Use Gifts to Make a Good Impression at the Workplace. A Guide to Good Corporate Gifting Plus Top-Notch Gifts for Business Professionals in 2019

Gift giving can be difficult even on the easiest of days but when it comes to business professionals, it becomes quite complex. You are left with so many questions; What’s appropriate? What could you possibly give? And then there is the question of business etiquette. Plus the recipient of the gift should like it as well. Everyone has been in a situation where you pretend to like the gift and then just keep it aside. There are a lot of factors that come in precedence when choosing a gift for business professionals. We put together a few pointers to help you choose a gift that ticks all the correct boxes.

Your chosen gift should be appropriate and make them feel special. But it should be within the boundaries and should not be construed as inappropriate by any means. Gifts for business professionals can be sensitive. Hence take it upon you to research the gift culture of the person you are gifting.

Make sure the gift is special and significant while not overstepping the limits. If at any point the question of propriety rises, it is better to resort to a safe gift. It can be something that is relatable to both of you or something that reflects his tastes and interests. The latter strikes a chord and makes them feel special.

Investing time and effort in the gift would go a long way in making it special and meaningful. Make a list of their interests and passions. If you know the person very well, this would be easy for you. If not, you can scope out his social media pages for their likes and dislikes.

Once you have this ready, make another list of what you could get based on their interests. For example, if he/she is a voracious reader, you can gift them the latest best seller. Or if they are a sports fan, you could get tickets for a match when their favourite team is on.

The opinion that “Expensive gifts are the best”, is really a myth. A thoughtful gift even though inexpensive is bound to be well accepted. It's not always about how expensive, instead it is about how much thought the process has gone into it. A gift that reflects their interests, passion and hobbies would strike a chord with the person receiving the gift.

But it is imperative that you fix your budget. This helps you to go innovative and get something that fits your budget. Moreover, it won't burn a hole in your pocket too. Another point to remember is that when you gift an expensive gift to your employer/manager/peer, it brings about a sense of awkwardness that puts them in a bad position. They would be obliged to return the favour or worse decline the gift.

No matter what gift you get, expensive or inexpensive, a personal touch is a masterful touch. It can be in the form of an engraving or a note; Whatever it is, a personal note is sure to bring about a smile and will be something to remember you by.

A website like Personalization Mall personalizes the gifts based on your needs. Make sure it is personalized with their name and not yours. You can also send cookies and chocolates catered to their tastes from Harry and David or Gourmet Gift Baskets with a personal note.

When you gift a business professional, you need to make sure that the gift is memorable and makes a lasting impression. Consumers are spoilt for choice with the products available in the market. So, to make it easy for you, we made this list of 10 finest gifts for business professionals for your inspiration.

We all have more water bottles than we what to do with. But one look at this Vaya Drynk, and we want more bottles. The bottle itself has a metal shell made of stainless steel 304 with a coated finish. The lid is BPA-free, copolyester plastic and is FDA approved while the lid spout seal is of food-grade Silicone material. It comes in 11 different colours and we are definitely spoilt for choice. Our choice is the metallic gold with brown lid and coaster. There are three versions of the Vaya Drynk bottle; 1 drynk body with a sipper or gulper and two cups or sipper, gulper and two cups. The 600 ml Vaya Drynk bottle is available at a starting price of just Rs. 1,080 at vaya.in.

Every business professional loves a good Bluetooth speaker, especially one like the Rollbar Bluetooth Speaker and Stand. The speaker itself has a range of 10 metres and is made of ABS plastic. It offers an uninterrupted playtime of 8 hours after which it can be charged using the Micro USB to USB cable that is included with the speaker. It comes with a provision for mounting your smartphone or your tablet. The lightweight design of the speaker amounts for its portability and makes for an amazing travel companion. Priced at $89 or Rs. 6,260, it is available to buy at gifts.com.

The cons of being a tech addict business professional are that you are left with so many cables and so little ways to organize them. Here’s where the On The Go Leather Tech Organizer comes to your help with elastic storage bands for holding the cables, a separate section for holding your device and a zippered pocket. Priced at Rs. $49 or Rs. 3,447, it measures 9” x 7” x 2.5”. It is made of leatherette material and can be personalised to your needs. The box can also be personalised and addressed to the recipient of the gift. You can buy this stylish and practical organizer from gifts.com.

In the era of digitalization, it is important that you maintain a backup or two of your important data and photos. The 1.5Tb Portable External Hard Drive by Elements is your companion in this regard. With 1.5 Tb you will not run out of storage. The hard disk is formatted for windows and has USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 compatibility for super-fast transfer rates. The lightweight design allows you to carry it in person at all times. It is available to buy at amazon.in for Rs. 4,099. Don't forget to register your product at the WD portal for a 2-year warranty.

