Having a relationship with client simplifies gift selection process.

• Author: Nelson, Katherine Thompson
• Position: Corporate Gifts & Event Planning Guide - Brief Article

As a business person, you realize the value of showing a long-term client your appreciation for their loyalty, or rewarding an employee's outstanding work with something other than the standard plaque or statuette. How do you choose a suitable gift or award, something appropriate to the occasion, yet unique and personal?

Barbara Desjardins, office manager for BDO Dunwoody LLP Chartered Accountants and Consultants in Sudbury, has some tips gleaned from handling client gifts for her company.

Desjardins suggests acknowledging events that are personally significant to the recipient, and advises the giver to "definitely try to personalize as much as they can."

A gift might be sent when a client is opening a new business or expanding an existing one. A marriage or a new baby could warrant a gift, as well, she says. Sympathy gifts or flower arrangements, and "get well" gifts to clients in hospital are also appreciated, she says.

Desjardins says the decision Whether or not to send a gift should be based on the relationship with that particular client.

"Our clients are our friends," she says, "and it's the kind of thing you would do for a client who's also friend."

She points out that it is important to know the client well, both in order to personalize the gift and to avoid sending something inappropriate.

"You try to choose a gift based on their lifestyle," Desjardins says.

If a client is diabetic or suffers from food allergies, for example, a gift involving food may be a poor choice.

"You have to put some thought behind it," she cautions, and if you do not happen to be close enough to that particular client to know such information, it may be better to simply send a nice card.

In order to choose the best-suited gift, consider the client's hobbies and interests. Flowers and plants are ideal in some cases, "but they're not appropriate for all situations," says Desjardins.

The client may have allergies to flowers, for example.

As well, in North America, flowers arrangements are rarely sent as personal gifts to men. If you know a male client would not appreciate flowers, a gourmet food or fruit basket or a gift basket geared to the golfer could be alternatives. Gift certificates can also be a good idea if you know the client will use them.

Desjardins has had good luck ordering unique gift baskets from Web sites, she...