Corporate gifting doesn’t have to be boring! Not all branded gifts need to end up in the landfill. What if you could hand someone a useful gift that not only highlights your company’s values, but honors the recipient’s values and likes? Maybe it’s a sustainable camping mug showcasing your company’s logo, manufactured by a brand that values diversity and inclusion, offered up to an employee that loves to camp. Now that’s not only a useful gift, but it has depth. We’re talking layers upon layers of meaning! Tada! You’ve just told that employee, client, or customer that not only do you stand for something greater, but you see and honor them as a unique individual. Now who wouldn’t want to hold onto that gift?
Here are 5 ways you can make corporate gifting meaningful.
1. Sustainability
Choosing eco-friendly or sustainable gifts such as reusable water bottles, tote bags, or bamboo utensils can demonstrate your company’s commitment to sustainability and reducing its carbon footprint. Honestly, ensuring that your gift is sustainable and ‘earth easy’ should be a no-brainer. Making sustainability a priority in gifting will not only blow a big, fat ‘I love you’ kiss to mother earth, it will also weed out all the junk gifts and make selecting the perfect item that much easier.
2. Ethical Sourcing
Companies can source their gifts from ethically responsible suppliers or organizations that support causes related to their values. We already discussed sustainability above, but think Fair Trade or gifts that embrace social responsibility. Ethics matter! When your corporate gift embodies the importance of ethics, the gift has more meaning. And hey, it’s just the right thing to do!
3. Diversity and Inclusion
Companies can choose gifts that are representative of diverse cultures and backgrounds or support organizations that support diversity and inclusion. This one is big! In a world where we are feeling more divided than ever, this is a place where we can look our employees, co-worker, client, or customers in the eye and say “I very much value the ways in which we are different”. It acknowledges that there are a million ways to do good in this world. There’s room for everyone! We all matter and we should all be included!
4. Personalization
Customizing gifts according to the recipient’s preferences and interests can show that the company values personal connections and individuality. This is a fun one! Does your client or employee base live near the beach? Or is hiking their jam? Choose gifts that they can incorporate into their recreational lives. Not only is it a gesture that you see their love for something specific, but the gift can travel along with them to their happy places. They will be reminded of the awesome company they work for when their hearts are at their fullest. That’s cool!
5. Philanthropy
Companies can donate to a charity or nonprofit organization on behalf of the recipient as a way of showcasing their commitment to social causes. This one is special because it is entirely selfless on both sides. All that is material falls to the wayside in this category. This is direct action on behalf of your corporate values, combined with the values of the recipient, contributing to something much greater. Let them choose the organization. Let it be an opportunity for your company to learn more about your employee’s desires for this world and all of humanity.
In summary, corporate gifts that are meaningful and useful to the recipients, highlight some of your company’s core values, and have a much better chance of sticking around and not ending up in a landfill. Furthermore, you create a deeper connection with the recipient. You are being intentional and authentic while telling the employee or customer, ‘Thank you! I see you, I respect you, and I want to work alongside you to accomplish meaningful things.’ Now doesn’t that feel better than going through the motions of ordering 200 cheap, flimsy plastic water bottles that leak, have no meaning, and end up in the trash? We think so too!
Do you need help creating the perfect gifts for your amazing employee team or client base? We’ve got you covered! We have a dream team that can make corporate gifting fun and meaningful. We want to help! Reach out to us to get going on your unique project, that highlights your true colors today!