Is your latest report taking away all your confidence? Is your anxiety checking in? This can happen to anyone. And that’s the reason why Desktop Golf is an apt gift for your business professional friend. Putt away those mini balls and feel your anxiety withering away. Nothing like a patch of green, even if it’s right at your desk. Their patent-pending technology lets you have your hole at a different each time. It also comes with a magnetic flagpole to lift the ball from the hole. For a price of Rs. 2,459, you get a miniature golf course, magnetic flag pole and two mini balls. Buy yours from uncommongoods.com.

A part of being a business professional is making presentations, taking notes and generally being on the top of everything else. Of course, you can use a pen and paper; But if you are being environmentally conscious, you can use ProElite Business Pad with Pen for business professionals. It is equipped with the latest LCD technology and is lightweight and portable. The LCD writing tablet is powered by a coin cell battery and has a working time of at least 2 years. It also comes with a stylus and a docking station for the stylus. Erasing the messages on the pad is as simple as pressing the delete button. It is available to buy from amazon.in for Rs. 899.

Whatever the past time is, podcast or heart-thumping music or a pleasant classical, a business professional really need a quality headphone with astounding quality. The Plantronics Audio Stereo Headset is just the right one for you. It is easy to wear and quite comfortable. It also has noise cancelling microphones which make for crystal clear conversations. The headset is Skype-certified for an amazing chatting experience. The 24-bit hi-fi stereo sound gives an improved output, be it when listening to music or making calls. Priced at Rs. 2,449, it is available to buy at amazon.in.

Everyone loves a quick pick me up, even business professionals. The Be You Marble Motivational Kit is an ideal gift for someone who feels burdened or someone low in confidence. Rather than being pleasing to the eye, it serves as a reminder for better things to come. The kit from thingsremembered.com contains a display box containing a tumbler, straw, pen and a notebook. All of them carry the motivational quote “Be Bold; Be Brave; Be You”. Priced at $22.50 or Rs. 1,582, it also has a metal plate which can be engraved with the initials or the name of the recipient.

Who in their right mind can resist a hot cup of green tea and roasted seeds? The Healthy Break Time Gift Basket from igp.com, is the ideal gift for the health nut. The gift basket contains 30ml lemongrass green tea infusers, 250gm roasted multiseed and a coffee mug with a spoon. The contents are packaged in an environment-friendly jute teddy basket. Priced at Rs. 1,000, this gift basket has everything your business professional friend needs to feel invigorated and refreshed.

The 63 in 1 Precision Screwdriver Set from amazon.com, is probably the best and the most relevant gift you could ever get a business professional. The kit has everything you need to repair a smartphone including iPhone/iPad, Tablet, MacBook, X-box, Nintendo and PlayStation. Priced at Rs. 914, the set contains everything inclusive of 57 bits, flexible shaft, aluminium driver, extension rod, standard driver adapter, triangle plectrum and a plastic stick. The tools and the bits are secured and don’t fall out that easily. It is a must-have for every business professional who loves getting hands-on with their devices.

It is not as easy, getting a gift for a business professional. Considering you have just about selected your gift, there are certain etiquettes you need to follow if you are to make it a success. Else you run the risk of insulting someone or worse flouncing the rules.

The most important factors that matter when talking about gifting etiquettes are the occasion. This is where you can easily insult or hurt the recipient if you are not careful. Gifting to business professionals are of a sensitive nature and should be handled as such. Few occasions when you can gift include successful completion of a project, promotions, seasonal holidays, and commemoration of events like weddings, the birth of a child or birthday.

Before talking about the appropriateness of a gift, it is really important that you familiarize yourself with the customs and rules related to gifting if you have not yet done so. In certain regions gifting business professionals are considered inappropriate. Some cultures require the gifts to be wrapped and presented a certain way.

Gifts for business professionals cannot be of a personal nature and must be of a practical nature. Humour always works, but when it comes to business, chances are that it might be taken on an offensive note. So, it is better you do your homework lest your best intentions backfire.

Gifts can be given to anyone when they are of a personal nature. But when it comes to a business environment, it is imperative that you understand who to gift and what to gift. Gifting your peers is not an issue and is welcomed especially during holidays. But when it comes to clients or bosses, it differs depending on the corporate rules and what constitutes a bribe. In the case that you are gifting your boss, make sure it is elegant, inexpensive and impersonal.

Celebrations that accompany gift giving should be planned in a way that it doesn't impede on office hours or responsibilities. Be aware of the time and others when conducting a celebration. Celebrate during lunch hours or your breaks. If you are celebrating in the office premises, make sure you invite everyone relevant. If you do not plan on doing so, celebrate somewhere else.

Gone are the times when you personally acknowledge everyone for any gift you receive. But it is slowly and surely out of practice. When in a business environment, it is considered a good practice that you acknowledge the gift and thank them. It need not be, pages over pages of how thankful you are. A short and sweet “Thank You for the Gift” often does the magic.

Every company has guidelines regarding gifts that are of a professional nature. Some even might be construed as bribes if you are not careful. Hence it is imperative that your gift is of a nominal budget and aloof nature. Check out the corporate guidelines and if you are not sure, seek the help of your corporate HR representative for more information.