No matter how “serious” people think about it, giftology is quite a serious matter. Of course, it is easy to ignore claims that it is indeed a legitimate art or science, but there is no denying the fact that determining the best gift has become a special challenge today especially for corporate gifts that must balance between goodwill and expenses, company image and corporate expenses. 

The basics are pretty much obvious. Products like shirts, jackets, caps, keychains, ballpens, stationeries, notepads, mugs, and calendars as incentive for a job well done, for observing regular events like Christmas and birthdays, during company occasions like anniversaries make company stakeholders feel important and appreciated. These items are also good corporate promotional gifts that are useful in everyday routines and therefore help strengthen recall and relationship with employees, partners and clients or customers who are more likely to use these items regularly every day. 

But functionality is a very one-sided factor. What is functional for the recipient may not be so for the giver. After all, how would a company look if it keeps giving out the same products year in and year out? At the very least, giving stale items can affect company image and give the impression that is unimaginative or worse, that it is not exerting more creative efforts to determine better gifts for their public. 

Corporate gifts must show the recipient’s, in this case the employee’s, partner’s, client’s or consumer’s, value as perceived by the giver, in this case the company.

In Singapore, the choices for better corporate gits abound. 

Instead the same old office supplies, gadgets and techno products like USB, earphones, cellular phone covers, powerbanks, mobile speakers, are not just trendy corporate gift items but have also become fundamental necessities in today’s lifestyle. As corporate gift items, they also communicate a company’s ability to recognize and cope with changing needs and times and a sensitivity to their new and emerging needs. 

In terms of apparel, shirts, jackets and caps may still be useful, but there are more relevant types. Dri-fit materials, hooded jackets, sweatshirts can all be used casually on a daily basis as well as for running, jogging and other physical activities have also become popular corporate gift inSingapore and show a company’s concern for wellbeing. Environment-friendly items like recyclable bags or apparels produced under fair labor conditions are also in vogue in Singapore since they show the company’s sense of social responsibility and awareness of emerging social concerns which are modern virtues that appeal to the public. Of course, fruits or wine baskets remain classic corporate gifts in Singapore. Family treats like fruit hampers are effective in showing that a company values family just like most everyone else and share a generally important value. 

If these items are a little too costly for any company or office, there is always the time-tested strategy of customizing or personalizing corporate gift. Even the usual jackets, umbrella , pen, paperweight, bag or shirt, personalizing a gift significantly increases their value and ultimately communicates that a company recognizes individuals and exerts efforts to provide a ‘personal touch’.