In the first and second parts of this blog series, our team of Gifting Experts shared four principles that your company can apply to transform gifting programs into relationship boosters and business development tools. In the third and final part of this blog series, we share two additional principles that your company can apply to further evolve internal and external gifting programs to maximize your Return On Appreciation.™
As a friendly reminder, these principles are most effective when applied to meaningful relationships your business wants to invest in, but some of them will be applicable to anyone—even new hires and prospective customers.
A gift is as powerful as the message it carries
When it comes to the gift selection process, many people spend a significant amount of time guessing what the person might want, researching options online, and searching the mall for something that seems appropriate. Many people repeat this process at least once before settling on something that seems “good enough,” or giving up and buying a gift card. Inviting people to select a gift of their choice circumvents the time-consuming process of deciding on and tracking down the perfect item.
Moreover, when you have trouble finding the right gift for someone, it can be frustrating for both you and the person you’re appreciating. If you settle on an impersonal item such as a gift card, you can feel disheartened when presenting it, and the recipient may assume that you didn’t put much thought into the gift. Gifting with choice avoids this issue altogether because few things can be more thoughtful than a collection of gifts customized to offer something for every person’s interests and passions. Compared to gift cards, cash, and branded merchandise, personalized gifting options are memorable and can remind them of your thoughtfulness each time that they see or use it in the future.
Just like a great book, a gift is as powerful as the message it carries. So if you want to make your gifts truly memorable, before you offer them, think about what you’re trying to convey with them. One of the principles in Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is “Begin with the end in mind.” In other words: before you act, define your goal, your mission, and your intentions to make sure that your actions will take you where you want to go. Now apply this principle to gifts: give your gift program depth by providing people with an intention or meaning behind the appreciation. Gifts can be used to express gratitude, to show support, to welcome a new team member, to create meaningful connections, and much more.
Gift more, gift better, be happier
What makes gifts truly memorable are the circumstances around them and the feelings behind them. A wedding ring is powerful because it is offered together with someone’s request to spend his or her life with you. Another example is the Statue of Liberty. Apart from its enormous size, estimated price, and complexity of assembly, what truly makes this statue memorable is its meaning: the commemoration of the alliance between France and the United States during the American Revolution and the freedom and democracy it symbolizes. In other words, it’s not about the gift itself: it’s about crystallizing moments and feelings in a productive way—that is, to promote closeness, happiness, and deeper relationships.
Gifting with choice celebrates your relationship and history with the person. Unlike gift cards that disappear after one use, people tend to keep personalized gifts longer than others because of the emotional connection attached to the item. In fact, 90% of people surveyed report gifting with choice makes them feel appreciated and valued, more than any other reward type. Lastly, the thoughtful nature of gifting with choice is perhaps the biggest benefit of partnering with Cultivate. Inviting someone to select a gift of their choice from a Collection of premium, curated products shows that you care about them.
Use gifting as an excuse to bring more joy and meaning to your life and relationships. You don’t need to wait for someone’s birthday, work anniversary, or special occasion —you can apply the principles in this blog series to any conversation, event, or interaction and watch the benefits return. Give more, and give better, and happiness will inevitably follow.
Connect with our team of Gifting Experts to To learn more about our variety of On-site and Online Gifting solutions. We can’t wait to tell you more!
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