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Which gifts are hot amongst corporate groups these days, in a few different price ranges

By Simone Esposito

Now a days people are bored to death of receiving the usual pens, paper weights and silver plated picture frames. Either for small give aways or for the top high end gifts, we want "something different….something new"!

This is what my clients tell me as soon as we meet up. Story of my life! That is why it seems everybody is kind of surprised (in a nice way, of course!) that a luxury company such as Loro Piana has started a Corporate Gifting Division.

I personally believe there is a gap to fill. Very few luxury companies in fact operates also in this niche market. So, question is: how do we diversify and how do we create something "hot" and "new"?

First step is to follow the philosophy of the brand without going too far from it. Respecting the roots and the image of the company. Clients will appreciate that. Especially if they are already clients of that particular brand.

I believe that a range of items entirely dedicated to traveling is definitely a great starting point. Everybody likes traveling, especially business men who spend most of their time in airports or private jets.

So why not creating a range of items and make their business trips more pleasant?!

I am talking leather travel sets, cashmere blankets, travel pillows, fun and tasteful key-rings in leather.

Point is….let's make it really exclusive by using the best materials (cashmere, anti-scratch leather, suede…) and by customizing everything in a fun but discreet way (see my previous article).

Sometime then the "same old" key-ring, for example, can be re-vitalized by using new materials, innovative design or by making it original (i.e. reproducing the logo of the company in leather and using the corporate colors of the company).

But in the end I believe there is nothing better than a gift that you can really use.

It can be something small such as a leather address book or a journal. It can be a beautiful wind-braker jacket for the sport events (golf retreats rule!). It can be a wonderful and soft cashmere blanket to wrap yourself in a cold night in front of the fire. Or something really innovative like a luxurious Travel Game (chess and backgammon)….everybody would love that!

How to logo items tastefully so that people actually keep and use the gifts

By Simone Esposito

Our first corporate client placed a large order of one of the best sport jackets we have in our collection. "Great choice!", we immediately said. There was a big BUT…."How are we going to personalize it?!?". The jacket was meant for a sport event organized by this big Financial Institution and in particular for their top Directors and Managers. I remember that this issue has been object of detailed discussions and an incredible amount of emails between us and the client. Personalizing the items is the basis in order to meet our client's taste.

There are so many details involved in this process, such as corporate colors, size of the logo, positioning… It all can be done by using different techniques such as distinctive signature labels or flawless embroidery (in this last case I always suggest the ton sur ton option, by using the same color of the garment. The final result would be absolutely tasteful, "custom made" but not too intrusive). Alternatively each item can be tagged with a special label indicating important dates, names, places or initials.

Creating hanging booklets to commemorate an occasion or describe the special features of the product is also another interesting but most of all tasteful way to personalize the gifts. I believe it is extremely important to offer a variety of possibilities but do not forget that same rules cannot be applied to different typologies of items. It all depends by the nature of the gift itself. Our first client opted then for a big logo embroided on the left chest of the jacket. It was a big success BUT…after the event everybody tried to find a way to cover the embroidery in order to wear that beautiful jacket.

The same client is now asking exclusively for personalized labels and hanging booklets.

How to Match Gifts to the Personality of the Group

By Simone Esposito

Every client, every corporation, every single division (in the same company) has a different story, a different point of view and different needs for their corporate gifts. It is very interesting  to notice that  within the same company, there are  various, and  sometime conflicting,  ideas about what corporate gifts should be given to which clients each  time.

Finding the  appropriate  corporate gift has become a complicated task for event planners. One needs to move away from the common gifts, such as pens, paper-weights, desk set s, company-embossed golf accessories, etc. It has become important to present clients with gifts that show imagination, and appreciation of their business. Clients want to be excited and stimulated by not only an original idea, but also an  unusual ,   and well-thought of idea.

It is extremely important to create a synergy with the supplier and to have a  creative point of view. Finding the " perfectly matching gift " is the result of  t eam work  between the  client  and the supplier. Occasionally,  suppliers do not include in their offer " that particular item " the client is looking for " that particular event ".

Let's create it! Together!

Another cardinal point around which everything  revolves is  timing. Planning in advance  is crucial to finding the perfect gift ,  rather than trying to  source  something  at  the last minute.  Providing the supplier with  a  briefing in terms of  a  calendar of corporate events during the year,  the  occasion for each event, a budget,  and number of participants are also important.  These are all elements that will allow the supplier to match gifts to the personality of the group .