Giving business gifts to clients, customers and employees is an excellent way of strengthening your business relationships, getting and keeping more customers, and of boosting employee morale and productivity. In some situations?such as with customer purchase incentives?there's no need to personalize the business gifts you give, but when it comes to business associates and employees, you'll want to give items that have a personal touch. This virtually doubles the benefits of giving the gifts, as your recipients will feel for appreciative and more valued if they know you've put some thought into how and when you give business gifts.



Collect and Remember Personal Information

This doesn't mean you have to stalk your business associates and employees to find out about their personal lives! However, any time subjects such as their birthdays, anniversaries and other important dates come up, commit these dates to memory, and write them down as soon as you get a chance. With this information at hand, you've got some great occasions to give personal business gifts that will definitely please your clients. What client won't feel important and appreciated if you take the trouble to remember their birthday, and then present them with a gift when that day rolls around every year?

Add a Personal Note or Greeting Card

Even if you're unable to choose a personal gift for your client or employee?sometimes the occasion doesn't warrant it?you can make even a work-related gift seem more personal with a few special touches. Add a hand-written personal note that explains why you're giving the gift, such as ?John, thanks for all the hard work you put in on this project over the last three months. You've done a great job and it's very much appreciated!? Even if the gift is something simple like a bottle of wine or a package of gourmet chocolates, the addition of a hand-written note makes the gift seem very special.

Personalize the Packaging

Presentation is an important concept in the world of business gifts. A wrapped gift always creates a greater impact, no matter what is inside the package. Gifts that are purchased pre-packaged in a presentation or gift box are ideal, but if the gift you choose doesn't have this extra, it's a simple matter to wrap an item in tissue paper or cellophane to add that extra personal touch. Make the gift even more personal by choosing wrapping in the recipient's favorite color, if you know it.

Should you add your Logo or Company Name?

Many people choose not to add any company information to business gifts'in these cases it often seems crass or too blatantly self-promotional to add this type of information. However, you can sometimes get away with it depending on the item or the occasion. For example, if you're giving a gift to an employee you have just promoted, an item that they'll use in their new job can include your company name and logo. On the other hand, if you're giving gifts on personal occasions such as weddings or anniversaries, it's best to make sure that any company information you add is kept to a small size and is in a discreet location?however, on these occasions it's usually best to omit this information completely.