10 Corporate Gift Ideas for Employees in Bangalore That You Won’t Find Anywhere Else Plus How You Can Use Corporate Gifts to Thank Your Employees and Customers in 2019

Bengaluru, the start-up hub of India is one of India’s most urban and hip cities. The people of Bengaluru are often regarded as calm, composed and super cool. Almost all of them are in classic Bengaluru lingo, ‘enthu cutlets’ (an enthu cutlet as per Samosapedia "is an earnest eager beaver who is able to muster up inordinate amounts of energy, inspiration and enthusiasm towards a variety of things"). And a huge number of these enthu cutlets works in the flourishing corporate sector of Bengaluru. And if you’re someone who is a part of this circuit and are looking at gifting something well then you’ve come to the right place. We’ve got answers to all your questions.

With great corporate gifts come great responsibilities. Take our advice like you’d take the instructions in a strongly worded email from your boss. And be as considerate as you are with your client just a day or two before he is supposed to clear the dues!!

It is essential that the gifts that you give in a corporate environment, reflect your status in the company, the chain of command as well as your willingness to gift someone something. Your gift needs to well-thought-out and can’t be shoddy at all unless it is Secret Santa and you’re the Santa to your colleague who is your best friend, in which case go nuts. But if you’re your bosses secret Santa then this is your chance to gift him something that’ll have you in his good books. (Tip: Though against the rules, make sure that you somehow let your boss know that it was you who gave him the gift. Brownie points! Also, everything is fair in love, war and for a promotion.)

Now that we know how important gift-giving is for your career. Let’s help you choose that perfect gift. Here are some tips to choose the perfect gift for a corporate environment in a place like Bengaluru:

Your gift has to have an aura of professionalism and a sense of formality attached to it. It can’t be something that is too personal and it can definitely not be too gaudy. It has to be classy. It has to speak volumes about your professional standing and your character as well as the character of the organization.

If you’re an employer and you’re gifting something to your employee then it has to be a different breed of gifts that you’d gift your partner or maybe your client. You need to understand the gifts that suit your purpose the best because corporate gifting is about building and strengthening corporate/professional relationships.

Make sure that the gift that you give has a message to it. Not a literal message but a metaphorical one. If you’re expressing your gratitude to a client, then you need to make sure that the client understands the same. You also have to make people feel appreciated and their contributions cherished.

Corporate machinery is very impersonal. But that doesn’t mean that it can’t have a hint of emotions attached to it. Make sure to add a note. A handwritten note. This small gesture can make an average gift, an amazing one.

Alright then, now you know how to choose the perfect corporate gifts. But we’re sure that your busy schedule doesn’t really let you scour the internet for gifting options and you definitely don’t have the time to hit retail stores and search for gifts. We understand this and we have the solution to your corporate gifting problems right here. So Enthu Cutlets, perk up your ears and sit in our gifting rickshaw (this ride is free of cost and the price is non-negotiable) and let us take you to the perfect destination, we’ll make a couple of stops so that you can choose what works best for you.

Here are our top 10 corporate gifts Bengaluru Edition:

Bengaluru is famous for pubs but is also famous for its coffee. Gifting someone a coffee mug is economical and it does the job. Either give someone your brand’s customised coffee mug or one with something witty or inspirational written on it. Everyone can use a dose of inspiration now and then. Our pick is this amazing Bangalore themed mug by Chumbak. You can get this for Just Rs.295 on Chumbak.

These are very underrated but planners make for wonderful gifts. Planning is the half the battle won and a planner as a gift is the full battle won. A game, set, match. There are a couple of different sizes, templates, layouts and qualities available. Make sure that you choose something that suits the person and your pocket too. With that said, we feel that one planner can fit all and this is the planner that fits every narrative perfectly. It is simple, plain, has the capacity to plan your schedule for two straight years and it is extremely functional. Also, there are a couple of classy colour options like black and brown that are really tasteful and work really well in every office setting. Buy it for Rs.1,325 on Join Paper Planes.

