Gift Giving in Business and the Workplace (United States)

• Gifts in business are given to demonstrate good faith, usually to celebrate the closing of a deal, but they can also be given on an ongoing basis to foster good will.
• Check with the recipient's company for their policy on gift giving before you give a gift. Some businesses have specific restriction or guidelines on employees giving and receiving giving. Check with the Human Resources department in your company and theirs for details.
• Giving gifts to your boss can look like you are kissing up unless there are only a few people who work in the office.
• Don't give a gift to a co-worker (or to just a few co-workers) at work unless you are giving something to everyone.
• Gag gifts are not appropriate under any circumstances (especially those of a sexual nature). Gifts that are potentially going to make the recipient uncomfortable are not advised.
• Don't give intimate or personal items (scented lotions, perfumes, underwear, etc.).
• Don't give alcohol.
• If you are giving food or non-alcoholic beverages, make sure the recipient/s are not allergic to any of the items. Make sure the food and beverages are something they would enjoy and something that fits their lifestyle (i.e. don't give a basket of candy to a diabetic, don't give a box of steaks to a vegetarian, etc.).
• Don't buy excessively expensive things but also don't be super cheap. Put some thought in to the gift, make it a generous gift tailored to the recipient.
• If you are giving gifts year after year to the same individuals, be consistent in the amount you spend. Don't spend $75 for a gift one year and then $5 the next.
• Check out ReGiftMeNot for great gift ideas. Find out if your business partner or client has a ReGiftMeNot GiftBox and get to know their likes and dislikes!
• Don't give cash, it might look like a bribe. If you can't figure out what to buy, gift cards or gift cheques are acceptable.
• Don't put your logo on a gift. A gift shouldn't appear as a marketing ploy. If you must include a logo, make it small and put it on the packaging, not the gift itself. If you choose a thoughtful, memorable gift you won't need a logo.
• Wrap all gifts (with the exception of retirement gifts) and include a handwritten note or card.
• You don't need to wrap retirement gifts. Present them unwrapped at the retirement party.
• It's best to present gifts in person, but gifts are often mailed around holidays due to the amount given. Mailing gifts is acceptable.
• Determine the amount to spend on a gift according to hierarchy. The higher up a person is, the more expensive the gift should be. Doesn't sound very politically correct? Well, it is what's expected in business and is an important concept related to "saving face". You wouldn't want to give the same gift to a Chairman, CEO, or President as you'd give to the Vice President. And you wouldn't want to give the same gift to the Vice President as you'd give to the Office Manager. Especially when giving gifts to a group of people (like in the closing of a deal), make each gift a little different depending on the hierarchy of the individuals. This is for them, so they don't loose face by all receiving the same generic gift. But this doesn't mean to give the lowest person a piece of junk. Put thought in to each person's gift to make it special, personalized, and unique.

Gift Giving to Customers (United States)

• When sending gifts out to customers, be unique. Choose items that set your business apart from others and make you stand out in the crowd.
• Be careful with the over usage of logos. Don't make your gifts an obvious marketing ploy. If you make the gift unique and well-thought-out, the customer will remember who sent it without the logo to remind them. Gifts are meant to thank the customer for their business, as opposed to marketing tools handed out to potential customers.
• Consider your client base; think about their backgrounds and interests. Tailor your gift to your customer's likes. Target their interests and they will appreciate the thought and extra effort you made to learn about them.
• Don't give cash. It you can't think of something unique to give, consider gift cards or making a donation in the name of the customer to a cause they care about.
• Wrap all gifts and include a card. The extra details make your gift appear more sincere and thoughtful.

Gift Giving in International Business Relationships

When choosing a gift for an international business associate, consider the culture and country the recipient is coming from. Do your research and learn about the gift giving practices of that country. What's acceptable to you might be considered offensive to them and vice versa. Pick something that would be appropriate for their background, tastes, and customs, not necessarily what you'd want to receive. Below we've listed some general etiquette rules for gift giving in the global market place and some examples of specific gift giving etiquette for different countries and regions. To avoid embarrassment and misunderstanding, always check in to the gift giving customs of the country your clients and associates hail from before giving a gift! And then visit the ReGiftMeNot Shopping Mall to pick the perfect gift to suit their needs!

