Business gifts are part of the oil that greases the wheels of commerce. Knowing how to choose the right business gifts and when to send them out is as much a matter of business etiquette as knowing how to schmooze the secretary. The when can be a tricky thing. There are the standard holidays, of course, the winter ones when everyone acknowledges their business relationships with appropriate business gifts. Your customers will expect your holiday calendars imprinted with your business name. The companies who value your business will send fruit baskets and other executive business gifts designed to remind you that they value your custom and you should remember their name. It's easy to get lost in the shuffle when everyone is sending business gifts.

There's another way to make a big splash with business gifts. We're not suggesting that you should NOT send gifts during the traditional holiday season. Rather, we're suggesting that you should divide your gift-giving budget between traditional holiday business gifts and unusual holidays that have meaning to your company. Here's an assortment of unorthodox holidays and ways to use them to promote your company with business gifts.

1. Take a trip in the sporting world.

Celebrate or commiserate when national and local sporting teams are involved in major sporting events. You can get surprising mileage out of the news in the local sports page. Celebrate hometown team Opening Days with small, inexpensive business gifts like caps or t-shirts encouraging hometown clubs on to victory.

2. Secretaries' Day

Business gifts aren't just for your clients. Remember your entire support staff with a gift on Secretaries' Day. While you're at it, acknowledge those special secretaries and admin assistants who make your life easier in doing day to day business - the receptionist who always remembers your name, the secretary who books her boss' appointments, the administrative assistant who makes it a point to pass on your sales materials when the boss is in a great mood.

3. Welcome Spring with business gifts to your clients.

Springtime is a holiday that anyone can get behind. Even the government recognizes the arrival of Spring with a bank holiday. This is the time to break out lighthearted business gifts that your clients can enjoy out of doors. Don't think only in terms of big executive gifts for these - this is a great time to connect with your all of your customers. A mail campaign with inexpensive but appropriate advertising gifts can be part of an overall springtime promotion.

4. Pick your cause.

Awareness weeks and special holidays abound. From National Poetry Day (October 4 in 2007) to World Environment Day (June 5 in 2007), there are dozens of holidays and Awareness Days from which to choose. If your business has to do with the environment (do you sell dustbins? Recycle paper products?), then you might send business gifts on World Environment Day to highlight the occasion. The Woodlands Junior School in Kent has put together an amazing array of calendars that mark holidays and Awareness Days in the UK at http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/calendars/index.htm. You'll find it amazingly helpful when looking for holidays that are appropriate for your business to celebrate with business gifts.

Business gifts are a great way to publicize your business and cement business relationships. They also offer an opportunity to help promote and define the image that your company presents to the world. There are holidays that promote nearly everything you can imagine. Start shuffling through the calendar and choose the ones that align with your company's thinking. their effort and appreciate it.