Corporate gifting is a popular way to show your appreciation to employees, clients and customers, promote new products or celebrate a holiday with your staff. The good news is, you don't always have to spend a fortune on nice corporate gifts, so they can fit almost any budget. Many corporate gift ideas are relatively inexpensive; even engraved business gifts or personalized business gifts don't have to cost an arm and leg.

From business gifts for customers to gifts for executives, the pricing and costs of corporate gifts depend largely on how much you have to spend, and for whom and what you're buying the gifts. Even affordable engraved business gifts, for instance, cost more than simple promotional corporate gifts used as giveaways at trade shows or conventions. Consider the following when determining the pricing and costs of corporate gifts:

1. Compare the cost of small, individualized corporate gifts to that of larger business gifts such as fruit baskets or cookie tins.

2. Choose a corporate gift company that offers engraved or personalized business gifts for any budget.

3. Save with bulk pricing on corporate gifts.

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Price corporate gifts large and small

The pricing and costs of corporate gifts will vary depending on the purpose for which you're buying the gifts. Cost would be vastly different, for example, for an engraved business gift for a retiring associate than for a hundred cheap promotional corporate gifts to use as giveaways. Pricing and costs of corporate gifts also depend on the gift items themselves, as keychains and plastic cups are much less costly than desk sets or expensive pens.

I recommend: Select from a wide variety of corporate gifts, anything from card holders to leather portfolios, priced in a range from $5 to $65, at e-CorporateGifts.com. Spend anywhere from under $2 to over $50 for corporate gifts from Beau-coup, which offers everything from edible gifts such as cookies, and small items such as keychains and pens, up to larger business gifts including picture frames and tote bags. For entire departments, large clients or customer groups, choose corporate gift baskets priced between $50 and $200 from The Gift Basket Pros.

Add a personal touch to corporate gifts with engraving or personalizing

Engraved or personalized corporate gifts are always a big hit. Whether you're giving corporate gifts imprinted with your company logo to clients, or engraved items as employee awards or gifts, certain occasions might call for personalized corporate gifts. Figure the cost of engraving into your budget if you're shopping for personalized business gifts.

I recommend: Personalized pens, always a popular corporate gift, are especially nice for corporate holiday gifts, retirement gifts or awards. You can engrave any Cross pen from Corporate Gift Pens, with standard engraving starting at $5 up to a one-time $250 set-up charge for clip emblems. Personalize money clips, tote bags, desk items, business card holders and more, in some cases for free or under $5, at My Business Gifts.

Order corporate gifts in bulk and save money in the long run

Most corporate gift companies charge less per item if you place a large order. This is great for large orders such as promotional corporate gifts. This is also an option if you're purchasing several items to reward each individual in a department for a job well done.

I recommend: Order in bulk from Inkhead Promotional Products and save from 20 cents to $2 off individual promotional corporate gifts such as keychains, stadium cups and mugs. Save nearly $3 per pen when ordering 500 or more from Empire Promos Promotional Products.

Tips & Tactics: Corporate and Executive Gifts

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Factor in the cost of shipping corporate gifts. For instance, you might have clients or vendors both in and outside the country, so you'll have to budget for shipping corporate gifts in the USA as well as overseas.

Gift giving varies from culture to culture, region to region and business to business. And in the business world, there are plenty of potential gift-giving pitfalls. For example, the last thing you want to do is to send expensive executive gifts — which may be seen as bribes — to a company or media outlet that has a $25 maximum corporate gift limit. Here are keys to successful corporate gifting:

1. Create occasions. In addition to the usual holidays, when promotional gifts are expected, make corporate gifts a regular habit. Avoid the December crush. "Off season" business gifts can make you stand out from the crowd.
2. Identify key dates in a client's life, such as anniversaries, birthdays and promotions that you can celebrate with executive gifts.
3. Remember that corporate gifts are a great way to say "thank you" and also to promote business products or services, enhance the image and reputation of your company, show respect, express an apology and acknowledge someone else.
4. Find executive gifts that suit the taste of the recipients — not your own. Contact others who know the intended recipient and ask about a favorite food, special interests, color preferences, if they collect anything, favorite sports teams, authors or musicians.
5. Write a personal note to accompany each corporate gift. All notes should be hand-written. Send business gifts first-class or via your preferred supplier.
6. Make sure your corporate gifts are distinctively packaged. Promotional gifts in paper and boxes from prestigious stores have high impact because they offer cachet and status.

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A business gift can be food for thought

Who doesn't like delicious gourmet goodies as corporate gifts? Food is always a good choice to build and maintain business relationships, especially if it's a gift basket that the entire office can enjoy.

I recommend: Numerous Web sites can point you in the right direction with their various business gift specialties, whether it's chocolate, coffee or otherwise. Visit Gevalia, Lake Champlain Chocolates, Hickory Farms, Maui Coffee Co. and Gift Basket Village or see the listings of vendors of corporate gift baskets at Business.com.

Keep it personal with executive gifts

Offering personalized or engraved executive gifts to customers enhances your image and shows extra thoughtfulness.

I recommend: Check out Tiffany, World Lux, Zagat and L.L.Bean for ideas on executive gifts.

