How do you find a gift that resonates with your brand? Is there a correlation between what you stand for and what you are sending out? As much fun as novelty desk toys can be they don't reinforce the message of quality and high performance or the market leader image you've been building up. Likewise the standard company diaries and 2009 calendars don't really say innovative, edgy and thought leader do they?
A well thought out Xmas gift was recently sent out by a construction company who has been doing lots of regeneration works and to tie in with this and over achieving in meeting their carbon footprint targets they decided to send out saplings to each of their employees, customers and partners. This sat nicely with their message that everyone connected to the organisation can do their bit to improve their carbon footprint, get greener and improve the local social environment.
Not all companies get it quite as right. Receiving chocolates (which had obviously been ordered well in advance of the Christmas rush) that had passed their sell by date really makes a company stick in my mind for the wrong reasons. As does the entire team receiving a gift from one particular supplier apart from the person who actually processes the payments - how to ensure you are always last on the payment run!
So what are your options? What should you consider?
Before looking through the endless promotions and incentive catalogues decide what the point of sending the Christmas gift is. Ask yourself a few questions...Why are you sending gifts - to raise awareness, as an incentive, just to spread christmas cheer? What are the most important aspects of your brand and does your choice of present reinforce (rather than contradict) your brand values?
Other things to consider include;
- With monetary gifts such as gift vouchers or gift cards - be aware of tax implications for those who receive them.
- Sweets & Chocolates - although having the benefit of being able to be shared amongst an entire office another minefield opens up. What if your gifts may contain nuts, are not diabetic friendly or they don't allow for the increase in varieties of food intolerances. Chocolates are dropping down in the Christmas gift rankings.
- Alcohol - Although a personal favourite of mine many people do not drink for personal or religious reasons and these gifts often cannot be shared amongst a team (unless they are opened in the office which would be a no no in several organisations)
- Desk toys - test them first. Don't send a gift that breaks shortly after receipt.
How to make things easier...
- Send a gift an entire team can enjoy rather than sending things only to the main contact.
- Have a bit of quality control - don't just just order from a catalogue. See, feel, test any gift you want to send out. The negative comeback for a poor quality gift will be directed at you and not the manufacturer.
- Get your data right - make sure you are sending things to the right people in the right office. Otherwise it is budget straight into the bin.
- Send them early - Although November might be a little too early don't leave it too late either. Many staff start Christmas holidays way before the 20th Dec to tie in with school holidays or just to use up excess holiday built up during the year. Don't send your gifts too late - they might not have the same effect when opened on January 5th!
