subordinate or Eliminate Logos. Branding is vital to corporate identity, but not as a personal/holiday gift for “external" recipients. For employees, the rule is less applicable, but it is still advised to shy away from branding. 

2.  The Image Is In The Details.  Take care of the packaging and delivery. Box it well, wrap it if you can. Insert a greeting card to express your best wishes and, if at all possible, deliver the gift by hand.

3. Early Bird Makes Sense.  Get out of the clutter. Be first, noticed, and remembered. Thanksgiving is a perfect opportunity to make an impression but, do all gifting the first week in December not close to Christmas.

4. Better Late Than Never?  On purpose, not by accident, be unique, be one of a kind and be remembered.  Do your gifting on New Year’s with your wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

5. Think Twice.  Gift cards solve a giver’s problem. It is easy to buy and distribute. Think twice before shifting the burden. Gift cards are impersonal. “I haven’t taken the time to pick a gift just for you." If you go this route the least you can do is package it in a personal card, or perhaps put it into a token gift such as a phone wallet. 

6. Taste It First.  If a food gift is on your list, be sure to taste it first. Too many internet food gift suppliers package their food at least a year earlier. It is filled with preservatives and often tasteless. If you can’t go fresh, demand a taste test.

7. Gender Related.   Do not stereotype when it comes to color or application of the product. Do not lump male and female together in apparel selections. Be extra careful in selection, distribution and expression.

8. What’s In A Name?  An awful lot. If possible, have the gift personalized. People love initialed gifts. People also take note of greeting cards that are hand signed with a special   message. The least you can do is order cards with a facsimile signature in a different color from the card.

9. Think Twice About Your List.  Unless you are sure EVERYONE on your list celebrates Christmas, you may offend those who don’t. It is not about Chanukah; it is about other religions and those who have different beliefs. Even wrapping paper with an ornament may offend.

10. Charity Is A Great Option.  When your recipient list contains mostly affluent people, donating money to a charity in their name is a good gift concept. After all, what can you give them they don’t already have, or can easily buy better? If the money goes to charity, do not give it in one blanket sum. Send a letter with the donation asking to apply the monies as you indicate and in the various recipient’s names. Create a greeting card with the name and images of the charity and send it to your list. You good deed should known.

Gift Giving In A Covid World

While the ten tips are universal for a “normal” year, Covid disrupts it all.

DO IT EARLY

Buying early is to your advantage as many top shelf companies are offering early bird incentives. Covid-19 has caused major disruptions in the supply chain and buying early reduces the risk of not finding inventory for the gift you want. Shipping has become a disaster; buying early and shipping no later than 12-1 will almost guarantee all domestic recipients get their gift before Christmas. By sending a gift early, the post office becomes a viable alternative to UPS and Fedex. The savings on shipping can be significant.

THINK SAFETY

Gone for now is sending food or a basket for an office to share. It is hygiene awareness and nobody wants to scoop up a handful of candy that someone else has already scooped. Look for individually wrapped food gifts. Be sure your gift meets all the conditions for safe packaging and note that on your gift card.

PPE or NOT

Personal protective equipment such as a mask is an attractive idea. However, consider the liability of sending something that may fail. Check with your lawyer or legal department before selecting a PPE gift. PPE is a better choice for employees and not as attractive for clients.

HOME WORKERS

If your gift list includes employees or clients who now work from home, consider comfort items and practical gifts. Comfort can include robes, towels, bath items, aromatherapy, music therapy, a book a subscription, games, computer accessories for Zoom type conferences such as a halo light ring, a camera, earphones.

LITTLE THINGS MEAN A LOT

Many useful products are small and do not make an impactful gift. Putting toiletries into a clear zip bag make it much more impressive and fun. Think “inside the bag” and assemble your own “kits” for home, school or office. You may even start a trend and follow up the first kit with others in years to come. Establish a budget and go shopping for items to fill it.

YAHOO REPORTS GIFT GIVING BUDGETS UP

PRNewswire -- Corporate gifting is on the rise as nearly fifty percent of businesses say they intend to increase the frequency of their gift giving post COVID-19, according to a new corporate gifting survey from Coresight Research commissioned by GiftNow, a Synchrony (NYSE: SYF) solution. The U.S. corporate gift-giving market has experienced significant growth despite the challenges presented by the pandemic and is projected to reach $242 billion this year and experience a $64 billion increase during the next three years to reach $306 billion by 2024. Employers have significantly increased their gifting frequency throughout the pandemic—35% of respondents cited gifting more than usual since working remotely. Of those who have increased their gifting frequency, some 66% did so to keep their teams motivated and engaged while nearly 60% increased gifting to maintain connections with their clients, according to Coresight Research's survey. Gift buyers are seeking higher quality and greater variety of gifts, timely delivery, and a simplified end-to-end gifting process. Other notable findings from the Coresight Research study include:     Most Gifters Spending Between $75-$100 Per Gift – One quarter of corporate gift buyers are spending in this range for individual gifts and nearly 20% for group gifts. The willingness to spend these amounts indicates there is a desire for higher quality gifts. In addition, restrictive company policies on gifting emerged as the second biggest challenge—almost seven in 10 respondents cited it as either "very challenging" or "challenging.” "Our research found that 48% of respondents benefited substantially in relationship building due to corporate gifting and 45% are benefiting substantially from making the recipient feel valued. It's evident that corporate gifting's ROI is motivating more companies to increase their gifting frequency," said Deborah Weinswig, CEO and Founder of Coresight Research. "The market's continued growth is very promising but will be contingent on introducing more creative gifting options, and retailers can play a big role here."

Good luck this year.