Human beings are extremely affectionate.
Showing appreciation, gratitude and sympathy whether to loved ones, close
friends or even casual acquaintance, human beings have unique ways of
expressing themselves.
And a gift is among the many ways by which
humans practices this unique trait. In fact gift-giving has become such a
commonplace activity that it is often considered a ritual and symbolic act that
has existed even before civilization as we know it.
A Brief History of Gift-giving
Perhaps history is not so much an appropriate
word but even then gift-giving as a gesture have been recorded long before any
known society. In primeval times, gift-giving serves as an act of offering
usually to a person in power often a tribe representative, head of the family
or elder. These tokens were homages and expressions of respect more than anything
else.
In
Medieval times, gifts served pretty much the same purpose but took on a more
religious dimension as practices of offerings to God and the Church became more
prevalent. After the Renaissance, gifts received a more rational value. During
the time of colonizations and civil wars gifts became objects of striking peace
and cooperation and became a modern political artefact.
Today in
Singapore, gift-giving continues to bear a combination of these many features
and purposes plus a newer and more untraditional value as corporate gifts. As
corporate gifts, gift items do not just express gratitude, respect, sympathy or
general affection but likewise are likewise important marketing and branding
tools while at the same serving as motivational items for employees.
Corporate Gift-giving
Corporate gift-giving today has become a year
round affair and is no longer simply limited special occasions or holidays like
Christmas but is part of any simple office function like foundation days,
sports fest, family events and even staff birthdays. And among employees, clients, and partners and
other stakeholders, corporate gift-giving also has different values. For
employees, corporate gifts show how their company values them and provide them
with both incentive as reward and as reason to further elevate their standards
and work. Corporate gifts in Singapore communicate how a company appreciates
the work and loyalty put in by employees, it also recognizes individuals
regardless of position or job. As such, these gifts boost employee confidence
and morale and stimulate better productivity, camaraderie and conducive
management-worker relationship climate.
Among clients, suppliers and consumers in Singapore,corporate gifts hold symbolic
functions and express a company’s appreciation for their patronage and support.
But most importantly for a company, corporate gifts serve as a marketing
strategy and a major public relation instrument. This means a company’s public
image is significantly affected by the kind of gifts they give out which is why
significant attention and resources are allocated for these items.
Common Items as Uncommon Gifts
In Singapore today, common corporate gift items are
shirts, coffee mags, pens, notepads and other common office items that a person
regularly and routinely uses. Recently, USB, earphones, cellular phone covers,
powerbanks, mobile speakers, and other techno products have become daily
necessities and have therefore become ideal corporate gift items. There are
also trends in Singapore in personalized gifts items and numerous corporate gift suppliers are now customizing most
anything from shirt to mugs, caps to clock which have significantly boosted not
just the practical but sentimental value of even the simplest corporate
gift.
