Introduction
Most of us have an experience of receiving a corporate gift from an employer, business partner, real estate agent or bank. But where is that gift now? Is it gathering dust somewhere, or worse still, ended up unwanted and sent to the dump?
Let’s be real here, as businesses we are financially investing large amounts of money and resources into giving gifts to our most valued assets - our people. But what’s the problem? We’re sending a gift, we’re making the effort, it’s cost us a lot of time and money. It’s the thought that counts, right? Wrong. Relationships are at the centre of everything. The research shows individualised, thoughtful gifts create a real connection. Reaching people with a powerful message: I matter, they see me, this company cares.
The research shows individualised, thoughtful gifts create a real connection. Reaching people with a powerful message: I matter, they see me, this company cares.
At scale, individualised gifts are difficult for businesses to achieve themselves. For example, a go-to favourite - gifting a bottle of wine. Thoughtfully sending this gift to an employee or client who doesn’t drink, or worse is a recovering alcoholic, simply won’t be appreciated, and could be offensive.
Receiving a gift you don’t want, can’t use or goes against your personal values can not only instil a negative emotional response, but can physically become a burden.
54% of people have thrown away a corporate gift without even using it.
Are your corporate gifts, their single use packaging and carbon footprint contributing to our global pollution problem? Sustainable and ethical gifting is not only good for our community and environment, it’s good for our corporate strategy.
Great gifts are a powerful strategic tool and can be the secret to unlocking retention, loyalty and leads for business success. But where is the ROI? Where’s the feedback, the KPI’s, tracking of campaign goals and measurement of success?
How does your gift make the recipient feel?
We’ve interviewed over 250 businesses and individuals to understand the problem with current corporate gifting strategies. Here are a few of their responses:
- “My feelings were actually resentment and anger and a sense of laziness that they didn’t even care if it was something that would say “appreciation” ”
- “I don't drink that, I won't eat that, I'm never going to use that. And branded things I wondered, why are they marketing to me?”
- “A Christmas ham and a bottle of wine left on my doorstep, not gift wrapped, no card. I was away for a week 🤢🤮. Thanks but no thanks”
- “The problem with gifts en masse, is that they aren't personal and they can be insulting. For example, if someone has worked at a company for 30 years and they receive a generic $100 gift, it's insanely insulting.”
- “Thanks for the basket full of cheap Easter chocolate, perfect for my lactose intolerance”
- “I literally felt nothing. Every year I get a supermarket gift card. It was actually a burden, I had it in my wallet for 10 months and had to remember to use it before the expiry.”
Traditional and tired versus modern and intuitive.
Currently, in New Zealand and Australia corporate gifting options include: gift cards, bulk standardised gifts for everyone, branded merchandise, using a corporate gift box provider, donating to a charity, or doing nothing.
But in the United States and Europe, a new software based solution to corporate gifting is emerging: “Gifting as a service”, an online platform facilitating the entire gifting process. It manages corporate gifting for companies to reduce their internal load and makes it easy to send great gifts.
“Gifting as a service” is empowering businesses. Helping them to meet their goals, boost revenue, increase engagement and build new relationships.
With Impact is introducing “Gifting as a service” to the corporate gifting markets in New Zealand and Australia. With Impact is a smart gifting software and service, prioritising the human experience with memorable, sustainable corporate gifts.
Whether you’re needing 1 gift or 1,000, With Impact is an interactive online experience for the gift recipient, providing smart gift options based on an individual’s likes and dislikes - making personalisation easy and harnessing the power of gifting, so that your greatest assets, your people will know: I matter, they see me, this company cares.
We have a unique point of difference. With Impact prioritises sustainability in the entirety of its gifting lifecycle. From sourcing modern sustainable and ethical products, using unique eco friendly packaging, carbon offsetting our gift fulfilment process, and more. You can join the gifting revolution now -registrations are open, contact us to get started.
Images sourced from DRAGONIMAGES VIA GETTY IMAGES
