Corporate Gifting for the 2020 Holiday Season

As the 2020 holiday season approaches, companies may be thinking about how they will be connecting and showing appreciation to employees and clients in meaningful ways.

Large celebrations and holiday events have become challenging due to the pandemic. And some of the more traditional holiday gifts may not fit the bill. 

One way of giving employees recognition and showing customer appreciation is a premium gift that is timeless, meaningful and practical. 

The benefit of a good gift

When you think of the last time you received a gift you loved, you probably gleamed with excitement. You couldn’t wait to show or share it with others. If it was an item you can wear or use, you probably took the product out to try it on or use it. You felt appreciated, thought of, and most importantly, special.

Conversely, as the person giving the gift, there is a great sense of satisfaction when you see the expression on the face of someone you’ve given a great gift to. The way that the recipient reacts to your gift reinforces the appreciation you intended to give.

When it comes to business gifts, the product(s) you choose for your corporate gifting strategy represents how you want your company to be perceived. According to a 2019 Business Gift Satisfaction Survey by Knack, corporate gifts can support – or hurt – business growth. Specifically, 57 percent of respondents in the survey said that “gifts can impact their opinion of a business both positively and negatively.” 

The benefit of a good gift is the value it brings, to the recipient and to the relationship. It strengthens the relationship between the gifter and the recipient, as it demonstrates thoughtfulness and the importance of the relationship to the gifter.

The value in a tech gift

Tech products are no longer just for gadget geeks. Technology has become a part of our everyday lives, at work, at home and in school. Furthermore, tech accessories – such as wireless chargers, phone accessories and speakers – are just as popular since they power and enhance the many devices we use.

The value for companies in choosing technology as a gift is that it is practical and it can be used year-round. Tech products are the new go-to corporate gifts with more employees working from home and relying on technology for work and home.

What matters are the details

The first thing your recipient sees when receiving your gift isn’t the gift itself; it’s the wrapping. A  great gift deserves a  great presentation. Thoughtful gifters pay attention to details, including how their gifts are wrapped. The unboxing experience creates the first impression and it is just as important as the gift itself.

Another detail not to be overlooked is personalization. Personalization comes in different forms – a handwritten note, a personalized tag to the recipient or even customized packaging. These details are all important in creating the overall gifting experience.

Consumers gravitate toward brands they associate with positive emotions and memories. When they have a positive experience, consumers develop a deeper connection with the brand, which helps to increase brand credibility, loyalty and value. 

At the end of the day, gifting is an opportunity to let a person know you have thought about them and how much you appreciate them. The practice of thoughtful giving offers a wealth of benefits, particularly when it is practical and personal.

Tech Accessories on the Rise

While advanced technology and cool gadgets often take the spotlight, tech accessories – such as wireless chargers, phone accessories and speakers – are growing in the marketplace while quietly improving the lives of mobile device consumers.

The adoption of mobile devices worldwide is driving the global tech accessories market to grow to more than $100M by 2023, according to Research Nester, a leading service provider for strategic market research and consulting. 

The demand for personalization of tech accessories reflects the growth in this product category. Here are three accessory types that FUSION OF IDEAS’ clients are creating brand experiences for.

Wireless chargers 

The vast majority of Americans – 96 percent – now own a mobile device of some kind. Aside from its practicality, wireless chargers are growing in popularity because you don’t have to worry about the possible mess from tangled cords.

L to R: Nimble wireless charging pad, Insigna wireless charger
L to R: Nimble wireless charging pad, Insigna wireless charger
Mophie Dual wireless charging pad
Mophie Dual wireless charging pad

Battery packs

Battery packs give you the freedom to power up on the go. Its shape lends itself to be the perfect canvas to brand it with a company logo or design, adding a touch of personalization to the device.

L to R: Mophie Powerstation universal battery pack, Nimble portable charger, Insigna portable charger
L to R: Mophie Powerstation universal battery pack, Nimble portable charger, Insigna portable charger
PocketJuice Slim Pro portable charger
PocketJuice Slim Pro portable charger

Bluetooth/wireless speakers

Bluetooth and wireless speakers let you bring your favorite music, podcasts and audiobooks with you anywhere you go. Customization takes it up a notch for a unique business gifting experience.  

JBL Charge 4 portable Bluetooth speaker
JBL Charge 4 portable Bluetooth speaker
L to R: Bose Soundlink Revolve speaker, UE Boom 2 speaker
L to R: Bose Soundlink Revolve speaker, UE Boom 2 speaker

AirPods Dominate the 2019 Holiday Season

There’s no doubt that Apple AirPods, along with the new AirPods Pro, which launched in October 2019, continue to dominate in the tech gifts category over the 2019 corporate gifting season.

Even with the product shortage that consumers experienced this past holiday season, we helped countless businesses customize Apple AirPods and AirPods Pros for gifting opportunities. 

Our proprietary UV proprietary printing process allows for high-quality, full-color graphics to be permanently bonded onto devices. Because it is a direct print, the artwork won’t peel, flake or fade. Additionally, many clients also leveraged using custom device sleeves and gift wrap to create a memorable unboxing experience.