• Gifts in business are given to demonstrate good faith, usually to celebrate the closing of a deal, but they can also be given on an ongoing basis to foster good will.
• When you research the recipient and choose a gift that's personalized for them, it shows you put a lot of thought into it and the gift is more likely to be well received.
• Don't give gifts made of wood to business partners/clients from the Gulf States or Middle East. Wood is not perceived as highly valuable in this region and does not fair well in the climate. If you give a carpet it must be handmade.
• Don't give items made of silver to business partners/clients from Mexico. The overabundance of silver in this region gives rise to the perception that silver is cheap (and that you are cheap or don't value their business very much for giving it!).
• Don't be offended if your Asian business partners/clients don't open the gifts you've just given them in front of you. Westerners are used to opening gifts in front of the giver but this is not the practice in the Asian culture (it gives them a way to "save face" if they don't like it).
• Arabians love traditional perfume as a gift, but don't give any to an Egyptian (they don't feel the same)! Keep in mind that gifts in general are usually only given to very close friends or relatives in Saudi Arabia. It may be considered offensive to give a gift to a mere acquaintance or business associate.
• Buying gold jewelry or silk garments for Islamic men is a big no-no. Those items are considered effeminate by that culture and would be insulting.
• Russians love gifts, giving and getting them. hey like to spend a lot of money on gifts so don't be cheap with yours. Don't give trivial items such as pens or notebooks and avoid cheap vodka or wine. Stick to expensive alcohols (pick something besides vodka), fine chocolates, cameras, watches, or items that are desirable but scarce in their region. When attending social events, it's expected you'll bring a gift as a thank-you. Skip the thank-you note or card and give something that can be used instead. Russians won't appreciate your gesture unless it has a practical use. If there are children involved, bringing something small for them makes a good impression. Don't give a baby present to your Russian client's pregnant wife, it's considered bad luck to get baby gifts before the birth.
• In China, it's official business culture policy that gifts are forbidden as they may be misconstrued as the illegal act of bribery. Although a gift can be given to a company as a whole as long as negotiations have been completed. Gifts can be given privately to individuals with the intent of friendship instead of a business related token of gratitude. It would not be uncommon for a gift to be declined. In fact the Chinese don't want to appear greedy so it is custom to decline a gift three times before accepting it. You'll need to be insistent if you really want them to have the gift! And you'll be expected to act the same way if offered a gift. Express gratitude when they finally take the gift as well as if you are given a gift. Don't photograph the gift exchange unless it is a symbolic gift given to a whole group or organization. Wrapping gifts in plain red paper is the safest choice, with pink, gold, and silver generally being acceptable as well. Skip the yellow paper with black writing as this is the way to wrap a present given only to the dead in China. Don't write anything in red ink, it symbolizes severing ties.
• In Japan, good alcohol and name brand items go over well as gifts. As with in the United States, give gifts according to the hierarchy of the company, with the most senior person receiving the nicest gift (but still make all the gifts nice and thoughtful). Present and receive gifts with two hands.
• Avoid giving beer as a gift to Germans (it would seem pointless) and skip the clothing, perfume, or other personal items. Flowers are nice but leave the heather out of the bouquet (planted at cemeteries) and don't include red roses (for lovers) or lilies (used in German funerals). Small souvenir-like gifts are typically given at social events as a thank-you. Larger gifts are not typical and if given, are done so usually in a public and official way.
• In Brazil, don't give anything in black or purple (the colors of mourning), or any kind of cutting device/letter opener (will be interpreted as severing the bond), and skip the personal items. Popular American CDs and DVDs (or tapes/VHS) make prized possessions. Avoid anything obviously expensive.
• Don't include your business card in a gift to the French, doing so goes against their business etiquette. Exercise caution in general when giving a gift to a French associate as a display of generosity since this is not a typical practice in French business. As with other European countries, gifts are expected as a thank-you at social events. If giving flowers, leave out the chrysanthemums (for funerals), red roses (for lovers), and carnations (might be interpreted as a sign of bad will). According to an old European tradition, bouquets should be in odd numbers.
• Same goes for the United Kingdom and flowers, no chrysanthemums, red roses, or lilies. Gift giving is not the norm in business in the UK so be aware your recipient may be embarrassed to receive a gift. Gifts are most appropriately given at the conclusion of a deal, but keep them small and not overtly expensive. Gold, silver, and porcelain are acceptable gifts as are pens, books, flowers, wine, and champagne.
• Like many other countries, gifts don't play a large role in Canadian business practices either. However, unlike most European countries, gifts are not expected at social events. But bringing flowers, wine, or chocolate to a home dinner would still be considered a nice gesture. If giving a gift, anything that's a signature of your home country is a safe choice and would be appreciated.
• If giving gifts to associates from India, wrap them in red, yellow, blue, or green paper and avoid whites and blacks (not viewed favorably). Gifts generally aren't given at a first meeting and don't pick something large or expensive as gifts of this nature are typically only given between close family and friends. If visiting someone's home, a gift such as flowers or chocolates is expected. When giving flowers, roses are the safest choice. You'd be better off not giving leather gifts (many Hindus are vegetarians) or alcohol (drinking is not culturally accepted in most of India) and giving jewelry (typically considered an intimate gift) might be viewed as an inappropriate gift for a man to give to a woman in a business setting.
• Don't give cash, it might look like a bribe.
• Don't put your logo on a gift. A gift shouldn't appear as a marketing ploy. If you must include a logo, make it small and put it on the packaging, not the gift itself. If you choose a thoughtful, memorable gift you won't need a logo.
• Wrap all gifts and include a handwritten note or card.
• In general, determine the amount to spend on a gift according to hierarchy. The higher up a person is, the more expensive the gift should be. Doesn't sound very politically correct? Well, it is what's expected in business and is an important concept related to "saving face". You wouldn’t want to give the same gift to a Chairman, CEO, or President as you'd give to the Vice President. And you wouldn't want to give the same gift to the Vice President as you'd give to the Office Manager. Especially when giving gifts to a group of people (like in the closing of a deal), make each gift a little different depending on the hierarchy of the individuals. This is for them, so they don't loose face by all receiving the same generic gift. But this doesn't mean to give the lowest person a piece of junk. Put thought in to each person's gift to make is special, personalized, and unique.
• In general, send a handwritten thank-you for the gift (even if you don't like it). The proper thing to do is acknowledge the gift. If you can't send a thank-you, make sure you profusely state your thanks at the time of receipt.