"It is gifting time! Clocks make for great corporate gifts. Especially with people waiting for it to strike 5 so that they can leave and go to one of the Bengaluru pubs to chill with other enthu cutlets and talk about their corporate lives. A clock will always be at their desk and will always remind you of you and how considerate you are (Someone just earned a LinkedIn endorsement). With corporate gifting, being classy is very important. You don't want to give people in your network gifts that are low quality, defected or made by fake brands. Hence, we believe that this Ajanta Quartz Wall Clock is the perfect fit for every wall. It is subtle, intricate and works well with every wall. Price: Rs.445 on Amazon.

"Although Bengaluru isn’t very windy, corporate offices are always taken by the storm and there is just too much of documentation to be done. And amidst the flying papers, there is just one saviour. One hero. The Messiah. The paperweight. Paperweights clearly show that you’re ready to lend a hand always. Every person needs support when the going gets tough. Here's the perfect paperweight to give them hope even when everything is in despair. It has on it inscribed weighty words by Winston Churchill, " If you're going through hell, keep going." Price: Rs.2,708 on uncommongifts.com.

Some paintings are eye sores but if you know your art well and if you can pick a subtle painting as a gift then you’ve just added a great deal of aesthetic value to someone’s desk or cabin. Art is certainly subjective but some paintings just nail the emotions right. This Leonid Afremov Landscape Canvas Oil Painting is exactly that. Find it on Amazon for Rs.800.

Small plants have often been used to add ‘life’ in the literal sense to the mundane desks that corporates tend to have. Plants have also become symbols of hope and good luck in offices, so you’re not just giving someone a plant anymore, you’re wishing them luck. This Di Grazia Wooden Succulent Plants Flower Pot Storage Box is impeccable and is a great addition in both aesthetics and the vibe of any desk. Also, people in Bengaluru just love succulents, don't they? Order it for Rs.999 on Amazon.

A small gift-basket can be whipped up with some essentials like pens, markers, folders, some chocolates and snacks, etc. and you can gift that to people as well. The biggest advantage is that you can customise and give gifts according to what you think suits the person and the situation the best. You can add coffee beans or tea bags, maybe even champagne in some cases (clients or partners love these) and have a more high-end gift basket. Electronics like pen drives also make great additions to the basket. But if you're not quite sure about the contents of the gift basket then here's the best gift basket for all sorts of corporate gifting. There is a whole mix of gourmet edible treats and snacks in this gift hamper that costs Rs.2,853 on gourmetgiftbaskets.com.

The world is run by computers these days and corporate Bengaluru is run by laptops. A good quality laptop bag is a great gift to give to both employees and clients. Although for clients and partners, a tech-heavy bag with some goodies and electronics would make for better gifting. Laptop bags are one of the best gifts that you can gift in the corporate world in today’s day and age. Our pick is the fashionable Laptop Bag with Detachable Sling Strap. It is the epitome of quality, functionality and style. It's available in two colours, a coffee brown version and a navy blue one. Get it for Rs.1,499 on ajio.com.

Now don’t get us wrong. We’re not talking about a set of cheap pens here. We’re talking about just one pen, something that someone would use to sign important documents and cheques. A pen that would make the person feel important and thereby make you important because you gifted him/her that pen. This has been something that has been around for ages and it’s pretty lucid and clear why that is the case. When you think premier pens, you think of Parker. So our top pick is the Parker Vector Gold. It is a beautiful, luxurious piece. Price: Rs.850 on Amazon.

And if you think you can’t find the right gift for someone or that you don’t want to take a chance then gift cards are also amazing. Particularly with employees. An employee wouldn’t mind getting a gift card but a partner might feel underappreciated if the amount on the gift card is underwhelming to the partner. Also, it can be misconstrued as an act of letting the client or partner know the amount spent as a way of showing-off. Avoid it. But if you're giving them a gift card then we'd suggest Amazon gift cards particularly because they can be used to buy practically anything that someone would want to. You can choose gift cards for any price-point but our suggestion is the Rs. 2,000 Amazon Gift Card. Price: Rs.2,000 on Amazon.

We really think that these gifts will solve all your corporate gifting hassles. Stick to them, adhere to the tips, make sure you add a handwritten note to the gift, maybe a nice gift bag and the most important thing is to have a smile on your face when you give it to the receiver. The receiver shouldn’t feel that the gift is out of sheer obligation but must feel genuine appreciation. This will lead to a better rapport and eventually a better workplace environment and better results. Happy people work better. So stay happy! Stay enthu and keep gifting.