College Central®

Ask around. The Network works.®

Career Corner
Employee Appreciation at Its Best

Bob Bassett -- Corporate gifts are a means of thanking both your employees and customers and showing them how valuable they are to you.

For that special client or that special secretary, a corporate gift basket is a great way to make someone feel important. From making a good first impression, to thanking a client and letting them know that their business matters, to rewarding your employees for a job well done, gift giving is important in the corporate world.

Corporate gift giving can be tricky, with some customers or business associates having policies limiting the monetary value of what they may accept, personal preference, and even allergies playing a part in choosing the perfect corporate gift basket.

The easiest way to find out what is an acceptable gift and within company policy is to call your customer's company and ask to speak to their human resources department. They can provide you with acceptable gift-giving guidelines for their company.

Smaller companies may have less strict guidelines, or you may be able to give a gift to the whole office, rather than to one individual. Choosing a corporate gift basket tailored to your customer shows that you pay attention to detail.

Giving gifts to your employees, while not required, makes them feel appreciated. Corporate gift baskets are a great option, since you can tailor each gift to the individual employee. The personal touch is important, letting your employees know that you pay attention to them. Corporate gift baskets are a great way to reward a special job well done or celebrate Secretary's Day. For an extra touch, throw in a gift card to an employee's favorite store.

When choosing a corporate gift basket that contains food items, either for a customer or employee, make sure to take into account dietary considerations. You don't want to give a diabetic a basket of candy or a vegetarian a selection of smoked sausages. Make sure you are aware of any allergies the recipient may have to dairy products, nuts, and other common ingredients.

A corporate gift basket is a good way to thank both your employees and customers, and show them how valuable they are to you. With the range of choices, it's possible to find something for everyone and show them each a personal touch.

Bob Bassett is the owner of Unique Gift Baskets Online, www.uniquegiftbasketsonline.com, which offers a wide selection of gift baskets for any occasion including baby gift baskets, food gift baskets, wine, and corporate gift baskets.

© 2005 Bob Bassett

Return to top

The views and opinions expressed in these articles do not necessarily reflect those of College Central Network, Inc. or its affiliates. Reference to any company, organization, product, or service does not constitute endorsement by College Central Network, Inc., its affiliates or associated companies. The information provided is not intended to replace the advice or guidance of your legal, financial, or medical professional.