Check out a few highlights from FUSION OF IDEAS’ 2019 corporate gifting program:

Why Corporate Gifts Are Important for Your Business

Gift-giving is an important part of the human experience. The act of giving helps define our relationships, strengthens our bonds and reinforces our feelings toward the recipient. 

When it comes to giving business gifts, the results are the same: it builds and strengthens relationships with your employees, customers and vendors. It’s a way to recognize an employee who has met or exceeded his or her sales goal; thank a customer who has supported your business year-round; and show appreciation to a stakeholder who has invested in your company.

Recognize Employees

The holiday season is a great time to show your employees that they are an important asset to your business and recognize individuals who have achieved goals or milestones. 

Studies reveal that 79 percent of people who quit their jobs cite ‘lack of appreciation’ as their reason for leaving. And a startling 65 of Americans in the workforce report that they weren’t recognized even once last year.

Feeling appreciated or being recognized has been proven to change an employee’s mentality from “My efforts will get me by,” to “I’m dedicated, committed and motivated to do my best at my job.”

It’s also important to remember that recognizing employees should be an ongoing effort and not limited only to the holiday season. Also, there are many ways for an employer to use corporate gifting to build up, fuel and recognize employees. 

Show your employees your appreciation with a gift that they can use year-round.
Show your employees your appreciation with a gift that they can use year-round.

Thank Customers

Showing customers your appreciation can greatly influence their loyalty and advocacy, which in turn leads to customer retention and increased sales. Keeping your customers happy is about making them feel like you care about them, valued and appreciated.

This is the foundation of a customer appreciation strategy.

While there are many ways to show appreciation to customers, corporate gifting is easy to implement as part of your customer appreciation strategy. If you take care of your customers, they will take care of your business. 

Here are a few other ways to thank customers:

  • Offer a loyalty program with tiered rewards 
  • Make a donation in their honor
  • Treat customers to a complimentary upgrade
  • Send a handwritten note.
A meaningful gift for your customers goes a long way.
A meaningful gift for your customers goes a long way.

The Power of Personalization

In today’s world, where the prevalence of personalization is so prominent in our daily lives, personalization should also play a part in a company’s corporate gifting strategy. One of the most popular ways to personalize, or customize, a gift is by adding your company logo or brand on the gifting product.

A business gift customized with your company logo can benefit both your employees and customers. Because your employees have a stronger emotional connection to your company and brand as they are a part of the daily business, branded gifts offer meaning and significance to your workforce. 

For your customers, when a business gift that has value and use (versus a generic item) and it includes branding, nearly nine out of 10 recipients are able to remember the branding eight in 10 can recall messaging from at least one branded product they received (Source: Promotional Products Association International).

It is important to remember that a corporate gift should be carefully thought through. After all, it is an investment the company is making towards strengthening its relationship with clients, employees, investors and partners. When emotions are at the heart of the relationships between brands and consumers, they steer conscious decisions and drive unconscious decisions. 

Need more ideas? Visit the FUSION OF IDEAS Corporate Gifting site.

Our Favorite Tech Gift Ideas for the 2019 Holiday Season

You don’t have to be a “techie” or even a gadget lover to appreciate a new tech device. From Bluetooth speakers to wireless chargers, mobile technology is all around us.

With the rising trend of companies giving corporate gifts, technology has become a popular gift category for businesses. Giving a tech gift can also show that your company is modern and forward-thinking. 

We rounded our favorite tech gift ideas this holiday season:

  • Wireless Earbuds – Ultracompact and lightweight, wireless earbuds offer features such as noise-cancellation and a customizable fit. Wireless earbuds options are abundant, including Apple AirPods and the new AirPods Pro, Samsung Galaxy Buds, Powerbeats Pro by Beats by Dre and the new Amazon Echo Buds.
Wireless earbuds topped the list for the most popular business gift in 2018. Seen here is a pair of customized Powerbeats Pro by Beats by Dre.
Wireless earbuds topped the list for the most popular business gift in 2018. Seen here is a pair of customized Powerbeats Pro by Beats by Dre.
  • Smart Speakers – A starting device or a complement to a complete smart home system, smart speakers or smart assistants like Amazon Echo or Google Home help you around the house, offers entertainment and more, all through voice commands.
A smart speaker like Google Home Mini are ideal gifts for customers, employees as well as shareholders.
A smart speaker like Google Home Mini is an ideal gift for customers, employees as well as shareholders.
  • Portable and Wireless Chargers – A practical gift option, mobile chargers are versatile for all types of technology. Popular wireless charger options include Belkin and Samsung and there are portable charger options from Mophie and Nimble.
Wireless and portable chargers are practical and versatile. Add your company logo for a lasting impression year-round.
Wireless and portable chargers are practical and versatile. Add your company logo for a lasting impression year-round.

Complete the brand experience with personalization. Adding the recipient’s name or using customized packaging with your company logo can make a lasting impression. For more corporate gifting ideas, visit www.fusionofideas.com/gifting.