The Art Of Gifting: Your company’s success depends on it.

If you’re like most people you didn’t put a lot of thought into your Mother’s Day gift. With rare exceptions, holiday, birthday, and anniversary presents don’t get gifts anymore.

But business gifts have taken the exact opposite direction. An increasingly competitive business economy corporate gifting is now a critical art and science because a company’s financial stability depends on it!

“Gifts are a symbol of the value you place on a relationship,” says John Ruhlin in his book Giftology. “When you act generously, people take notice. They’ll begin to feel appreciated, and in turn, they’ll want to pay it forward. It’s a natural inclination for us to want givers to succeed because we can appreciate the generosity that was shown to us.”

Ruhlin’s approach to corporate gifting is that he highly recommends staying away from giving non unique gifts such as; fruit baskets, chocolate boxes, or cheap branded swag like water bottles and pens. He does recommend giving a gift that you know will spark a genuine emotional response, such as a House Portrait.  “Emotional gifts are the gifts that become artifacts and heirlooms for clients and their families.” Ruhlin says.

“Our House Portraits are a highly emotional and deeply personal gift for your clients” Russell McRae, the owner of McRae Portraits says. “A closing gift that shows your generosity and the value that you place on your relationship with your clients.”  And as John Ruhlin pointed out, your clients will pay it forward by referring you to all of their family and friends.

So the next time your about to grab a gift card or a generic gift basket, ask yourself this important question “What message does this give to my clients about me?” Then put down that generic gift and give them something that speaks from your heart.