The Top 11 Dos and Don'ts of Corporate Gift Giving

Updated: November 30, 2010

• Check the account's website. Many of them have a set of "supplier guidelines" that will spell out how vendors are to deal with buyers.
• Never give a gift of alcohol unless you know specifically the customer is 100% ok with it.
• Never send a gift of any value to a customer's home address or any address other than their work address, unless you have written approval to do so from the buyer's superior.
• Never send a gift that will be perceived as potentially buying the business or seen as being out of line with what other vendors are providing the customer.
• Never give a gift that does not match your company's values and your own values, as the gift you give does and will say something about you and your company.
• Look to give a gift the office can appreciate and benefit from.
• Look to give a gift that will allow your name and your company's name to be recognized in the office.
• Look to give a gift of modest value.
• Always make sure the gift you give includes a personal note from you.
• Always try to deliver the gift in person.
• Don't hesitate to ask how they enjoyed your gift the next time you're visiting the customer.