Card them with promotional gifts

Gift cards are another great way to thank your employees and customers, allowing them to find the item that's just right for them.

I recommend: Check out RedEnvelope, GiftCertificates, Target and Borders for business gifts. Kohl's, for example, offers gift cards in denominations starting at $10, presented in attractive envelopes, which can be used on apparel and home goods from trusted brands that include Carter's, Dockers, Lee and KitchenAid. Find more business gift cards at Business.com.

Promote yourself with a business gift

Send promotional gifts imprinted with your company name and message.

I recommend: Manufacturer's Direct, for example, offers scores of business gift products from trusted brands, including Watermen pens, 3M Post-It-Notes, Chelsea clocks and Swiss Army knives. Also see ePromos, Promopeddler and Business.com’s listings of vendors of promotional gifts.

Discover more business gift giving do's and don'ts

There are many ways a thoughtful corporate gift idea can go wrong.

I recommend: Yahoo! Small Business has tips as well as business gift giving do's and don'ts. Lucma Designs offers helpful tips and etiquette on giving executive gifts.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  To give your executive gifts some extra oomph, include a related item. For example, if your business gift is a bottle of wine, add a book about the winery or region it comes from, or a funky corkscrew.
• •  If you're the business owner and have received a business gift from one of your employees, acknowledging the gift and reciprocating is a must.
• •  Fitness and health gifts can backfire if it appears you think the recipient is in need of greater fitness. Best avoid a health-related corporate gift, even if you're a fitness buff yourself.
• •  Don't confirm delivery of business gifts or corporate gifts by asking the recipient if they've received it. Call the vendor or shipper of your corporate gift.
• •  Vendors not accustomed to shipping items as business gifts sometimes forget and include order confirmations with pricing and other information inside the box. Make sure that does not happen.

From employee awards and recognition to client acknowledgments and new product promotions, you can utilize corporate gifts in a variety of ways. Making the most of corporate gifts will help you stand out to your clients, vendors, employees and customers and will set you apart from your competitors.

Dozens of corporate gift companies offer corporate gift ideas such as promotional corporate gifts, engraved business gifts, personalized business gifts, corporate holiday gifts and gifts for executives. If you're considering corporate gifting, here are some ways you can make the most of corporate gifts in the USA:

1. Reward or acknowledge employees with corporate gifts.

2. Thank clients and customers for their business by giving corporate gifts.

3. Add a special touch with personalized or engraved business gifts.

4. Promote a new product or special event with promotional corporate gifts.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Say 'Thank You,' 'Well Done' or even 'Happy Retirement' with corporate gifts

Employees like to feel appreciated, and one of the best ways to acknowledge their hard work is through corporate gifting. Reward an individual employee or an entire department with a small token of appreciation for a job well done, or give a special gift to honor a retiring employee for his years of dedication to your company.

I recommend: Gifts for Professionals specializes in employee corporate gifts and boasts an inventory of 5,000 items. Visit their site to find that perfect gift for any employee, from attaché cases for executives to passport cases and luggage tags for traveling salesmen. Visit CorporateSNOBS.com to find a wide array of corporate gifts, such as mouse pads, picture frames and decorative crystal pieces, that would be perfect for your employees' home or work space.

Use corporate gifts to acknowledge your clients and customers for their loyal business

Make your loyal customers and clients feel special by giving corporate gifts. Gifting items imprinted with your company logo is a popular way to put your company name before your clients and customers while showing your appreciation at the same time. Sending corporate gift baskets is also a great way to acknowledge customers and clients.

I recommend: GourmetGiftBaskets.com is sure to have exactly what you're looking for, whether you're sending corporate holidays gifts to your customers or fruit baskets to clients. Show your appreciation month after month with Gift of the Month Clubs offered by AmazingClubs.com, which offers a selection of 30 clubs and gourmet items. Put your company logo or message on anything from bags to umbrellas at PromoPeddler.com to give your clients and customers corporate gifts that will remind them of you with every use.

Personalize corporate gifts to make them really stand out

Nothing makes a statement quite like a personalized gift. Go the extra mile and make the most of your corporate gifts by engraving or personalizing them with the name of or a special message to a recognized employee or special client.

I recommend: Memorable Gifts is a corporate gift company that has a huge selection of corporate gifts, from awards to watches, that they can personalize with employee names, your company logo or even a special message. Engrave employee awards or personalize holiday ornaments or any number of other desk and personal items, at Corporate Gifts Company.

Put your business name and products out there with promotional corporate gifts

Everyone loves giveaways, and having promotional items at trade shows, client meetings or events to promote and unveil new products is a great way to make the most of corporate gifting. Put your logo on anything from pens to travel mugs to generate interest in your business.

I recommend: Absorbent, Ink. not only offers promotional business gifts, but their website also features a Marketing Ideas section that can help you choose the perfect item to promote your business or products. Visit Forte Promotions to choose from 800,000 promotional corporate gift items for use at trade shows or company events.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Giving corporate holiday gifts is a nice touch, but be sure not to offend any employees or clients who may not celebrate certain religious holidays.